THE UNTWISTED FEELINGS

The morning sun shined brightly over St. Theodore Academy, one of the most prestigious universities in the country. A place where excellence wasn't just expected—it was demanded. Luxury cars lined the front entrance as students wearing elegant uniforms stepped onto the campus grounds. Some chatted excitedly with friends, while others hurried toward their classrooms. But then... Everything suddenly became quiet. A sleek black luxury SUV slowly entered the campus. The moment students recognized the license plate, whispers spread like wildfire. "She's here..." "The Campus President..." "Hannah Monteverde." Students immediately moved aside, creating a clear path without anyone asking. Even professors standing near the entrance paused their conversations. The SUV came to a smooth stop. The driver's door opened. A tall young woman stepped out, dressed in the academy's official uniform with a perfectly fitted black blazer. Her long dark hair flowed gently as the morning breeze passed by. Her expression remained emotionless. Cold. Unreadable. Behind her walked two members of the Student Council, each carrying folders and documents. "Good morning, President Monteverde," one professor greeted respectfully. Hannah gave only a small nod before continuing her walk. No smile. No unnecessary words. She never wasted either. As she walked through the campus, every conversation around her stopped. Some students lowered their heads. Others pretended to be busy. No one wanted to accidentally get in her way. Because everyone knew one thing— Hannah Kairia Monteverde never tolerated carelessness. Meanwhile... Outside the Registrar's Office... A young girl stood nervously while holding a small envelope close to her chest. Her name was Aira Neiz Dela Cruz. Today was her first day as a transfer student. She looked around the unfamiliar campus with curious eyes. "So... this is St. Theodore Academy..." She smiled softly. "It's even prettier than the pictures." The registrar handed her a folder. "Here are your class schedule, school map, and student ID. Your classroom is in the East Building." "Thank you so much, ma'am." "Welcome to St. Theodore." Aira bowed politely before walking away. She looked at the map. "East Building..." "...where is that?" She scratched her head. "I think I already got lost..." She laughed quietly to herself. Instead of panicking, she simply continued walking while looking around. Beautiful gardens. Tall buildings. A large fountain in the center of the campus. "This place is amazing..." While admiring everything around her... She wasn't paying attention to where she was going. At the exact same moment— Hannah turned the corner. The two girls walked toward each other. Three... Two... One... Thud! The folders in Hannah's hand slipped slightly. Aira's papers scattered across the ground. "Oh!" "I'm so sorry!" Aira immediately knelt to pick up the papers. "I wasn't looking where I was going." Silence. She looked up. Standing before her was the most intimidating person she had ever seen. Cold eyes. Straight posture. Not a single hint of emotion. Aira quickly handed back the paper she had picked up. "I'm really sorry." "I didn't mean to bump into you." The surrounding students froze. One whispered... "...She's dead." Another covered their mouth. "She bumped into President Monteverde..." "On her first day..." "What terrible luck." The entire hallway became silent. Hannah simply stared at the unfamiliar girl. She had never seen her before. "Name." Aira blinked. "H-Huh?" "I asked." "What." "Is." "Your." "Name?" "A-Aira." "Aira Neiz Dela Cruz." "Transfer student." Hannah looked at the student ID hanging from Aira's neck. "So you're new." "Yes..." "I'm sorry again." Instead of answering... Hannah stepped closer. Close enough that everyone nearby became even more nervous. "After your last class." "Come." "To the Student Council Office." Aira looked confused. "...Me?" "Do I have to?" Hannah's sharp gaze met hers. "That wasn't a request." "It was an order." Without another word... Hannah walked away. The Student Council officers followed behind her. The hallway remained silent until she completely disappeared. Only then did everyone begin talking all at once. "Oh my gosh..." "Did you hear that?" "The president personally summoned her." "What did she even do?" "I've never seen President Monteverde call someone to her office over something that small." Aira looked around in confusion. "Um..." "Who exactly was she?" The nearby students stared at her in disbelief. "You seriously don't know?" Aira shook her head. "I just transferred today." One girl sighed dramatically. "You just bumped into the most powerful student in this university." Another added "Correction." "In the country." Aira laughed awkwardly. "...Really?" Nobody laughed back. Only then did she realize... They were serious. At lunchtime... The campus cafeteria buzzed with conversation. Aira carried her lunch tray while searching for an empty seat. Almost every table was already occupied. "Over here!" A cheerful girl waved at her. "You can sit with us!" "Oh!" "Thank you." Aira smiled warmly before joining the group. "I'm Sofia." "This is Mika." "And that's Louise." "I'm Aira." "The new transfer." "We know." The girls giggled. "The whole school knows now." Aira blinked. "...Why?" "You bumped into Hannah." Aira lowered her head in embarrassment. "...Is everyone talking about that?" "Of course." "That's the biggest news today." Mika leaned closer. "Can I ask something?" "Sure." "Were you scared?" Aira thought for a moment. "A little..." "...but she didn't seem mean." The three girls stared at her. "Didn't seem mean?" Louise almost choked on her drink. "She's famous for making students cry during disciplinary hearings." "Even some professors become nervous around her." "But..." Aira remembered Hannah's face. "...she looked lonely." Silence. The girls exchanged confused glances. "Lonely?" "No one has ever described Hannah Monteverde like that." Elsewhere... Inside the Student Council Office... Hannah stood by the large window overlooking the campus. One of the officers spoke carefully. "President." "The disciplinary report is ready." Hannah didn't answer immediately. Instead... She continued looking outside. Her eyes landed on one particular table in the cafeteria. The new girl. Aira was laughing together with her new classmates. For some reason... Hannah couldn't look away. The officer noticed. "President?" Hannah finally spoke. "...Find out everything about her." The officer blinked. "...Everything?" "Yes." "Background." "Previous school." "Academic records." "Family." The officer nodded. "Understood." As the officer left the room, Hannah turned back toward the window. She didn't understand it. It was just a simple accident. Someone bumped into her. It had happened before. So why... Why was she still thinking about that girl? For the first time in years... Hannah found herself distracted. And she hated it. Far across campus... Someone had been watching everything from the basketball court. A tall young man spun a basketball effortlessly on one finger. He smirked. "So..." "That's the famous transfer student." His teammate raised an eyebrow. "Why?" "You interested?" The young man grinned confidently. "She looks cute." "I'm Jhenso Henred." "And trust me..." "Girls always end up liking me." His teammates burst into laughter. None of them noticed... End of Chapter 1