She is Marin!
1083 Words
Marin was standing outside the classroom, quietly looking at the view from the hallway window. The morning breeze brushed gently against her red hair as she admired the campus.
“Marin, you can come in now,” the teacher called.
She nodded softly and stepped inside the room.
“Good morning, class,” said Mrs. Davis as she stood in front of the students. “How was your summer? I hope everyone spent it well.”
The class responded with cheerful murmurs.
“As you know, this section is the top section,” she continued proudly. “And in here are the best students. Am I right?”
“Yes, ma’am!” the class shouted.
Mrs. Davis smiled.
“10th Grade Einstein class will have a new classmate today. She is a transferee from NorthHigh, and she is also an honor student.”
The class suddenly became quiet.
“Can you tell us a little about yourself?” Mrs. Davis said as she gestured to the girl beside her.
Before the girl could even speak, a deep silence filled the room. Everyone was staring at her with curiosity and amazement.
Adrian especially couldn’t look away.
The girl slowly observed the room. Her eyes calmly scanned the students—until they stopped for a brief moment on Adrian. Then she quietly looked away.
“Hi, everyone,” she said with a gentle voice.
“My name is Marin Elle Smith… Marin for short.”
“Hello, Marin!” the class replied together.
Mrs. Davis nodded approvingly. “Please be nice to her, okay?”
At that moment, a strange nostalgic feeling filled the room—especially among the five boys.
Julian’s thoughts: An angel.
Theo quietly blushed.
Marcus smirked.
Caleb stared in amazement.
Adrian, however, could only think one thing.
So… you’re Marin.
——
Marin walked quietly toward the empty seat on the girls’ side of the classroom.
The room was arranged in a simple pattern—boys on the left, girls on the right. A narrow aisle separated the two sides, the desks facing each other like silent mirrors.
She paused for a brief moment beside the chair.
The seat she chose was directly opposite Adrian.
Without rushing, she pulled the chair back and sat down gracefully, placing her bag beside her desk.
A soft breeze slipped through the classroom window, gently brushing the strands of her reddish hair.
For a moment…
The entire room seemed quieter than usual.
Not the normal classroom silence.
This one felt different.
Curious.
Watching.
Waiting.
The five boys tried not to stare.
But they failed.
One by one, their eyes drifted toward her—some careful, some obvious.
And Marin noticed.
She noticed every single glance.
Slowly, she lifted her eyes.
Across the aisle, Adrian happened to look up at the same moment.
Their gazes locked.
Adrian felt something strange in his chest.
Her eyes were soft.
Gentle.
Almost innocent.
Yet there was something deeper inside them… something he couldn’t quite understand.
Then she smiled faintly.
A small, warm smile.
“Hi, Aid.”
The name slipped from her lips so naturally it felt as if they had known each other for years.
Adrian froze.
His thoughts instantly erupted.
Wait.
What?
How does she know my name?
Did someone tell her?
Did she ask about me before coming here?
Why would she do that?
Did she… stalk me?
Wait—no—why would she even care enough to know my name?
He blinked several times, trying to catch up with reality.
“H-hello… Ma… Marin,” Adrian finally replied awkwardly.
Marin giggled softly.
The sound was light.
Gentle.
Like the faint ringing of glass wind chimes.
But the moment Adrian looked away, the curve of her smile softened into something quieter.
Something thoughtful.
Inside her mind, Marin observed the classroom again.
Her gaze slowly moved across the five boys.
So… these are the ones.
First, her eyes landed on Julian, the boy sitting in front of Adrian.
Julian had already turned halfway around in his chair, openly studying her face with interest.
His confidence was obvious.
He leaned closer to Adrian and whispered a little too loudly.
“Aid… she’s an angel, isn’t she? Your face is so red.”
He chuckled, trying to hold back laughter.
But inside his mind, another thought quietly formed.
Why did she greet Adrian first?
A small, unfamiliar irritation flickered in his chest.
Julian leaned back again, pretending he didn’t care.
Then Marin’s eyes drifted to the side.
Theo.
Theo quickly looked down at his notebook the moment he realized she might look at him.
His ears slowly turned red.
Focus… focus…
Just focus on the notes.
But the words on his page blurred.
Why is she sitting there?
She’s too… pretty.
He swallowed and adjusted his glasses, refusing to look up again.
Next, Marin’s gaze shifted toward the back.
Marcus.
Marcus leaned lazily against his chair, arms crossed.
Unlike the others, he didn’t look away.
He watched her calmly.
Carefully.
A slow smirk appeared on his lips.
Interesting.
She’s not nervous at all.
Most transferees would be sweating by now.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
Who exactly are you… Marin?
Then there was Caleb.
Caleb was staring in pure amazement.
His mouth opened slightly before he quickly closed it again.
She looks like she stepped out of an anime…
Red hair… freckles…
How is someone like that real?
Realizing he had been staring too long, Caleb quickly lowered his head in embarrassment.
Finally, Marin faced forward again.
Her expression returned to the same calm, gentle smile everyone else saw.
But inside her mind…
Her thoughts were much quieter.
Much sharper.
Five of them.
Just like they said.
For a brief moment, something colder flickered behind her soft eyes.
Then it disappeared.
Behind Adrian, Julian leaned back in his chair again and whispered loudly.
“Aid, seriously… your face is glowing red.”
“N-nothing… don’t mind me,” Adrian muttered quickly.
But his heartbeat refused to slow down.
As the class continued, something about the atmosphere in the room felt different.
Normally, the five boys were the loudest students in class.
The ones who joked the most.
The ones teachers had to constantly warn.
But now…
They were strangely quiet.
Almost cautious.
Across the aisle, Marin lightly traced the edge of her notebook with her finger.
Her eyes briefly lifted again.
Watching them.
Studying them.
Interesting…
Then the bell rang sharply through the classroom.
“It’s lunch time.”
- Writer
