The morning of my first day, I wore my new uniform with care. My heart beat fast as I walked beside my sister toward the school gates.
At the assembly ground, I joined the other students. Together we prayed, listened to speeches from the older students, and heard advice from teachers. Then came the moment I was waiting for—I was placed in Section II "A."
Finding my class wasn't easy. The building was painted red, with several sections lined one after another. I wandered around, nervous and confused, until finally I found the door marked "II A."
The moment I stepped inside, dozens of eyes turned toward me. I introduced myself shyly, my voice trembling a little. My new classmates smiled politely, and I felt a small wave of relief.
During the interval, however, I found myself sitting alone on a bench, staring at the ground. My mind wandered to memories of my old friends. I missed them badly.
Just then, a girl walked up to me.
"Hello, my friend. Why are you sitting alone?"
I shrugged.
"Hmm… I'm just used to it," I murmured.
She frowned slightly.
"Why so?"
I hesitated, then whispered, "Just…"
Her expression softened, and she smiled warmly.
"Oh, my friend, don't stay like that. Come join our group."
Her words melted something inside me. I followed her to her group of friends. Though my heart still raced with anxiety, I slowly began to feel a spark of confidence. We introduced ourselves, shared our hobbies, and even laughed together. For the first time in a long while, I felt like I belonged.
That day, I returned home with a big smile.
But when I reached the house, it was locked. My heart sank for a moment, but I quickly comforted myself, knowing they must be at work. I passed time by trying something new—cooking on my own.
I managed to cook rice easily, but when it came to curry, I struggled. I remembered my stepfather's lessons in the kitchen and tried to put them into practice. But I made a mistake—over-fried the vegetables. The curry didn't look good, and honestly, it didn't taste good either.
Still, I sat down, ate it quietly, and smiled to myself. It wasn't perfect, but it was mine. After finishing, I went to bed early, ready to face another day in my new school, in my new world.