CHAPTER 2: A SIMPLE HI 👋
620 Words
Sophie's eyes remained fixed on the message glowing on her phone screen.
A chill ran down her spine.
She quickly looked around the assembly ground, scanning the sea of students. Everyone appeared focused on the principal, chatting quietly or waiting for the assembly to end. No one seemed suspicious.
"Who sent the message?" she wondered.
More importantly...
"How did they know I was looking at Ethan?"
Before she could think any further, the dismissal bell echoed across the school compound.
Students immediately began talking again.
"Did you see him?"
"He looks suspicious."
"I heard he was expelled because he attacked someone."
Sophie rolled her eyes and quietly followed her classmates back to their classroom.
When she entered SS2A, she noticed an empty seat at the back of the room.
A few moments later, Ethan walked in.
The room instantly fell silent.
Several students openly stared at him, while others deliberately looked away, pretending he wasn't there.
Without saying a word, Ethan ignored the curious stares and calmly took the empty seat. He placed his bag beside the desk, brought out a notebook and a novel, then waited quietly for the lesson to begin.
Not once did he look around the room.
For the rest of the first lesson, Sophie found it impossible to concentrate. The mysterious text message kept replaying in her mind.
"Was someone trying to protect me... or threaten me?"
Every now and then, she glanced toward the back of the classroom.
Ethan spent the entire period listening attentively to the teacher. He answered no questions, spoke to no one, and never once tried to draw attention to himself.
He seemed nothing like the dangerous person everyone had described.
When the break bell finally rang, the classroom exploded with noise.
Students pushed back their chairs, laughed loudly, and gathered into small groups.
Everyone found someone to talk to.
Everyone except Ethan.
He remained seated alone, quietly reading his novel as though he didn't notice the whispers surrounding him.
Sophie watched him for a moment before turning to Jemimah.
"I'm going to talk to him."
Jemimah nearly dropped the drink.
"I'm just going to say hello."
"Sophie, have you lost your mind?" Jemimah whispered. "Didn't you hear what everyone has been saying about him?"
Sophie smiled.
"I'd rather judge someone by who they are than by what people say."
Ignoring her friend's protests, she stood up and walked toward Ethan's desk.
Almost immediately, conversations around the classroom became quieter.
Several students stopped talking altogether.
Others watched with wide eyes, expecting something terrible to happen.
Ethan looked up as Sophie approached.
For a brief moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Sophie smiled warmly.
"Hi."
"I'm Sophie."
Ethan looked at her for a second before closing his book.
"Ethan."
His reply was short, but his voice was calm—not cold, not rude, simply careful.
A small smile appeared on Sophie's face.
"It's nice to meet you."
Ethan replied with a slight nod.
The conversation lasted less than a minute, but it was enough.
As Sophie walked back to her seat, whispers erupted across the classroom.
"I can't believe she actually talked to him."
"She's so brave."
"Or maybe she's just crazy."
Sophie ignored every comment.
As she sat down, she suddenly became aware of dozens of eyes following her every movement.
Then...
Her phone vibrated.
Her smile disappeared the instant she unlocked the screen.
Another message from the same
Unknown number.
I warned you once. Next time, there won't be a warning.
A cold shiver crept down Sophie's spine.
Slowly, she looked up from the phone.
Someone in that classroom knew exactly what she had done.
And someone wanted her to stay away from Ethan Johnson at all cost.....
- Writer
