Author's Note
Hi everyone! 🌸
This story was first posted back in 2023, but I've rewritten and edited it to improve the grammar and reading experience. I'm excited to start fresh and share the story with you all. Thank you so much for reading and supporting my novel — I hope you enjoy the journey! 💕
The morning air was shattered by the shrill, persistent ringing of an alarm clock. Ring! Ring! Ring!
Raya groggily reached out from under a mountain of blankets, her eyes squeezed shut against the intrusion of the morning. With a clumsy swipe, she managed to hit the snooze button, plunging the room back into a temporary, blissful silence. She let out a soft sigh and sank back into the mattress, intending to steal just five more minutes of sleep.
But as the seconds ticked by, a sense of dread began to pool in her stomach. Her eyes snapped open, landing on the digital clock. The bright red numbers stared back at her: 8:15 AM.
"Oh my God, I'm late again!" Raya bolted upright, her heart hammering against her ribs. She scrambled out of bed, her feet tangling in the sheets for a frantic moment before hitting the floor.
"Mom! Why didn't you wake me up?" she shouted toward the hallway.
The house was silent. A sudden realization hit her, cooling her panic for a brief second. Her mother hadn't come home last night. She had likely worked a double shift at the hospital again, leaving the house feeling empty and quiet.
There was no time for loneliness, though. Raya sprinted into the bathroom and took the fastest shower of her life, barely giving the water time to warm up. She threw on her school uniform, fumbling with the buttons in her haste. Grabbing her backpack, she flew out the front door, her long hair still damp and clinging to her shoulders.
"Shit, it's 8:32 AM!" she hissed, checking her watch as she sprinted toward the bus station.
As she rounded the corner, she saw the yellow bus pulling away from the curb. "Wait! Stop!" she screamed, waving her arms like a maniac. Luckily, the driver caught a glimpse of her in the rearview mirror and hissed to a halt.
Raya climbed the steps, gasping for air, her face flushed a deep pink.
"Late for school again, Raya?" Mr. Frederick, the bus driver, asked with a tired but kind smile.
Raya offered an awkward, breathless grin. "I slept late. Sorry, Mr. Frederick."
"Always sleeping late, kiddo," he chuckled as the bus lurched forward. "Sleep early, wake early — simple science."
"I know, I know," she mumbled, finding a seat and leaning her head against the cool glass of the window.
The thirty-minute drive felt like an eternity. By the time she stepped off the bus, she was already twenty minutes past the first bell. Knowing the front gates would be guarded, she circled around to the back of the school building.
The fence was tall, but Raya was practiced in the art of the "late-arrival climb." She heaved her backpack over first, watching it land with a dull thud on the grass. Then, she gripped the metal links, hauled herself up, and vaulted over the top. She landed in a crouch, standing up to dust her hands off with a proud, triumphant smile.
"Thank God I don't have to face that asshole Head Boy today," she whispered to herself, reaching for her bag.
"You are late."
The voice was cool, steady, and far too familiar. Raya's heart nearly stopped. She slowly turned to see a handsome boy standing just a few feet away. His uniform was perfectly pressed, his shoes polished to a shine, and his hands were tucked casually into his pockets.
It was Zarin.
"And so?" Raya snapped, her pride quickly turning into annoyance. She knew she was in trouble the moment she saw him.
"Do you know what time it is?" Zarin asked, glancing down at his expensive watch.
Raya just glared at him, refusing to answer.
"Did you run all the way here?" he asked, his eyes taking in her disheveled appearance and her still-damp hair.
"Yeah, as you can see, I did," Raya said rudely. "So, can you just let me go? I've already missed enough of class."
"No," Zarin said simply.
"Asshole," Raya muttered, turning to walk away.
"Come back here, Raya," Zarin said calmly. "You know your punishment is waiting for you."
Raya ignored him, keeping her pace, but she didn't get far. She felt a sharp tug on the strap of her backpack that nearly pulled her backward. Zarin had grabbed her bag, holding her in place.
"What the hell, Zarin!" she yelled, turning on him.
"Get to work," he replied, pointing a finger at a pile of trash near the school gym.
"You know what, Zarin? I hate you. I really do," Raya fumed. "Despite the fact that our moms are best friends, you still pull this crap on me just because I'm a little late."
"Even if our moms are best friends, the rules apply to everyone," Zarin said, unfazed by her anger. "Wake up early if you want to avoid this. Now, get to work."
He turned and walked away without a second glance. Raya watched him disappear around the corner, her hands clenched into fists.
She spent the next hour picking up trash under the hot sun. By the time she was finished, she was sweaty and even more irritated. She walked to the outdoor sink to wash the grime from her hands, and just as she turned off the faucet, she felt something cold pressed against her cheek.
She jumped and turned, finding herself staring into a pair of kind, sparkling blue eyes. It was Henry, her long-time crush and Zarin's younger brother.
"Hey, Henry," she said, her voice immediately becoming soft and sweet.
"I see my brother has stressed you out this morning," Henry said with a sympathetic smile.
"Yeah," Raya sighed, her teeth gritted. "I really want to break that head of his."
Henry laughed, a bright, melodic sound. "Haha, let him be. Why don't we go grab something at the cafeteria? My treat."
"Yeah, sure. I'm starving," Raya admitted.
"You forgot to eat breakfast again, didn't you?" Henry asked knowingly.
Raya let out a small, embarrassed laugh. "Yeah, I did."
As they walked toward the cafeteria, the history of their families loomed in the background. Raya's mom, Arin, and Zarin's mom, April, had been best friends since the 8th grade. They were so close they had promised never to leave each other's side. April had married and had Zarin first. Arin, however, had been much more picky. She was obsessed with Korean men and rejected every suitor who didn't fit her "type."
Eventually, Arin met a handsome Korean man at a bar. They fell in love, married, and had Raya when Zarin was two years old. The parents were so delighted that they decided their first-born children would be engaged by the time Raya turned sixteen. Six months after Raya was born, Henry arrived, completing the trio.
"What would you like to have?" Henry asked as they stood in the lunch line.
"I'll take a hamburger and strawberry milk," Raya said, her mood finally lifting.
"And I'll have the tacos and a bottle of water," Henry added.
They collected their food and found a table in the corner. Raya unwrapped her burger, her mouth watering. But just as she was about to take her first bite, a hand reached out from behind her and snatched the burger away.
Zarin stood there, already taking a large bite out of it.
"What the hell, Zarin!" Raya screamed.
"I'm starving," Zarin said nonchalantly.
"Then go get your own, asshole!"
"Calm down, Raya," Henry intervened, pushing his tray toward her. "You can have my tacos."
Raya's eyes softened instantly. "Thanks, Henry," she said in a sweet, low voice.
Across the table, Zarin's expression darkened. He looked almost choked by her sudden change in tone. He reached over, grabbed Raya's unopened strawberry milk, and drank the whole thing in one go.
Strawberry milk was Raya's favorite thing in the world. Her temper snapped. She lunged across the table and grabbed Zarin by the neck of his shirt.
"Hey, hey! Raya, calm down!" Henry yelled, trying to pull her back.
Raya finally let go, shoving Zarin away. Zarin adjusted his collar, looking down at her with a smirk.
"You really want to choke me, stingy girl?" he said, thumping the empty milk carton onto the table. "Besides, it was too sweet."
He stood up, reached over, and rubbed his hand roughly over Raya's head, completely messing up her hair before walking away with a whistle.