There was a girl name noelle with black messy hair in her right eye, laying there deep asleep put her hand on her forehead looking up at the ceiling she force herself up as she struggled to steady herself half embarrassed, half still asleep.
She stumbled toward downstairs head down sitting next to her mother who is reading a newspaper ignore her,
Her mother didn't acknowledge her presence. No "good morning." No glance. Just the soft rustle of pages turning.noelle just stand up and walked out of the house door click close. She walking her usual routine to her school She kept her head down, letting the hood of her jacket hide her face from the few early commuters.
Her mind wandered, half asleep, half lost in thought. The words of her mother or rather, the lack of them gnawed at her. It was the same every morning silence, cold indifference, a wall between them thicker than the bricks of the house she was leaving. Noelle clenched her fists, trying to shake the unease that settled in her chest like a stone.
By the time she reached the school gates, the noise of chatter and lockers slamming made her feel even smaller, like she was invisible in a crowd that didn't notice her or didn't care to. She slung her backpack over her shoulder, forcing herself to blend into the sea of students.
As she walked down the hall, she caught snippets of laughter and gossip. Names floated past, meaningless to her, except for on Lucien her childhood who was born at the same time and the same hospital too their parents were best friends. He was standing by his locker waiting for her, holding her favourite strawberry fruit and coffee.
But She forced her eyes back to the floor walking pass him,ignoring the pull to look, and shuffled to her classroom. The teacher hadn't arrived yet, and the empty room smelled faintly of chalk and old paper. Noelle slid into her seat by the window, letting the early light wash over her pale skin. Outside, the world kept moving, busy, oblivious, as if her silent chaos didn't exist.
And for the first time that morning, Noelle allowed herself a small, bitter smile. Maybe that was the point walking through life unnoticed, untouched.
She didn't know it, but today would not be the same as always.Noelle's pen hovered over her notebook, pretending to take notes she had no intention of writing.
sudden knock on the classroom door jolted her from her thoughts.
"Morning, Noelle," it said softly.
Her head snapped up. The voice was familiar, warm, yet carrying an edge of concern she hadn't felt in years. Lucien stood in the doorway, backpack slung over one shoulder, holding the same strawberry fruit and coffee he had earlier at the gate. His dark eyes searched hers, patient, unshaken by her cold dismissal
"You forgot your… uh…" he trailed off, glancing at her empty desk. "Morning coffee?"
"I… don't need it," she muttered, her voice barely above a whisper, eyes glued to the page
Lucien stepped inside anyway, careful not to crowd her space, placing the coffee and strawberry gently on her desk. He doesnt take the hint, his eyes narrowed slightly not in anger, but in quiet concern.
"You didn't eat this morning, did you?" he said softly.
Noelle's fingers
twitched, hovering near the coffee cup, but she didn't reach for it. Her stomach growled faintly, a reluctant reminder that she had skipped breakfast.
kind of is," he said. "When you stop answering my texts. When you don't look at me anymore. When you walk past me like I'm a stranger.He walked and pulled out the chair across from her, sitting down with the quiet ease of someone who had known her too long to be intimidated
She said nothing, instead she couldn't resist it any longer took the coffee and strawberries.Noelle's fingers trembled slightly as she lifted the coffee cup, the warmth seeping into her hands. She took a small sip, avoiding Lucien's gaze
Lucien didn't speak immediately. He just watched her quietly with a small smile on his face seeing her finally eating ,he knew her too well.
The teacher's voice cut through the haze of her thoughts, sharp and commanding. "Good morning, class. Let's settle down. We have a lot to cover today, and there will be a new student join our class" .The teacher's eyes landed on Noelle for just a moment, then back to the class. "This is jihao ," she said, gesturing to the newcomer. "jihao just transferred from another city. I expect everyone to make them feel welcome."
Jihao stood there,tall with long black hair tying in a bun. Considering his expensive clothes and his good looking appeal, it wasn't surprising he was wealth, she thought to herself.
The teacher clapped her hands once, sharp enough to snap Noelle out of her thoughts. "Class, let's welcome Jihao properly. Please introduce yourselves briefly."
One by one, the students muttered their names, some shy, some overconfident I think that is all the students "the teacher said" Lucien still sitting there one hand is resting on his cheeks staring at the teacher, didn't say a word for a few minutes when finally speak up and say "teacher?you forget to calls Noelle" when teacher looking down at the list of names "oh! Noelle I forgot you were here I am I didn't see you there" but Noelle wasn't surprised at all she did get used to it longer time ago. Her voice was low, almost swallowed by the hum of the room.
Noelle's throat felt tight. She avoided looking at Jihao, her gaze fixed on the worn edge of her desk. "Noelle's voice finally emerged, barely above a whisper. "Noelle…" she said, her eyes still fixed on the desk, tracing invisible patterns on the wood.. The sound barely carried, but the teacher gave a small nod, accepting it.Noelle sank back into her chair as the teacher moved on.…leaving Noelle staring out the window again.Her hands rested on the desk, fingers still lightly touching the remnants of strawberry jam on the plate Lucien had set for her.
"Nice to meet you, everyone," Jihao said smoothly, his voice carrying just enough authority to draw attention without arrogance. "I hope we'll get along." His smile was polite, almost practiced, but there was something faintly intriguing in his expression,
The teacher, oblivious to the tension brewing, clapped her hands again. "Alright, everyone, open your textbooks to page seventy-three. Today we're going to discuss" Her voice faded into background noise for Noelle as she picked at the strawberry with trembling fingers
civil structures," the teacher continued, chalk scratching against the board, the sound sharp in the quiet classroom. "Today we'll focus on the basic principles of load distribution in bridges and buildings. Please open your textbooks to page seventy-three."
She stare at the board pretending to write the notes down but she thought,knew it was pointless because no one will remember she was here.
Lucien shifted in his seat, nudging her slightly with his elbow. "Hey… you're spacing out again," he whispered. His voice was low, teasing, but there was concern underneath it.
Noelle flinched, her head snapping toward him. "I… I'm listening," she murmured, cheeks warming.
Lucien gave her a look that said he didn't quite believe her, but he let it go, turning back to the board.
civil structures," the teacher continued, chalk scratching against the board, the sound sharp in the quiet classroom. "Today we'll focus on the basic principles of load distribution in bridges and buildings. Please open your textbooks to page seventy-three."
She stare at the board pretending to write the notes down but she thought,knew it was pointless because no one will remember she was here.
Lucien shifted in his seat, nudging her slightly with his elbow. "Hey… you're spacing out again," he whispered. His voice was low, teasing, but there was concern underneath it.
Noelle flinched, her head snapping toward him. "I… I'm listening," she murmured, cheeks warming.
Lucien gave her a look that said he didn't quite believe her, but he let it go, turning back to the board,
She stare at the board pretending to write the notes down but she thought,knew it was pointless because no one will remember she was here.
Lucien shifted in his seat, nudging her slightly with his elbow. "Hey… you're spacing out again," he whispered. His voice was low, teasing, but there was concern underneath it.
Noelle flinched, her head snapping toward him. "I… I'm listening," she murmured, cheeks warming.
Lucien gave her a look that said he didn't quite believe her, but he let it go, turning back to the board.
The bell finally rang, Noelle was glad and scary to face the hallway again, She packed her bag slowly, deliberately avoiding eye contact with anyone. The noise outside her classroom lockers slamming, students shouting greetings, She tugged her hood a little lower, trying to make herself smaller, invisible.
Lucien stood beside her, hands in his pockets, watching her with that same patient, unreadable expression he always wore when she seemed to drift too far into herself. "You coming?" he asked softly, not rushing her.