Way Back Home

“Lia! It’s already noon and you’re still not up? You’re going to be late for school! Get out of your room and eat your breakfast here!” Mom’s voice echoed from the kitchen. I slowly opened my eyes, still half-asleep, and stared at the ceiling for a few seconds before reaching for my phone. I squinted at the screen— 4:50 a.m. Seriously? How is that “noon”? Mom’s more excited about my first day than I am. I sighed and sat up. My stomach twisted a little from nerves—it’s my first day as a senior high student. They say senior high is both exciting and emotional, but I can handle it. I have to. I got out of bed and prepared the clothes I’d wear. Since it’s a public school, we were allowed to wear casual clothes on the first day. After getting ready, I headed out to take a quick shower. By the time I left the house, the sun was slowly rising, painting the streets in soft orange light. I decided to walk since the school wasn’t that far anyway. The closer I got, the more nervous I became. Thoughts kept rushing through my head— What if the same thing that happened before happens again? No… I’m sure it won’t. I just hope I don’t see anyone I used to know. When I arrived at the classroom, I quietly took the seat near the door. No one was sitting there yet, so it felt like a safe spot. A few minutes later, our adviser came in. “Good morning, everyone!” he greeted with a cheerful smile. “I’m Sir John Lewis, your class adviser for this school year. I’m twenty-seven—probably not that much older than some of you, so don’t worry, I’m not scary.” He laughed, earning a few chuckles from the class. “First off, welcome to senior high! I know the first day can be a little awkward—new classmates, new teachers, maybe even a new environment—but don’t stress too much. We’ll all get comfortable soon.” He leaned casually on the teacher’s desk. “A little about me: I love teaching, but I also enjoy just hanging out with my students, getting to know your stories, your dreams, and even your weird habits.” He smiled. “This year, I want our class to feel like a small family—somewhere you can be yourself, make mistakes, learn, and grow together.” “Before we start anything serious, let’s do a little introduction. Just say your name, what you like doing, and maybe something fun or random about yourself.” He scanned the room. “Let’s start from the first row, yeah? Don’t worry, no pressure—this is just so we can all get to know each other better.” He smiled and looked around. “Alright, who’s brave enough to go first?” No one raised their hand. I had a feeling that if it went on for another minute, he’d start picking randomly. And, well, I was right. Sir John clapped his hands lightly and smiled. “Alright, let’s start from the first row. Hmm… how about you?” My heart skipped a beat when I realized he was pointing at me. “You, the one with short hair. What’s your name?” he asked with a grin. “Ah—me, sir?” I said, my voice coming out softer than I expected. He nodded. “Yup. Let’s start strong.” The class chuckled a bit, and I felt my cheeks warm up. I laughed quietly and tried to sound normal. “Uh, hi everyone. I’m Aliyah Veia, sixteen years old. I like reading books and… sometimes drawing when I have nothing else to do.” Sir John nodded approvingly. “Nice! Reading and drawing—creative combo. Good start, Aliyah.” Some of my classmates smiled at me, and I felt a little less nervous. “Alright, who’s next?” Sir John said. “Don’t make me point again—I’ll do it if I have to.” The class laughed, and the room instantly felt lighter. I let out a quiet sigh and smiled to myself. First day—so far, not bad. After a few more introductions, everyone started to loosen up. Some were whispering to each other, comparing schedules, while others laughed at how awkward their introductions were. I was quietly doodling little stars on my notebook when someone suddenly stopped beside my desk. “Hi,” a soft voice said. I looked up and saw a girl smiling at me. Her hair was neatly tied, and her uniform looked perfectly pressed—she definitely looked like someone from the city. “Uh, hello,” I said, a bit surprised. “I’m Rina,” she said, still smiling. “I’m new here. Just transferred from the city last week.” “Oh, really?” I smiled back. “Welcome.” “Thanks,” she said, glancing around before looking back at me. “Honestly, I don’t know anyone yet, so… can I sit next to you?” “Sure,” I said, moving my things to the side to make space. She set her bag down and sat beside me. “You seem nice. I was kinda scared I’d end up sitting alone,” she said with a quiet laugh. I chuckled softly. “You’re not alone now.” Sir John was still calling names for introductions, his voice filling the room, but Rina and I exchanged small smiles every now and then. Somehow, having someone new beside me made the room feel a little less big—and a little less lonely. Maybe this year won’t be so bad after all.