CHAPTER 9
940 Words
Monday morning arrived with an unusual sense of anticipation.
By the time the first bell was twenty minutes away, groups of students had already gathered around the notice board outside the main office.
"They're posting the new transfer student's class today."
"I heard he's coming from Westbrook Academy."
"No, someone said he moved here from another state."
The rumors changed with every conversation.
Noah squeezed through the crowd, trying to read the notice.
"Move, people! Some of us are short!"
"You are not short," Ethan laughed.
"I am compared to the basketball team."
After a moment, Noah finally stepped back with a triumphant grin.
"Guess what?"
"What?"
"The new student is joining our class."
Ethan raised an eyebrow.
"Really?"
"Yep."
Before Ethan could respond, he noticed Lily standing several feet away from the crowd.
Unlike everyone else, she wasn't trying to see the notice.
Instead, she stood quietly beneath a maple tree, staring at the ground.
"You okay?" Ethan asked as he walked over.
She looked up, forcing a smile.
"I'm fine."
"You don't seem excited."
"I just don't like big crowds."
Ethan accepted her explanation, though he sensed there was more to it.
"Come on," he said. "We're going to be late."
---
Homeroom began like any other morning.
Mrs. Carter greeted the class before glancing toward the door.
"As many of you already know, we have another transfer student joining us today."
The room immediately fell silent.
Some students leaned forward in their seats.
Others whispered excitedly.
Mrs. Carter smiled.
"Come in."
The classroom door opened.
A tall boy with neatly combed black hair stepped inside. His uniform was perfectly pressed, and despite entering a room full of strangers, he appeared calm and confident.
He looked around the classroom with observant gray eyes.
Then his gaze stopped.
On Lily.
For just a second.
His expression changed almost too quickly to notice.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Mrs. Carter said, "this is Ryan Carter."
Ryan gave a polite nod.
"Good morning. I hope we'll get along."
Several girls immediately whispered to one another.
"He's handsome."
"He looks so confident."
"I like his voice."
Mrs. Carter glanced around the classroom.
"The empty seat is..."
Before she finished speaking, Ryan smiled politely.
"If it's alright, I'd like to sit near the back."
"Of course."
The only available desk happened to be directly behind Ethan and beside Noah.
As Ryan walked toward his seat, he passed Lily.
Very quietly, so only she could hear, he said,
"I finally found you."
Lily froze.
Her hands tightened beneath her desk.
Ethan turned slightly, having noticed her sudden reaction.
"Lily?"
She blinked.
"Hm?"
"Are you alright?"
"Yes."
But her voice was barely above a whisper.
---
The morning lessons passed more slowly than usual.
Ryan answered questions confidently, earning praise from nearly every teacher.
He seemed intelligent.
Polite.
Respectful.
Exactly the kind of student everyone admired.
Yet Lily avoided looking at him entirely.
Whenever she sensed his eyes on her, she focused harder on her notebook.
Even Noah noticed.
During lunch, he leaned toward Ethan.
"Something feels weird."
"What do you mean?"
"The new guy."
"What about him?"
"I don't know."
Noah frowned.
"It feels like he already knows Lily."
Ethan looked toward Ryan, who was eating quietly with a few students who had already introduced themselves.
For a brief moment, Ryan looked across the cafeteria.
His eyes met Lily's.
She immediately looked away.
---
After classes ended, Ethan headed toward the garden to water the flowers before basketball practice.
To his surprise, Lily was already there.
She sat on the old wooden bench beneath the cherry tree.
"You came."
She smiled faintly.
"I needed somewhere quiet."
Ethan sat beside her.
Neither of them spoke for a while.
Finally, he asked gently,
"Do you know Ryan?"
Lily's shoulders stiffened.
After several seconds, she nodded.
"Yes."
"You went to the same school?"
"...Yes."
Ethan waited.
She looked at the flower beds instead of him.
"We weren't friends."
There was something in her voice that made Ethan stop asking questions.
He could tell the memories weren't easy.
"You don't have to explain."
She smiled gratefully.
"Thank you."
Just then, footsteps echoed along the stone path.
Both of them turned.
Ryan stood at the entrance of the garden with his hands in his pockets.
"I thought I'd find you here," he said calmly.
Lily slowly stood.
"Ethan..."
"It's okay," she said softly.
She looked at Ryan.
"What do you want?"
Ryan sighed.
"I just want to talk."
"I have nothing to say."
"You've been avoiding me for months."
"I had my reasons."
Ryan looked down before speaking again.
"I know."
His voice carried something Ethan hadn't expected.
Regret.
"Lily... I'm sorry."
She stared at him silently.
The breeze carried cherry blossom petals between them, but neither of them moved.
Finally, Lily spoke.
"Sorry doesn't erase what happened."
Ryan lowered his head.
"I know."
Without another word, Lily turned and walked away, leaving Ethan standing beside the bench.
Ryan remained where he was.
For several moments, neither boy spoke.
Finally, Ryan looked at Ethan.
"I suppose she hasn't told you."
"Told me what?"
Ryan gave a sad smile.
"Why she transferred."
Before Ethan could answer, Ryan turned and quietly left the garden.
Ethan watched him disappear beyond the stone pathway.
The peaceful garden suddenly felt much colder than before.
He looked toward the school building where Lily had disappeared.
Questions filled his mind.
What had happened at her previous school?
Why did Ryan seem genuinely sorry?
And what secret was Lily still trying so desperately to leave behind?
He had a feeling the answers were much more complicated than anyone imagined.
- Writer
