7:50 a.m., Newman Elementary.
James stood in front of the tall school gate, dressed neatly in a yellow collared shirt tucked into black pants. His outfit, freshly ironed, clung slightly to his still-warming skin. Slung over his shoulder was a sturdy backpack packed with care: a homemade lunch, two easy-dry shirts, two towels, a lightweight aluminum water bottle, a small bottle of perfume, and wet wipes.
He adjusted the straps and looked up just as a uniformed security guard approached. The man wore a firm expression and had a bright, polished badge clipped to his chest.
"Good morning, sir. What brings you here so early? Classes don't start until 8 a.m." the guard asked, his voice brisk but not unkind.
James smiled politely.
"Good morning! I'm here for a job offer, actually. My friend..Summer Heartfelia told me about an opening, and I accepted it."
The guard scratched his beard, squinting slightly.
"Summer Heartfelia... yeah, I know her. She's that new girl. But I haven't heard anything about a new hire. Let me check with my supervisor. Please wait here a moment."
With that, he turned and headed into the nearby guardhouse.
James exhaled slowly, fiddling with the phone in his pocket.
"Huh… Even Summer said they were hiring..." he muttered.
A small vibration buzzed in his hand. He glanced down at his screen.
---
(1 NEW MESSAGE)
[Summer 💐]
("James I forgot to tell you hehe… I usually come in around 9 or 10. My aunt gives me stuff I can do at home, so I'm kind of part-part-time worker. Sorry I didn't mention it sooner! 😅 Good luck with your first day though!")
---
James stared at the message, then looked up at the tall gate.
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, the cold morning air brushing gently against his cheeks.
"Of course… She forgot," he chuckled to himself. "Typical Summer."
He sat down on the low curb nearby, fingers loosely gripping his phone.
"Sad... but I was kinda hoping to see Summer early in the morning. Heh."
Just as he looked up again, the security guard began approaching from the gate booth.
"Sir, apologies for the wait. You may proceed to the principal's office—it's loca—"
James cut him off with a polite smile.
"It's fine. I used to go here. Thanks, though. And good morning."
The guard nodded, then opened the gate for him. It was nearing 8 a.m. Paul and Saul would probably arrive any minute now but James had stopped waiting. If James had to guess what they were doing now—He would guess that they were confirming each other whilst arguing...And James would be right, it was called an 'older brother's intuition'.
He followed the guard through the gates and into the familiar school grounds.
A gentle sense of nostalgia hit him as he walked past the front garden. The same patch of flowers bloomed just like before vivid, calming, delicate.
He paused for only a second. Mesmerizing as it was, today he wasn't here to admire the flowers.
Today, he was focused. Locked in. Determined.
His footsteps echoed lightly through the hallway as he turned right and stopped in front of a tall double door. Above it, engraved in brass:
'Principal's Office'
He took one last breath and psyched himself up.
Knock knock.
A mature voice called from inside.
"Come in."
He pushed the door open and stepped in.
A sleek desk with a computer sat at the far end of the room. Behind it was a composed clerk—mid-thirties maybe, glasses perched on her nose, jet-black blouse crisp and professional. Only her upper half was visible as she typed away.
"Please proceed. The Principal is waiting inside," she said with a slight nod.
'Oh damn... I thought she was the Principal,' James thought, a little thrown off.
"Y-Yeah. Thank you. Good morning," he replied, clearing his throat.
He turned to the adjacent door beside her desk and opened it slowly...
Only to see a black-haired man in a white long sleeve shirt and plaid vest, kissing an auburn-haired woman dressed sharply in a black blouse and blazer.
James froze.
Then, without a word, he slowly closed the door again, trying to pretend that had never happened.
"Wait!"
The woman's voice rang out from inside.
James flinched and instinctively pushed the door open again.
"Honey, I'm off to work. See you later," the man said cheerfully, giving the woman a final smile before walking out right past James.
"I… apologize you had to see that," the man said, cheeks slightly flushed as he extended a hand.
"I'm Rowan. Rowan Solaire."
James shook Rowan's hand and after doing so he went outside the room.
Now, it was just James and the woman now leaning on the desk.
She looked up at him with curious eyes, leaning slightly forward on her elbows.
"Apologies… Are you the one Summer recommended?"
"Yes, ma'am. I'm James Draevin—it's a pleasure to meet you, and I'm honored to work here!"
He bowed slightly, then extended his hand for a handshake with a confident smile.
"James… James Draevin…" the woman repeated, narrowing her eyes slightly.
Then her tone shifted, surprised and almost nostalgic. "Wait....James? Did you go to this school during your elementary years?"
Still holding out his hand, James replied, "Yes, ma'am. I was here from kindergarten all the way through sixth grade."
But instead of shaking his hand, the woman suddenly stood up, rounded the desk, and pulled James into a warm, tight hug.
"James! It is you! How have you been?!"
James blinked rapidly. "Uh—ma'am…?"
His arms stiffened at his sides as the woman embraced him, her blazer pressing lightly against his chest. The scent of faint perfume and office air freshener filled his nose.
The hug lasted just a bit too long.
"Aww… You don't seem to remember me," she said with a soft laugh. "It's me—Ms. Valencia! I was your teacher for almost every subject from kindergarten all the way to sixth grade."
She placed a hand on her chest, smiling at the memory.
"Ironic, isn't it? Out of all the classes I taught during those eight years… you just happened to be in every single one of them."
The woman said happily.
"Ms.Valencia...Its you!"
James exclaimed , and numerous memories started appearing.
"In the flesh." She winked. "And look at you now. Grown, respectful, and about to be a part of this school again."
"I—uh—wow, you really remember me?" he asked awkwardly, now trying to stand upright again.
She pulled away with a bright smile, her hands resting briefly on his shoulders.
"Of course I do! You used to chase the dragonflies in the garden and make up stories about magical recess kingdoms and constanly talked about the animated shows you watched. You were unforgettable."
James chuckled, scratching the back of his neck. "Well… yeah, I had a pretty wild imagination back then."
The woman smiled warmly. "I'm Principal Solaire now. But back then, I was just Ms. Valencia.
James nodded, still a little dazed. "Honestly, I didn't expect my first day to start with hugs and nostalgia."
She laughed and gestured for him to sit. "Well, around here we believe in warm welcomes. Especially for returning students."
"Also…" Principal Gaeul Valencia-Solaire narrowed her eyes slightly, her tone shifting as she leaned back against her desk.
"Since you were recommended by Summer… what exactly is your relationship with her?"
The warmth in the room vanished like a popped soap bubble.
James felt it immediately the shift.
The smile on her face was still polite, but her eyes now carried the same intense scrutiny parents give when they suspect you're too close to their child.
It was the look that said: I'm smiling, but I can end your life in a moment.
"I… uh…" James stammered, suddenly unsure where to put his hands.
He gulped.
"Well… you see… it's not like....We're not.... She's just—"
"You're just what?" she asked sweetly, arms now crossed.
"I mean—we talk! But not like that-talk. More like, friendly talk! She's the one who brought up this job...so, you know, that's all it is, really. Professional… and friendly… talking…"
Yvette raised a single brow. "Mhm."
James straightened his back instinctively, sweat forming at his temple.
'Why is this more intense than my workouts...'
DING