LOST

Chapter Two:The New Girl

Campy Secondary School sat on a warm terracotta Earth, it's walkways kissed by the glow of early morning sun.

Fruit trees stretched their branches high, leaves shimmering in shades of amber and deep green, while the air held a soft mix of marker ink and the sweet smell of cake baking from the Home Economics class nearby.

Hints of vanilla and sugar drifted gently through the corridors, blending with the scent of ripening fruits from the trees lining the beautiful walkway.

Amid this warm scene stepped Ayla - her ebony black hair catching the light with a soft sheen, her presence quiet yet impossible to miss.

She moved with a grace that softened the rough edges of Campy, like a cat weaving through terracotta walls.

At the gate, the gatekeeper's eyes widened as Snow, her brown hawk, perched silently on her arm - alert, regal and still.

"Eh-eh! You came to school with a bird?" he muttered, nearly stepping back.

Ayla smiled faintly and handed him a folded clearance note.

"Her name is Snow. She's trained. And cleared as well." He glanced at the note he held forward just enough to catch his eyes as he read it.

After a long pause, he stepped aside muttering "What's going on here?"

The gate creaked open.

Ayla advanced

And the day - and Campy shifted, just a little.

The bell rang, signalling break time, and students flooded the courtyard like swarm of bees.

Marvin sat at the root of a mango tree, munching on a peanut roll, the scent of vanilla and fried dough from the Home Economics block still floating in the air.

Above, Snow, Ayla's hawk, perched quietly on a high branch - her feathers a rich blend of warm brown and gold, with flecks of copper that shimmered when the sun rays struck just perfectly.

She didn't move much, but her amber eyes tracked everything - especially the boy beneath her.

Ayla strolled over, the breeze teasing a few strands of her ebony black hair.

"Hey, you are Marvin, right?" she said, her tone light but curious.

Marvin looked up, wiped his fingers, and nodded. "Yeah, that's me. Ayla?"

"Hmm," she hummed, sitting down nearby.

He held half of a cracked peanut roll. "You eat this kind of thing?"

She raised a brow, then smiled and took it gently. "I do now."

Their fingers brushed, brief but warm.

Above them, Snow let out a quiet call - not loud, not threatening, just present.

Marvin looked up. "Is she always that calm?"

"It depends... She's a good judge of character," Ayla replied, not looking up "She doesn't bother with noise. Only signals though."

Marvin didn't know what to say to that, so he just nodded, chewing slowly.

The mango tree offered just enough shade to give that vibe of a private world. Kyle sat comfortably, finishing the last bite of his peanut roll, while Ayla cross-legged a few feet away, watched Snow flutter up to a higher branch.

"So," she said, eyes flicking back to Marvin, "do you use social media much?"

Marvin hesitated. He hadn't expected that question. "Hmm..depends though. why?"

She shrugged casually, her tone gentle.

"Just wondering. You have that look."

"What look?"

"The kind of person who's online..but hidden."

Marvin smiled dryly, unsure of what to make of her statement - compliment or a quiet warning. "Well, I am_"

Then came the shriek of the bell that pierced the air and eyes turned. The spell was broken.

Ayla stood up with fluid ease, brushing her tennis skirt.

"Another time then," she said, flashing a quick smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.

Before Marvin could utter another word, she turned and strode off, and Snow followed suit, gliding after her overhead like a shadow with wings.

He watched her retreating figure, heart beating a little faster than normal.

She had not waited for his reply.

The classroom buzzed with low chatter as the science teacher was demonstrating diffusion with her perfume spray.

Marvin sat near the window, notebook open but blank. His pen hovered, unmoving.

His thoughts had strayed from the present. He was thinking about the new girl, Ayla.

The way she asked about his social media - like she knew something

already.

The way she left before he could answer - like she didn't want the answer.

Across the room, Ayla sat a row ahead, elbow propped, head tilted just enough to watch the board, but her eyes wandered just enough to catch a glimpse of Marvin.

He wasn't taking notes. He looked rather unperturbed.

She wasn't sure why it mattered. But something about Marvin's silence stuck with her.

Soon, the bell rang again, this time signalling the end of the periods.

Chairs scraped, books snapped shut and students strode out into the courtyard, their voices rising.

Marvin felt tired than usual, still caught in his head.

Ayla stood at the door but didn't leave.

She glanced back. "You okay?"

Marvin paused, blinking at her. "Yeah. Why?"

"You seemed lost." She gave a small shrug, almost as if she didn't care. "I class, I mean though."

Marvin smiled broadly, but his eyes were searching. "About earlier - when you asked about my social media acc_"

Ayla raised a brow. "Maybe later. Another time, please."

He nodded"I didn't expect you to disappear like that."

"I don't vanish," she said gently. "I left when the bell rang, remember?"

They both stood there for a beat - not speaking nor moving.

Then she leaned closer just slightly, voice low "See you later, mystery boy."

Before he could reply, Snow called from the window outside - a low precise sound.

Ayla's gaze flicked up. "Gotta go.".

And like before, she was gone before he could figure out if she meant anything more.

Later that evening ...

At home, Marvin sat comfortably on the couch, tossing a throw pillow between his hands.

Mirabel, curled up with her phone, glanced in his direction "Your smile is looking fishy. Spill it."

Marvin shrugged. "She's just the new girl at school. We just talked. Nothing major really"

Mirabel sat up a little. "Is the girl pretty?"

He paused for long seconds, then nodded. "Yeah. But she's different."

She narrowed her eyes. "I don't understand"

.

"She's just a normal person but_"

Mirabel raised an eyebrow. "Mysterious?"

Marvin stood. "Something like that."

He didn't say further.

Because truth was - he wasn't sure what he had seen. But he knew he would feel it again.