Chapter 1- First Day
1787 Words
Clarisse’s POV
The first day of school as a student feeling a bit strange to me.
Exciting, but terrifying at the same time.
There was something about walking into a new classroom, seeing unfamiliar faces, and wondering who you would become friends with. I had spent the entire morning preparing myself, checking my uniform more than once, fixing my hair, and making sure I had everything I needed.
My mother even laughed at me before I left.
“You're going to school, not a job interview.”
“I know,” I replied, checking my bag again.
“You've checked that bag five times.”
“Maybe I forgot something.”
“You didn't.”
I smiled.
“Okay. I'm going.”
And now, standing outside the classroom, I suddenly wished I had listened to her.
I looked at the room number written on my schedule.
Room 204.
I looked at the door.
Then at my schedule again.
“Okay, Clarisse.”
I took a deep breath.
“Just walk in.”
I opened the door.
The classroom was already filled with students.
Some were laughing with their old friends. Others were sitting quietly, scrolling through their phones. A few were still standing near the door, probably as nervous as I was.
I stepped inside.
For a few seconds, I didn't know where to go.
I scanned the room and found an empty seat near the middle.
Perfect.
I walked toward it and placed my bag on the chair.
I sat down and opened my notebook, pretending to be busy.
The truth was, I didn't know what else to do.
I looked around.
Everyone seemed to already have someone.
I was beginning to feel awkward when someone suddenly stood beside the chair next to mine.
“Is this seat taken?”
I looked up.
It was a girl.
She had a friendly smile and was holding a notebook in her hands.
“No,” I said. “You can sit there.”
She smiled.
“Thanks.”
She sat down.
For a moment, we were both quiet.
Then she turned toward me.
“I'm Yvonne.”
I smiled.
“I'm Clarisse.”
“Nice to meet you.”
“You too.”
She looked around the classroom.
“Do you know anyone here?”
I shook my head.
“Not really.”
“Same.”
She laughed softly.
“Well, at least we know each other now.”
I smiled.
“That's true.”
Something about her made me feel comfortable.
Maybe because she was just as unfamiliar with everyone as I was.
We started talking about simple things.
Our schedules.
Our professors.
Where we lived.
What subjects we liked.
It wasn't anything special.
But it was enough to make the classroom feel less unfamiliar.
Then the door opened again.
I didn't pay much attention at first.
Until Yvonne suddenly stopped talking.
“Look.”
I looked toward the door.
A guy had just entered.
He was wearing his uniform properly, carrying a black backpack on one shoulder.
He looked serious.
Not angry.
Just…serious.
He didn't smile at anyone.
He didn't greet anyone.
He simply walked inside, looked around, and found an empty seat near the back.
He sat down and took out his phone.
I looked at Yvonne.
“Who is he?”
“I don't know.”
“He looks intimidating.”
Yvonne laughed.
“Maybe he's just shy.”
“Maybe.”
I looked at him again.
For some reason, he seemed different from everyone else.
While the rest of the classroom was noisy, he seemed completely unaffected by it.
He just sat there quietly.
I eventually looked away.
I didn't know his name.
I didn't know anything about him.
And honestly, I didn't think I would ever have a reason to talk to him.
I was wrong.
---
Our professor arrived a few minutes later, and everyone settled down.
“Good morning, class.”
“Good morning, Ma'am.”
She introduced herself and began explaining our subjects, classroom rules, and the things we needed to prepare for the semester.
I tried to listen carefully.
I really did.
But the first day was mostly introductions.
After almost an hour, our class finally ended.
Everyone started talking again.
Yvonne turned to me.
“Are you hungry?”
“A little.”
“Let's go to the cafeteria.”
I nodded.
We stood up and walked toward the door.
As I stepped outside, someone accidentally bumped into me.
My notebook fell from my hands.
“Oh!”
I bent down immediately.
“Sorry.”
I heard a voice.
I looked up.
It was the serious guy.
He had also bent down and picked up my notebook.
He handed it to me.
“Here.”
I accepted it.
“Thank you.”
He nodded.
Then he walked away.
I stared at his back.
Yvonne came beside me.
“That was him.”
“Yeah.”
“Still serious.”
I laughed.
“Maybe that's just his face.”
“You're probably right.”
We continued walking.
“What do you think his name is?”
I shrugged.
“Maybe we'll find out.”
I didn't know that I would.
Very soon.
---
After lunch, we returned to the classroom.
I was arranging my things when someone approached me.
“Clarisse?”
I looked up.
It was the other guy I had noticed earlier.
He was smiling.
“Yeah?”
He smiled.
“I'm Kienan.”
“Oh.”
I smiled back.
“Hi.”
“I don't think we've properly introduced ourselves.”
“No, we haven't.”
“Where are you from?”
We started talking.
It was easy.
Really easy.
Unlike the serious guy, Kienan seemed naturally friendly.
He asked questions.
He laughed.
He made jokes.
And I found myself laughing at things that weren't even that funny.
“So you don't have friends here?” he asked.
“Not really.”
He looked at Yvonne.
“Well, now you have one.”
I smiled.
“That's true.”
He laughed.
“And I guess you have another friend now.”
I looked at him.
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
He pointed at himself.
“Me.”
I laughed.
“Okay.”
He smiled.
“Friends?”
I nodded.
“Friends.”
And that was the beginning.
I didn't know it then.
But that simple conversation would become something I would remember for a long time.
Because that was the first time I noticed him.
Not as a classmate.
Not as a stranger.
But as Kienan.
---
The days passed.
Yvonne and I became closer.
Kienan became part of our little group.
And the serious guy?
I finally learned his name.
Lloyd.
He was exactly how I imagined him.
Quiet.
Serious.
Always focused.
He didn't talk unless he needed to.
During class, he was usually sitting at the back, listening to the professor.
During breaks, he would either use his phone or read something.
Sometimes our classmates would try to joke with him.
He would just stare at them.
Not angrily.
Just seriously.
It was almost funny.
One afternoon, Yvonne whispered to me,
“Does Lloyd ever smile?”
I laughed.
“I don't know.”
“Have you ever seen him smile?”
I thought about it.
“No.”
“Me neither.”
We both looked toward him.
He was writing something in his notebook.
Suddenly, he looked up.
We immediately looked away.
I covered my mouth to stop myself from laughing.
Yvonne whispered,
“He saw us.”
“I know.”
“Do you think he's annoyed?”
I looked at him again.
He was already back to writing.
“I don't think so.”
I didn't know why, but I didn't feel afraid of Lloyd.
He was serious, yes.
But I never felt like he was unfriendly.
He just seemed…quiet.
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