As the new school year gets under way, students arrive through the gates, hustling and bustling down the corridors, gathering in their classrooms.

Friends from last year were greeting each other with a hug or a playful punch. The classroom filled with the ceaseless buzzing and the unlimited amount of energy the students contained.

Apart from these fervent students, a cold, distant boy that no one ever dares to approach was habitually sitting alone in the back, resting his head down on his desk. He closed his eyes, sinking into the darkness. In the bright atmosphere of the classroom.

The incessant voices of student’s laughing and chattering around him, gave him a headache, as if at last he could bear it no longer, he finally got up from his seat, letting out an exasperated sigh, covering his head with the hood and walked out of the classroom.

He watched his feet take steps across the glossy tiles, his dusty canvas sneakers next to the shined pointed-toe leather shoes of passing students, as he headed towards the school entrance, wanting to get out of the place as soon as he could.

He walked towards the school entrance when suddenly his steps came to a halt as his eyes landed on an unfamiliar girl standing outside the entrance door, expressionless, staring straight into his dark eyes. As if she’s able to look right through his soul.

There was silence for a moment while he stared blankly, He unknowingly took a few small steps forward, slowly moving closer to her.

His intense gaze fixed on her crystal blue eyes, a golden caramel radiated from each pupil as if it were a bright new sun.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the door. Emaya stood there, staring at her own reflection on the one-way mirror door.

The thought of being at a new place with new people she’s not yet acquainted with, made her feel a bit agitated yet excited. She was shaking a little, half from apprehension, half from excitement.

Emaya’s sense of calm was anchored in her well earned self confidence. She has faced many tribulations that only made her dauntless. She calmed herself, pushing aside all the unpleasant thoughts and memories, reassuring herself.

It’d be totally fine!

All I have to do is to think positive.

And Smile!

She nodded slightly, staring at her reflection with a humble and elegant expression. But what she didn’t know was, someone is standing behind the one-way mirror door, staring directly at her from the inside.

His gaze was still focused on Emaya. She had soft, delicate features. Her hair was honey brown from root to tip, born to bring more golden sunshine into this world. It also showed in those soulful blue eyes as bright as any glacier yet so very warm.

He somehow felt at ease as he watched her solemn expression with a slight hint of fret turning into a calm, gentle and warm expression.

Her large almond eyes brighten up as the corners of her rosy lips slowly curl into a cheerful, radiant smile.

He found himself staring blankly, trying to figure out why he felt so at peace, so warm when he looked at her smile, a smile that’s brighter than the sun, prettier than the moon.

Emaya let out a contented sigh, stepping in as she pulled open the door, almost bumping into a tall figure standing right before her but caught herself as she gasped lightly.

She froze when she met a pair of dark phoenix eyes staring right into her eyes. She felt her heart tremble slightly as if pricked by some tiny, sharp thing along with the faint sweet-sour kind of feeling.

A black hooded boy, with broad shoulders and breathtakingly sharp, handsome features was just a few inches away from her.

His eyes held strands of glittering onyx and tinges of blue wrapped around the rims of his pupils, creating a captivating monochrome of colour. He had Inexplicably long eyelashes. His headband, he worn around his forehead, was keeping a lock of his inky black hairs out of his eyes.

His solemn gaze roved over her face, His eyes were slightly red and swollen as if he haven’t slept for days yet they were like fiery lightning, his brows were furrowed in cold frost that made her blood run cold.

She instantly pulled back, standing aside the doorway. Without saying anything, he brushed past her, nonchalantly walking out of school.

Emaya felt her heart racing as she watched him go.

The school bell rang, the sound bringing her back to her senses.

"What the hell just happened?"

Emaya shook her head as she walked across the locker-lined hallway that extends in a straight line. The walls were painted a light greyish-blue and the edges were lined by a moulding the colour of sand. She looked around observing the school as she went past, watching students with welcoming smiles, heading off to their classrooms.

Still shaken by the earlier incident, She smiled politely at them, mumbling to herself.

"They don’t seem like grumpy or rude people at all, hopefully I’ll get alo— gasp!"

She got startled by a loud slam of the locker. She quickly turned her head to see a Ginger-haired girl wiping off her tears, trembling with rage and distress, crushing a paper in her hand before she throwed it down and flounced off.

Emaya furrowed her brows as she looked around the hallway. She felt bad watching how no one paid attention to her crying.

