🌷 Author's Note
Hey everyone, I'm so sorry for not uploading a new chapter yesterday. Life got a bit hectic, but I haven't forgotten you! The next chapter is coming soon — it's emotional, funny, and straight from the heart. Thank you so much for your patience and support. 💖
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The bell finally rang, slicing through the sleepy afternoon like a silver blade. Everyone shot up from their seats as if the floor had caught fire. Bags zipped, chairs scraped, laughter spilled across the room.
But I didn't move.
I was pretending to fix my notebook—again. Riya noticed, of course. She leaned over my desk, whispering with that knowing smirk.
"Don't tell me you're waiting for him.""I'm not," I lied, too fast.
"Uh-huh." She dragged the word out, then called across the room, "Trent! Siena's—"
I slapped my hand over her mouth. "Shh!"
Trent, who was halfway out the door, turned with a grin. "What? Siena's what? Secret admirer club again?"
"Go home, Trent," I muttered, my cheeks burning.
"Fine, fine." He slung his bag over his shoulder. "But I'm taking that as a yes."
Emily giggled from behind us. "You guys are too obvious. It's literally written on your face, Siena."
"Nothing's written anywhere," I said, flipping my notebook shut. But my eyes—traitors—drifted toward the last row.
He was still there. The new boy. Sitting quietly, tying his shoelaces like he had all the time in the world. His name… I still didn't know.
Mirai was already packing up her things, but she paused, glancing at him. "He gives weird vibes," she murmured.
Stella raised an eyebrow. "Weird how?"
"Like… calm. Too calm," Mirai said, zipping her pencil case. "No one's that calm on their first week."
"Maybe he's just shy," I said.
"Or maybe," Riya whispered dramatically, "he's secretly an undercover transfer agent from the principal's office—sent to catch who's been doodling hearts in the textbooks."
Trent, from the door, shouted, "That's Siena! She's guilty!"
"Trent!" I threw an eraser at him. He dodged it and disappeared laughing down the hall.
"Or maybe," Rhea whispered dramatically, "he's secretly an undercover transfer agent from the principal's office—sent to catch who's been doodling hearts in the textbooks."
Trent, from the door, shouted, "That's Siena! She's guilty!"
"Trent!" I threw an eraser at him. He dodged it and disappeared laughing down the hall.
The group dissolved into giggles. For a second, everything felt easy—just warm sunlight, friends, and the echo of laughter. But then, when I looked back again…
He was gone.
The chair where he'd been sitting was empty. No bag, no sound, nothing. I blinked, scanning the room. "Wait—did anyone see him leave?"
Riya frowned. "I thought he was still there a second ago."
Emily shrugged. "Maybe he's fast? Like, ninja fast?"
Mirai stood by the window, staring outside. "No one's in the corridor either."
A chill crawled up my spine, small but sharp. "That's… weird."
The sunlight had shifted, turning softer, more golden. The air felt still again—like the classroom was holding its breath.
Stella grabbed her bag. "Come on, Siena. Let's go before Mr. Han locks us in again."
I nodded, forcing a smile. But as I walked past the empty seat, I noticed something—just a faint mark on the desk.
A doodle.
A single word, written in neat handwriting: "April."
My name wasn't there. Just April.
My heart thudded once, hard.
Riya called from the door, "You coming, birthday girl?"
"Yeah," I said quickly, shoving the notebook into my bag. "Just… forgot something."
But as I stepped into the hallway, I glanced back one last time. The sunlight on that desk seemed to blush faintly, almost like it was smiling.
And for some reason, I knew—
Tomorrow wouldn't be an ordinary day.