MAX'S POV
I woke up early as usual... I looked up at the sealing... Just another day.... I got up and went to freshen up.... And as usual I went for my jogging and did my morning routine like everyday...
After getting ready I looked at myself in the mirror... I saw a person whom I don't remember anymore... While locking the house I looked inside one time more....
It's a small house perfect for a small happy family but now it just feels cold and empty like always.... I locked the door and left ..
I went to my New school.... I looked around... Everyone is having fun with their friends and lovers.... Is it really that fun? I thought to myself... I went straight to the principal then he took me to the teacher's office....
Principal: Mr. Ken... This is Max... She will be joining your class from today....
Jay: But Sir it's been almost 4 months since this year's classes have started...
And now a transfer student and to that class? Will she be able to keep up?
The principal looked at me with doubt in his eyes....
Principal: She better keep up...
"Don't worry Sir... She will...." Mr. Ken looked nice as he smiled at me and came towards me.
"Hii... My name is Ken... From today onwards I will be your class teacher. If you need anything come to me... I'll help you as I can..." I nodded my head, and he took me to the class.
On my way to class, everyone was looking at me. I could hear them sympathizing with me, and I don't know why. Some were looking at me angrily. Anyways, I don't care about all these, and we reached the class. I could hear a lot of noise from the class. We both went in.
"Everyone go to your seats..." Everyone listened to him and went to their seats. I could see their expression on seeing me.
Only 3 girls were there in the class, and they all looked as if I stole something from them. They looked so angry. And the boys... They looked annoyed by me, as if my presence made them sick.
"So from today onwards we have a new member in our class, Please introduce yourself..."
I didn't want to introduce myself, but I had to.
Before I could open my mouth, someone yelled for me not to bother introducing myself, saying I wasn't welcomed to the class. Another girl called me an outsider, and a third said they wouldn't care if I was some big shot's daughter, they wouldn't consider me one of them.
I looked at them. This wasn't new to me; I was never welcomed anywhere.
I responded, "Okay... I won't bother you guys and you guys don't bother me... And as for my parents... Don't worry no one will come for me.... I am an orphan...."
I saw a flicker of guilt and sympathy in their reaction, but they didn't let it show. Ken then spoke up, defending me and telling me not to take their words to heart, directing me to a seat at the back of the room.
I nodded my head at him and went to sit there. As I sat down, my deskmate moved his seat a bit away from me as if I had some contagious disease.
I could feel someone's eyes on me... I looked to my side and saw a guy reading comic and another one sleeping.... I could still hear them gossiping about me... I didn't care... I just focused on the class. ..
RAY'S POV
I was half asleep when Sir walked in with the new kid.
The noise stirred me awake, and the moment I opened my eyes… I don't know what happened, but I couldn't look away from her.
She wore the same uniform as the rest of us — a white shirt and blue pants. Simple. Ordinary.
Yet somehow, it couldn't hide her beauty.
But it wasn't her beauty that held me.
It was her eyes.
Her eyes were deep — like they carried too many stories, too many unsaid words. As if they wanted to speak but chose silence instead. So deep that for a moment, I thought if I fell into them, I'd never find my way back.
Her long black hair framed her face, and everything about her made me curious.
She sat beside me. I noticed how her desk mate quietly shifted away, creating distance.
That's when it hit me.
She was a stranger.
She didn't belong with us.
I closed my eyes again, pretending to sleep… but I could feel it — her gaze on me, lingering for a few seconds longer than necessary.
Then the class began...
MAX'S POV
I was in the ladies' washroom when I heard them.
A group of girls, whispering—no, gossiping—about me. Saying nasty things like it was entertainment. I heard every word, but I didn't react. What was the point? Reacting wouldn't change anything.
When they finally left, I stepped out and went to class like nothing had happened. After that, I headed straight to the garage. I changed into my working clothes, tied my hair back, and got to work. Grease, oil, tools—this place felt more real than school ever did.
Some time later, one of my colleagues called me over. A car had just come in and needed a tire change. I walked over casually… and then I saw them.
My new classmates.
They were leaning against the car—the same girls, the guy who yelled at me that morning, the so-called comic guy, and the sleepy one who barely opened his eyes in class.
"Look who it is," Jiny said with a smirk.
"Isn't this our new classmate?" Levy added.
Min glanced around the garage and laughed. "So this is where you work? You really are poor."
Jiny sneered again. "See? You don't belong with us."
I didn't look up.
"Fine," I said quietly. "Let me do my job."
I crouched down and started working on the tire. They kept talking, whispering, laughing—but I blocked them out. My hands moved steadily, muscle memory taking over. I could feel eyes on me, though—the sleepy guy's gaze, and the comic guy's too. They weren't mocking. They were… watching.
In less than ten minutes, I was done.
I stood up, wiped my hands, and stepped back—job finished.
"It's done," I said quietly, stepping back from the car.
Levy held out the money and walked toward me. Just before I could take it, her fingers loosened and the cash slipped from her hand, fluttering to the ground between us.
"Oops. Sorry," she said, her lips curving into a smile that wasn't kind. "Since you're so down-to-earth, you can pick it up yourself."
They laughed. All of them.
The sound cut sharper than I expected.
Except for two of them.
"Stop it," one of the boys said. His voice was calm, but firm.
"But Ray—" Jiny started.
"Let's go," another guy interrupted.
"Okay, Mr. Vik," Min replied dramatically, rolling her eyes.
So their names were Ray and Vik.
They listened to those two, climbed back into the car, and drove away. Just like that. The laughter faded with the engine sound, leaving silence behind.
I crouched down and picked up the money from the ground, my hands steady even though my chest felt tight.
"Who were they?" Pol asked, watching me closely.
"No one," I replied.
"But they were bullying you."
"I said… it's nothing."
Pol didn't look convinced, but he didn't push further. I knew he meant well. He always does. That's exactly why I didn't want him involved in my mess. He's a good person — too good. And I didn't want my problems to stain him.
Some things are easier to carry alone.