She took a few steps forward, picking up the paper that reads, “You thought no one would ever find out? Right? Well guess who’s the maid at my place? Your Mom! Now you better stop pretending to be rich and hoeing around Daven or else, it won't take me long to spill. Loser!”

Emaya frowned, she knew instantly that it must be someone named Daven’s possessive girlfriend who’s trying to bully someone for being a daughter of a maid.

She sighed, throwing the paper away and head off to the classroom, mumbling under her breath, “I wonder if bullying will ever stop. This is truly immature.”

As she reached the classroom door, the sight of her high-spirited classmates and the bright environment of the classroom instantly washed off all her agitation. Even though the classroom wasn’t that big and there weren’t many students, it was still filled with liveliness.

There were four rows of exquisitely arranged desks. Across the windows, the sun’s gleaming rays bringing light into the room. She was about to make her way towards an empty desk at the back but changed her mind as she spotted the same ginger-haired girl from earlier, sitting alone, looking devastated.

"I see, she’s from the same class as mine."

Without a second thought, Emaya approached her, asking with a bright smile that was plastered on her face, “Hey! Can I sit with you?”

The girl seemed as if she was way too surprised, not expecting anyone to actually approach her. Nonetheless, her gloomy eyes lighted up a bit as she gazed up to Emaya’s smiley face.

“Um...yeah sure,” she replied hesitantly with almost inaudible voice.

Emaya nodded gratefully and sat herself down next to her, resting her chin on one hand as she looked at her. Emaya stayed quiet for a moment before Emaya decided to start the conversation, making sure she doesn’t feel desolate.

“Hey, I’m Emaya, your new classmate,” she offered a sincere smile, reaching out her hand to shake.

Although, there were still a hint of sorrow in her eyes, the ginger-haired girl also smiled back warmly, shaking hands with her, “Hello, I’m Freyah. Glad to have you here.”

Emaya always felt so overjoyed when she manage to make someone smile, especially those who just finished crying.

“Well, Freyah,” Emaya sat up straight and placed her bag down on the floor before turning back to her, “I’m sure we’re gonna get along real soon.”

Freyah’s smile widened, after all the hardships and bullying she was going through, Emaya's words felt like a warm ray of hope. Finally, there’s someone who didn’t treat her like a waste of space. She couldn't help but stare at Emaya with admiration, “Yeah, of course we will.”

Soon, The chattering of the students immediately quite-downed once the teacher came in, everyone straightening up and paid attention to her.

“Good morning everyone! Welcome back to school,” the teacher welcomed everyone with a polite smile on her face, her gaze moving around the classroom before it landed on an face, “Ah! I see, we have a new student this year. Would you like to introduce yourself?”

All eyes suddenly turned to Emaya as she stood up from her chair, her eyes darting around for a moment until she reminded herself to act confident. She cleared her throat before speaking in a casual demeanor.

“Hello, I’m Emaya Mullen. I’ve just moved here recently. I’m looking forward to getting to know you all better, thanks. ” she said smiling brightly as usual, lighting up the atmosphere with her charming aura.

“Welcome Emaya, I’m Miss Olivia. Well, we rarely get new students every year so it’s nice to have you here. You can come to me if you need help with something. Your friends are also here for your guidance,” She spoke calmly while walking towards Emaya. Her tone was extremely polite unlike most of the teachers. She appeared to be in her mid-thirties and seems quite friendly with her students.

Emaya nodded contentedly and was about to sit back down before she stopped when Miss Olivia began to speak further, “Also...”

She stopped by her desk and looked over at her with a gentle gaze before she complimented, “I see, you’ve got a really lovely smile. Perfect for my class.”

Emaya paused, even though she always compliment others, spreading smiles everywhere but she wasn’t expecting the sudden compliment for herself at all.

“Thank you! Miss Olivia,” She blushed a little, sitting back down on her seat as her gaze wandered around the classroom. Almost everyone seem to have a bright personality. No wonder why the classroom's atmosphere looked so unreal. Emaya was grateful nevertheless.

After a few moments of chatting with her students, Miss Olivia begin the lesson. All students seem to respect her a lot and were engaged in class. Emaya was surprised to know she wasn’t feeling bored in a class for the first time. However, she suddenly recalled something and searched around the class. She found herself looking for a fearsome yet strikingly handsome, black hooded guy. She glanced back one last time and sighed before turning back to the teacher, slightly disappointed.

"Maybe he was a senior.."