"We're here," Summer said, stopping in front of a doorway. A small plaque on the door read:
Staff Only.
She turned to him, hugging her purse to her chest with both arms.
"Thank you, James. It was really nice talking to you."
"No worries, Summer," James replied with a smile, handing her the books. "I'm glad I could help."
He stepped back slowly, still facing her.
"It's about time I check on my siblings. Their classes should be ending soon."
"Thank you again, James!" Summer called, raising her hand in a small wave.
"Bye, Summer. Until we meet again," he replied with a casual salute and turned away, walking off down the hall.
He had only taken a few steps before her voice echoed again.
"James, wait!"
He spun back immediately.
She hadn't moved from the spot—but her hand was reaching out slightly, like part of her didn't want him to go.
"Yes? What is it, Summer?"
James's voice was bright with curiosity, his heart skipping in anticipation.
She took a breath before speaking—voice slightly louder now across the distance.
"Do you want to work here?" she called. "The school's been hiring lately—we're a bit short-staffed. And I saw your silhouette earlier at the local market. I asked around... they said you were looking for a job."
Ten meters apart, and yet to James, it felt like he hadn't walked away at all.
His answer was instant.
"Yes! I'd love to!"
Not just for the opportunity, but because it meant seeing her again. Speaking with her again. And maybe, just maybe, getting to know her more.
Summer smiled brightly and started walking toward him. James did the same.
Each step brought them closer, back to where it all began.
"What's your number?" she asked, pulling out her phone.
"XXX-XXX-XXXX," he recited easily.
Julia typed quickly, her thumbs tapping like soft notes.
"Got it! I'll text you the details later."
She looked up at him again, her smile soft, eyes gleaming with quiet joy.
James found himself staring.
'How can someone who just spoke of such deep pain smile like that? A smile that could thaw even the coldest heart...'
He caught himself and blinked back to the moment.
"I'll be expecting your message," he said, stepping back again. "Thanks for this, Summer. Truly. But I should get going now—still a lot to handle today."
"Of course," she said, smiling with a slight tilt of her head. "Goodbye, again."
"Goodbye, again," he echoed, this time closer than before.
They turned, each walking their own way down the corridor.
No words left.
Just the afterglow of a small moment that neither of them expected—but both would remember.
' Just yesterday we were strangers', James thought.
'And now... I want to hear her voice again. Soon.'
.....
....
...
..
.
Now walking up the familiar stairs. James went towards the room of his siblings.
He turned the corner toward his siblings' classroom.
And then—
He froze.
A girl stood by the railing, tapping away at her phone. White blond hair and a bob-cut. Crisp, ironed uniform. The crest of Newman High School stitched proudly on her blazer.
He could've kept walking. Could've ignored her entirely.
But her face...
James knew that face.
Valentina Bosconovitch.
The current student council president of Newman High. His classmate from elementary school. The girl who once sat beside him during reading time. The girl who barely spoke—but whose presence always seemed... pristine.
Rumor had it she was half-European. Distant. Polite. Out of reach.
James averted his eyes. 'Not worth the effort', he told himself.
He turned slightly, planning to walk away.
But then—
DING.
A glowing pink screen that had a royal touch to it pulsed into view, floating in the corner of his vision like a neon ghost.
---
[Sudden Mission Triggered]
Target: Valentina Bosconovitch
Objective: Initiate a conversation.
Reward: +5 Physical Stat
Difficulty: F
Failure Consequence: Extreme full-body soreness for 7 days.
[ "To be loved... is to take the first step."]
---
"...Seriously?" he muttered under his breath.
He looked at Valentina again. Still there, still scrolling through her phone, unaware of the emotional warfare breaking loose just meters away.
His muscles tensed. His jaw clenched.
' Talk to her? Just like that?'
Of all the people he could've bumped into. Valentina.
Back in elementary, she always had this air about her. Perfect scores. Perfect posture. Even her pencil case was color-coded.
They'd sat together for half a semester during 3rd grade. He remembered one time when his sweaty hand accidentally brushed hers during a partnered project. She didn't flinch. She didn't move away. She just kept writing, calm as still water.
He, on the other hand, had wanted to melt into his seat.
And now—now he was supposed to just walk up and talk to her?
"Yeah, right," he muttered, taking one slow step away. He thought that if he just complete the daily missions issued by the system and claim the rewards he could avoid soreness and most of all avoid Valentina.
[WARNING]
Failure countdown initiated.
[ Mild fatigue: 10%
Next phase in 10 seconds.]
A dull ache bloomed in his calves.
"Ow—what the hell?!"
He stumbled against the stair railing, legs suddenly feeling like he'd walked ten kilometers barefoot.
James took a deep breath.
'Okay. Okay. Just talk. It's a girl, not a demon. It's just a girl you used to know. No big deal. You're doing better now. You helped Julia carry books. You had a deep conversation. This is nothing compared to that... right?'
The pain surged again—this time spreading to his lower back.
[WARNING: Pain Level Increasing]
"Fine!" he hissed.
He shook out his hands, fixed his glasses, and took a deep breath like he was stepping into a boxing ring.
One step.
Two.
Three.
Now only a few meters away from her.
Valentina hadn't looked up. She was still scrolling her phone, earbuds in.
James stood there.
A beat passed.
Another.
His heart was hammering. His palms were sweaty. The system hadn't even started mental anguish yet, but he felt like vomiting.
He opened his mouth.
"...Hey, Valentina."
She didn't hear him.
He cleared his throat and said again, louder, voice cracking slightly:
"Uh—Valentina Bosconovitch?"
She blinked, slowly turning toward him.
Her eyes locked with his.
She pulled out one earbud.
"...Yes?"