Untitled Episode
1150 Words
The swimming pool of Golden Leaf Academy was usually filled with laughter, splashes, and the sound of chlorine against tiled edges. But now, it was quiet, the surface perfectly still, reflecting the empty ceiling above.
Adrian Cole stood at the edge of the pool, hands in his pockets, staring at the calm water. He wasn’t here to swim, and he wasn’t here to enjoy the peace. He was hiding.
The heavy creak of the pool door broke the silence. A girl walked in, her footsteps echoing against the polished tiles. Elena Harrington—perfect hair styled with precision, make-up flawless, the pristine uniform tailored to fit her slender frame. She radiated the kind of confidence money could buy, the kind that made the air feel heavier when she entered a room.
Her sharp eyes landed on Adrian. She didn’t smile, didn’t soften. She walked straight to him, stopping at his side with the grace of someone who always knew she was being watched.
“So here is where you’re hiding, Adrian.” Her voice carried authority more than affection.
Adrian didn’t flinch. He had long grown used to her presence, her constant need to claim space. He turned slightly, offering a faint smile that didn’t reach his eyes.
“Do you know how long it took me to realize you were hiding here?” she pressed, her lips curving into a small grin that was equal parts amused and taunting.
He sighed, finally facing her. His hand reached to her shoulder out of habit, not warmth. “I wasn’t feeling it… that’s why I’m here. Avoiding people.”
“People?” Elena tilted her head. “Ahh… just now, when I was coming here, I heard you had a little accident with the new girl…” Her smirk widened.
Adrian removed his hand from her shoulder, his expression cooling. “It’s nothing you should be concerned about, Elena. It was merely an accident.”
“An accident, you say?” Her tone softened, almost playful, but her eyes glinted with something sharper. “You’re right. I’ll let it go since she’s new… she probably doesn’t know yet that you belong to me.”
She stepped closer, her words whispered against his face, the scent of her perfume surrounding him.
Adrian stood still, enduring. He didn’t return her gaze, but he also didn’t shove her away. He knew better. Elena Harrington wasn’t someone you defied openly—not when her father was one of the co-founders of Golden Leaf Academy, not when her family’s shadow stretched across the entire school.
She smiled, satisfied with his silence, then leaned back slightly. “It’s been so long since we had a transfer student. I’m eager to meet her. You’ve seen her already, Adrian. Tell me—” her eyes pierced him, sharp as knives, “—is she beautiful?”
Adrian exhaled slowly. He had learned how to respond in ways that avoided confrontation. He reached for her hand, placing it gently against his chest, his other hand brushing her cheek as though she was the only one who mattered. His eyes, however, were tired.
“No one is as beautiful as you are, Elena. No one could ever be.”
Her lips curled into a victorious smirk. She leaned into him, closing the distance until their bodies brushed, heat radiating between them.
“Then give me a good morning kiss,” she commanded.
Adrian hesitated only a fraction of a second before leaning down, his lips pressing against hers. Her lip gloss was sweet, almost cloying, but his mind drifted elsewhere. It wasn’t passion—it was a performance, one he had repeated many times before.
The kiss deepened, but before Elena could draw it out further, the sharp clang of the bell echoed across the pool. She pulled away reluctantly, straightening her uniform.
“I guess it’s time for class,” she said, looping her arm through Adrian’s with casual possession. Her eyes sparkled with excitement. “I’m really excited.”
Adrian followed, silent, the weight of invisible chains pulling him down.
Class 11 was already buzzing when the teacher entered, his presence quieting the chatter. Behind him walked Lina Ashford.
Immediately, the students’ eyes darted toward her. Whispers floated around like restless birds.
“Is this the new student?”
“She’s pretty…”
“Look at her hair!”
Her red silk-like hair caught the light, flowing past her shoulders. Her uniform was crisp and perfectly fitted, her wrist adorned with a delicate bracelet that gleamed under the fluorescent lights. Everything about her looked expensive, refined—not the image of a struggling scholarship student.
The teacher cleared his throat. “Alright, quiet down. I have good news today. We have a new student joining us.” He gestured toward Lina.
She smiled softly, scanning the faces in the classroom. She spotted Nora Bering, someone familiar, and relief brushed over her chest. Then her eyes fell on him—the boy from the hallway. Adrian. Her heart skipped in intrigue.
From her seat, Elena Harrington smirked and leaned closer to Adrian. “What a coincidence,” she whispered, her voice dripping with amusement. “The new girl is in our class.” A quiet laugh followed.
Lina stepped forward when prompted. “My name is Lina Ashford. I’m seventeen years old. I’m happy to be here. I hope we can become friends.”
The class clapped politely, though murmurs rippled beneath the surface.
The teacher beamed. “You all heard Miss Ashford. She hopes to make friends. And, our student here is sponsored by Trinity Corporation, so I hope you all treat her well.”
At once, the atmosphere shifted. Laughter and whispers broke out. A few chuckles rolled into sneers.
“Another scholarship kid,” someone muttered.
“Figures.”
Lina’s heart clenched, but her face remained composed. She walked to the back, where an empty seat awaited her. She sat between a nerdy girl scribbling notes furiously and, to her left by the window, a boy who was fast asleep, his head propped against his arm.
The lesson began, but Lina’s mind wandered. She wanted so badly for this to work, for this school to be her new beginning. Trishan had given her everything she needed to fit in—clothes, accessories, confidence. She didn’t want to waste it.
Yet, beneath the surface, an unease lingered.
At the end of the week , she had her head on her desk, staring at the patterns of light on the window. Her heart whispered doubts she tried to silence.
Was this really a good idea?
Is this how my school life will be?
Her hands clenched. Her chest felt heavy.
Why? she asked herself as the noise of laughter and mocking whispers filled her ears. Why am I a student too… so why are they treating me like this?
- Writer
