CHAPTER 4 - THE VISION
1159 Words
The summer holiday was finally over, and school had officially resumed. Mike had returned four days before the holiday ended, and honestly, I was looking forward to seeing him again today.
As usual, the school hallway was packed with students from different grades. Some stood in groups chatting loudly, others walked around with phones in their hands, laughing and enjoying the fresh start of a new term. The atmosphere felt alive.
I walked through the hallway casually, greeting people I knew. I exchanged handshakes with some guys, waved at others, and even got a few hugs from girls happy to see me back. Small conversations here and there slowed me down as I made my way toward my class.
I was talking to Mekan, one of my classmates who had also resumed, when I spotted Mike and Moorie walking toward us.
Moorie waved excitedly the moment she saw me.
“Hey, what’s up?” Mike greeted, shaking hands with both me and Mekan.
“How are you guys?” I asked after giving Moorie a quick hug.
“We’re good,” Moorie replied with a smile before playfully punching my chest. “No need asking you though. You’re looking fresh.”
I smirked. “Really? A lot of people have been saying the same thing since I stepped into this school.”
“That’s because you spent the entire holiday enjoying yourself,” Mike laughed. Then he turned to Mekan. “So dude, what’s the plan for today?”
“I think I should be asking you that,” Mekan shot back immediately.
We all laughed and continued chatting for a while before heading to class.
The bell rang shortly after, signaling the start of lessons. Most teachers didn’t seem interested in stressing us on the first day back, but a few clearly woke up and chose violence.
The first lesson was History.
Honestly, I wasn’t expecting Mr. Masaka to show up, but unfortunately, he did.
“The Shogun was a brutal warlord during the reign of mid-century Japan—” Mr. Masaka was saying before the classroom door suddenly opened.
The principal walked in.
Beside him stood a girl.
And the moment I saw her… everything around me seemed to pause.
“This is Han Sae Minerva,” the principal announced. “She’s a new student, and I expect everyone to make her feel welcome.”
He turned to her briefly. “Minerva, you can take any empty seat. You’ll get to know everyone with time.”
Then he looked at Mr. Masaka. “Sorry for the interruption. Please continue.”
The principal walked out, leaving the entire class staring at the new girl.
Including me.
Minerva walked gracefully toward an empty seat in the sixth row, and my eyes unconsciously followed every step she took.
She was unbelievably beautiful.
Dark brown hair flowed down her shoulders perfectly. Her sea-blue eyes sparkled beneath the classroom lights, and her glossy pink lips curved into a soft smile capable of destroying a man’s self-control instantly.
And her figure?
Dangerous.
Curvy in all the right places, confident without even trying. She moved like someone who knew people were watching her.
Honestly, she looked unreal.
Like some kind of goddess pretending to be human.
The only reason I wasn’t fully convinced she was an angel was because she didn’t have wings.
“Snap out of it, dude,” I muttered to myself, forcing my attention away.
As I glanced around the classroom, I realized I wasn’t the only one staring. Almost every guy in class had their eyes glued to her.
History eventually ended, followed by other subjects according to the timetable. We still had several free periods because some teachers failed to show up.
After Mathematics—our fourth lesson—the recess bell rang.
Moorie and I headed to the canteen where we bought burgers for ourselves and one for Mike before heading to our usual spot.
The three of us sat there eating and talking casually.
Then my eyes drifted toward Minerva again.
She was already surrounded by a group of girls, laughing comfortably like she had been in the school for years.
I kept staring absentmindedly until—
My burger slipped from my hand and landed on the ground.
Slowly, I looked back at Mike and Moorie.
Both of them were staring at me.
“What’s wrong with him?” Moorie asked Mike dramatically.
Mike grinned wickedly. “I think our boy is in love.”
“With who?” she asked knowingly.
“The new girl. Minerva.”
Moorie rolled her eyes before taking another bite of her burger. “Forget about her. I heard her dad works with the armed forces. They just moved into town because he got transferred here.”
I stood up confidently.
“That’s exactly what I like to hear.”
Mike burst out laughing while Moorie shook her head helplessly.
The rest of the school day went smoothly.
After closing hours, Mike, Moorie, and I walked together for a while, chatting and joking nonstop before finally splitting up. I hugged Moorie goodbye, shook Mike’s hand, and headed home alone.
A few minutes later, I arrived home.
I went upstairs immediately, freshened up, and later came downstairs looking for something to eat.
I served myself a plate of rice and was heading toward the dining area when suddenly—
A strange flash exploded through my head.
Pain shot violently across my skull.
The plate slipped from my hands instantly and crashed against the floor, shattering into pieces. Rice scattered everywhere.
I staggered backward, nearly collapsing, but thankfully the kitchen cabinet behind me supported my body.
Everything around me went dark for a few seconds.
Then slowly… my vision returned.
“What the f**k…” I muttered weakly, staring at the broken plate and scattered food on the floor.
My head still throbbed badly.
Confused and weak, I slowly dragged myself toward a chair at the corner of the kitchen and sat down, trying to understand what had just happened.
A few moments later, I heard the front door open.
“Who’s there?” I called out weakly.
“It’s me, sweetheart. Where are you?” Mum’s voice answered from the living room.
“I’m in the kitchen.”
The moment she entered and saw the mess, panic covered her face instantly.
“Oh my God! What happened?” she rushed toward me immediately, checking my body for injuries. “Are you hurt?”
“I’m okay, Mum,” I said softly.
“What happened?” she asked again anxiously.
“I don’t know. I was carrying food and suddenly everything went blank. Then this massive headache hit me and the plate just fell from my hand.”
Mum hugged me tightly, relief flooding her expression.
“Oh thank God you’re okay, baby.” She pulled back slightly and touched my face gently. “Go freshen up. We’re going to the hospital.”
- Writer
