Chapter 3
670 Words
As I entered the cafeteria with Cas, I immediately felt the noise and laughter of the students. Some were busy eating, while others were gathered at tables, each with their own little world.
"Tara, let's go to our usual spot!" Cas exclaimed, pulling me towards a table in the corner.
At the table, there were three students who seemed to be friends with Cas. One was a girl with shoulder-length hair, wearing a fitted uniform that accentuated her curves. Another was a boy who looked athletic, with muscles bulging from his polo shirt. And the last one was a nerdy-looking guy with thick glasses and a physics book in front of him.
"Guys, meet Yurie! She's our new classmate!" Cas announced loudly, pushing me forward.
The three looked at me, and the girl smiled first. "Hi, Yurie! I'm Rina," she said, extending her hand.
I took it and smiled back. "Nice to meet you."
The athletic-looking boy raised an eyebrow and smiled. "Adrian."
I just nodded at him. He seemed cool, but not too friendly.
The nerdy-looking guy didn't even bother to look up. "And that's Kenji. Don't mind him, he's always like that," Cas whispered to me.
I ignored Kenji and sat down beside Rina. While we ate, Cas told stories about our classmates. I learned that he, Rina, Adrian, and Kenji had been friends for a long time. And Amanda, the girl who seemed like the queen of the classroom, had been at odds with Cas for a while.
"Why?" I asked Rina.
"Well, because Cas is... Cas," she replied, laughing.
"Hey, that's rude!" Cas protested, pretending to be offended.
The conversation continued until I noticed someone staring at us from another table. Aiden. He was leaning back in his chair, holding a book but not reading it. His eyes were fixed on us—or on me?
Our eyes met for a moment, but he quickly looked away, pretending he hadn't been caught staring. I raised an eyebrow. What's his problem?
"What's caught your attention, Ate Yurie?" Cas whispered, following my gaze.
"Nothing." I turned back to my food, feeling a bit annoyed.
A few days passed, and I slowly got used to my new school. I became more comfortable around Cas, Rina, Adrian, and Kenji, even if Cas could be annoying at times. Amanda still ignored me, but sometimes I felt like she was watching me, especially when I was with Cas. And Aiden? I kept seeing him around— in the library, cafeteria, and hallways—but he didn't seem to interact much with others. He seemed to have his own world.
One day, while walking down the corridor, I heard someone call my name. "Yurie!"
I turned around, and it was Amanda. I was surprised. Why was she talking to me?
She approached me, a sly smile on her face. "Can I talk to you for a minute?"
I hesitated, but nodded. "What's up?"
"You know, Yurie, I just want to give you some friendly advice," she said, playing with her hair.
"Cas... well, he's fun, but he's not the kind of person you should take seriously."
I raised an eyebrow. What does she mean?
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"I mean, don't get too close to him. He's not as innocent as you think," she whispered, as if sharing a secret.
We stared at each other, and I sensed something behind her eyes, but I didn't know what.
"What's your problem with Cas?" I asked.
Amanda smiled. "You'll find out soon enough."
Before I could respond, she turned around and left me feeling confused. What was that about? What did she want to imply? And why did my heart beat faster with anxiety?
Since that conversation with Amanda, I couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off. There was something bothering me about Cas, Aiden, and now Amanda. And I felt like something was coming, something I didn't know yet. And I wasn't sure if I wanted to know or not.
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