Chapter 9: Someone unknown
1196 Words
A week passed quietly. Life returned to normal on the surface.
School.
Part-time work.
Studio sessions.
Endless studying for final exams.
Yet somehow, Laura’s thoughts kept returning to the same person.
Again and again.
The classroom buzzed softly with students reviewing notes while afternoon sunlight streamed through the windows. Laura sat quietly at her desk with an open textbook in front of her.
But she hadn’t turned the page in nearly ten minutes.
Her pencil rested motionless in her hand while memories replayed endlessly inside her head.
Cold grey eyes.
A calm deep voice.
Long dark hair framing an unfairly beautiful face.
The way that woman sat inside the studio like she belonged above everyone else naturally.
Laura still remembered how wildly her heart had beaten whenever those sharp eyes looked directly at her.
Even now, just remembering made her cheeks warm slightly.
And the worst part?
She never even learned her name.
After that day, Laura continued visiting the studio several times for recordings and portfolio preparations with Karina’s help.
But Alexzra never appeared again.
Almost like she had only existed for one brief moment before disappearing.
Laura quietly lowered her gaze toward her notebook.
Who was she…?
Suddenly, Emma snapped her fingers directly in front of Laura’s face.
“Earth to Laura.”
Laura startled immediately.
“Huh?!”
Emma narrowed her eyes suspiciously while leaning across the desk dramatically.
“…Who are you dreaming about?”
Laura nearly dropped her pencil.
“N-No one!”
“Mhm.”
Emma clearly didn’t believe her at all.
Beside them, Derik glanced up from his notes with visible concern.
Unlike Emma’s loud teasing personality, Derik was naturally quieter and more observant. He had noticed Laura spacing out repeatedly the entire week already.
“You’ve been distracted lately,” he pointed out carefully.
Laura immediately shook her head too quickly.
“I’m fine.”
Emma gasped dramatically.
“Oh my god.”
Laura blinked nervously.
“What?”
“You totally met someone.”
“I did not!”
“You’re blushing!”
Laura instantly covered her cheeks while Emma pointed at her like she had solved a criminal investigation.
Derik frowned slightly while studying Laura’s embarrassed reaction silently.
Interesting.
Because Laura normally never acted like this around anyone.
Meanwhile Laura internally panicked.
Why am I reacting like this?!
It wasn’t like she even knew that woman properly.
They only met once.
One single meeting.
Yet somehow the memory remained painfully vivid inside her mind.
Especially those eyes.
Emma leaned closer with a dangerous grin.
“Was it someone from the studio?”
Laura’s heartbeat jumped instantly.
Emma gasped louder.
“IT WAS.”
Laura grabbed her friend’s sleeve desperately.
“Emma, please lower your voice!”
Several nearby students immediately turned toward them curiously.
Emma tried not to laugh.
“Oh, this is serious-serious.”
Derik slowly closed his notebook while looking at Laura carefully.
“…Do you like someone?”
The direct question nearly killed her.
Laura stared at both of them in horror before immediately shaking her head repeatedly.
“No! There’s nobody!”
Technically true.
How could she like someone whose name she didn’t even know?
Still…
Her heart strangely hurt a little remembering that she might never see that beautiful cold woman again.
Laura quickly looked back down at her books.
“We should focus on studying,” she muttered softly. “Final exams are near.”
Emma continued staring suspiciously for several more seconds
Then finally sighed dramatically.
“Fine. But I’m definitely investigating this later.”
Laura groaned quietly while Derik watched her thoughtfully from the side.
Something had clearly changed.
And even if Laura denied it—
Her eyes already gave everything away.
The final school bell echoed through the hallways one last time before summer break officially began.
Almost instantly, students exploded into cheers.
Some hugged each other dramatically.
Some cried.
Others ran out of classrooms like prisoners finally gaining freedom.
Meanwhile Laura simply stood quietly near her desk for a moment, holding the straps of her bag while watching the chaotic happiness around her.
It’s over.
Weeks of pressure, exams, studio recordings, portfolio preparations, and sleepless nights had finally ended.
And somehow—
Everything felt strangely calm now.
Emma suddenly threw an arm dramatically around Laura’s shoulders.
“We survived.”
Laura laughed softly. “Barely.”
Nearby, Derik closed his locker before walking toward them with his usual calm expression. “You two were loud enough during exams to survive anything.”
Emma gasped in offense.
“I was motivating people emotionally.”
“You were eating chips during study hour.”
“That’s still emotional support.”
Laura couldn’t stop herself from smiling.
The three of them eventually left the school gates together beneath the warm afternoon sunlight. Students filled the streets excitedly while conversations and laughter echoed everywhere around town.
“So,” Emma announced proudly while walking backward dramatically, “today we celebrate.”
Laura blinked.
“Celebrate what exactly?”
“Our final day of suffering, obviously.”
Derik sighed quietly. “You say that like we escaped war.”
“We did.”
Emma immediately pointed toward the nearby town center.
“Cafe first.”
None of them argued.
Soon, the three friends walked side by side through the small busy town while warm wind brushed softly through the streets. Laura carried her bag against her shoulder quietly, listening while Emma talked endlessly about plans for break.
Yet underneath her calm smile—
Anxiety still lingered deep inside her chest.
Walton’s Prestige Academy.
Her application had already been submitted properly with Mr. Johansen’s careful guidance.
Now all she could do was wait.
And honestly?
Waiting felt worse than exams.
As if sensing her thoughts, Derik glanced toward her.
“You’re thinking about the academy again.”
Laura smiled weakly. “…A little.”
Emma immediately grabbed Laura’s arm dramatically.
“Listen carefully.”
Laura blinked.
“If they reject you,” Emma declared proudly, “then it’s their loss.”
Derik nodded once in agreement.
“You’re talented enough.”
Laura lowered her eyes slightly.
“But Walton’s Prestige Academy is different…”
“It’s still just a school,” Emma interrupted firmly. “Not some magical heaven.”
Laura laughed softly at that.
Emma’s expression slowly softened afterward.
“…Besides,” she admitted more quietly, “I’ll actually miss you if you leave.”
Laura looked surprised.
Emma immediately looked away dramatically.
“Don’t make it emotional. I’m already suffering.”
Even Derik smiled faintly.
Laura’s chest warmed quietly at their words.
For years, these two had been beside her through everything—stress, family problems, dreams, failures, embarrassing moments.
The thought of leaving them behind hurt more than she expected.
Still…
A small part of her heart continued hoping desperately.
Hoping Walton’s Prestige Academy would accept her.
Hoping all the sacrifices made by her grandmother, Mr. Johansen, and her friends would mean something.
Hoping she could truly chase the dream she had once believed impossible.
Laura smiled quietly while walking beside her closest friends beneath the golden afternoon sunlight.
Whatever happened next, at least she wouldn’t face it alone.
- Writer
