My High School Lovers

Chapter 1

“Enough sleeping already! Get up now, or you’ll miss your class.”

The sound of my mother’s voice tore through the fragile veil of my sleep in an instant, like a sudden breeze slipping through a half-open window.

Her voice carried both urgency and warmth—something that had been part of my mornings for as long as I could remember.

I slowly opened my eyes, still trapped inside the hazy fog of half-sleep.

The soft warmth of the blanket clung to me stubbornly, almost begging me to stay in bed just a little longer. My body felt heavy, reluctant to move.

Turning my face toward the pillow, I muttered stubbornly,

“I’m not getting up, Mom. Stop disturbing me… I really don’t feel like it.”

My voice trembled slightly, caught somewhere between childish stubbornness and pure reluctance.

“Get up, I said. If you’re late, you won’t make it to class.”

Her voice was calm, but beneath that calmness was a thread of worry only a mother could hide so gently.

When I glanced toward her, I noticed the soft look in her eyes. It wasn’t anger. It was concern.

That simple expression made my heart flutter in a strange way.

For a brief moment, a quiet realization settled over me—my mother had always cared about me like this. Every single day. Every small detail of my life mattered to her.

The thought sent an unexpected shiver through me.

“Alright, alright,” I sighed, pushing myself up slightly. “You go ahead. I’m getting up.”

Even as I said it, my voice carried the same stubborn reluctance.

I finally dragged myself out of bed and grabbed my phone, hoping the bright screen would help shake off the lingering sleep.

But the moment I looked at the time, my eyes widened in horror.

Disaster.

“Oh no!”

My heart nearly stopped.

“I’m so late! It’s already eight o’clock!”

Panic rushed through me instantly.

“I need to get ready fast… or I’ll definitely miss class!”

I hurried through everything—washing my face, brushing my hair, grabbing my bag. My movements were rushed and messy, yet strangely familiar.

Mornings like this had happened more times than I could count.

And somehow, even in the middle of that chaotic rush, I could feel it.

My mother’s quiet presence.

Even when she wasn’t standing right beside me, every little thing she had already done—preparing my breakfast, reminding me about school, making sure everything was ready—felt like an invisible shield around me.

A shield made entirely of her care.

When I reached the dining table, I saw her sitting there, watching me with a gentle gaze.

The food arranged neatly in front of me looked almost like a physical form of her love.

“Here,” she said softly. “Eat like a proper little girl now.”

I scratched my head awkwardly and mumbled,

“Mom… I’m already so late. I can’t eat all this now.”

She smiled, the kind of smile that held patience and affection at the same time.

“Priyana, I didn’t tell you to wake up late,” she replied calmly. “You were the one sleeping like Kumbhakarna.”

I couldn’t help but feel a little embarrassed.

“And if you leave without eating,” she continued, “your health will suffer. What will happen then?”

Those simple words softened my heart immediately.

I let out a long sigh.

“Okay, Mom. I’ll eat.”

As I picked up my spoon, a quiet thought appeared in my mind.

Who else in the world would take care of me like this?

Her love was completely selfless. It asked for nothing in return.

Sometimes, when life felt lonely or overwhelming, that love became my safest shelter.

A place where I could breathe.

As I ate, I noticed something else.

Even when my mother seemed annoyed or scolded me, she still did countless small things for me without ever mentioning them.

A glass of water placed beside my plate. My bag kept ready near the door. My uniform ironed neatly.

Those little gestures carried a warmth that words could never fully describe.

And somehow… they made my heart feel safe.

Unfortunately, that peaceful feeling didn’t last long.

Because the moment my mind wandered toward school, a heavy feeling settled in my chest.

I really didn’t want to go.

Ninth grade.

Section B.

“San Miguel High School.”

The name sounded impressive, even prestigious. Anyone hearing it might imagine a grand campus with clean classrooms and disciplined students.

But the reality was far from that.

The classrooms were half brick and half tin-roofed, looking more like unfinished storage buildings than a place for education.

The infrastructure was crumbling, and some of the offices actually looked better than the classrooms themselves.

Despite that, the school charged high private fees.

Yet no one seemed to know when the broken facilities would ever be repaired.

The girls’ restroom was next to the office, while the boys’ restroom was beside the classrooms. Just thinking about them made my head feel hot.

Cleanliness was practically nonexistent.

But when it came to collecting money?

The administration was always quick.

And the teachers…

Many of them carried an uncomfortable sense of arrogance.

Education had slowly turned into a business.

Without attending private tutoring from certain teachers, passing exams felt almost impossible—like trying to climb a mountain barefoot.

That kind of favoritism had always disgusted me.

Maybe that was why I had never been able to truly fit in.

I had always been introverted by nature.

Talking to people wasn’t easy for me.

While others laughed and formed groups, I stayed inside my own quiet world.

Because of that, I never had a circle of friends.

I was simply… alone.

My mother’s voice suddenly pulled me back from my thoughts.

“Hey,” she called gently. “Aren’t you going to school?”

I blinked.

“Yes, Mom. I was so lost in thought that I completely forgot about school.”

“Well then,” she said softly, “go now.”

Her smile carried the same comforting warmth that had followed me since childhood.

Just as I reached the door, I suddenly felt something tugging at my heart.

I turned around.

Without thinking too much, I walked back toward her and wrapped my arms around her tightly.

“Mom… I love you.”

For a moment, she looked a little surprised.

But then her expression softened.

“Yes, yes,” she replied gently. “I love you too.”

Then she lightly pushed my shoulder toward the door.

“Now go, or you’ll really miss your class.”

Her smile stayed with me as I stepped outside.

It felt like a small burst of energy I could carry with me throughout the entire day.

A quiet shield against the worries waiting outside.

By the time I reached the school gate, however, the peaceful feeling had already started to fade.

The street looked strangely quiet.

No other students were around.

A sudden realization hit me.

Class had already started.

Panic rose instantly in my chest.

Without thinking, I started running.

My footsteps echoed loudly against the empty path.

Just as I turned a corner, two boys walked past me. They looked older—probably seniors.

Because I was running so fast, my legs felt completely out of control.

And before I could stop myself—

Bang.

I collided straight into one of them.

The boy frowned immediately.

“Can’t you watch where you’re going?” he said sharply.

My face flushed with embarrassment.

“I… I wasn’t paying attention,” I stammered quickly.

“I was running because I was late for class. I’m really sorry!”

For a brief moment, both boys stared at me in surprise.

Then, without saying another word, they simply walked away.

Their strange gaze lingered in my mind.

It stung my pride slightly.

But I quickly shook my head and muttered quietly to myself,

“No… I can’t let these petty things get to me.”

Taking a deep breath, I focused again and started walking toward the classroom.

The crowded streets, the noisy surroundings, the unfamiliar faces—

All of it made my introverted life feel even heavier.

And yet, strangely enough…

I also felt a quiet determination growing inside me.

Even if I didn’t enjoy coming to school…

Even if this place felt uncomfortable and lonely…

I still had to keep walking forward on this path of life.

Because somewhere behind me—

My mother’s love, her endless care, and her

constant worry—

Were always there.

And with every step I took, that love gave me the strength to continue.

But—

“Little did I know, the boy I had just crashed into would soon become the biggest problem in my peaceful life.”