The alarm buzzed.
She didn't move.
A moment passed before she blinked into the ceiling, the same pale white she stared at every morning. Silence filled the room except for the quiet ticking of a clock she never liked but never removed.
She sat up, slowly. Like every motion had weight. Dragging herself to the bathroom, she stared into the mirror. Same eyes. Same skin. Same girl, except nothing felt the same anymore.
But under the layers of quiet frustration… was something else.
A flutter. Barely there.
Like hope. Or nerves. Or both.
A new school.
A new start.
Maybe.
By the time she came down for breakfast, the air was already full of careful tension.
"You're up early," her mother said, not looking up from her phone.
Her father peeked over his newspaper. "Don't forget your meds."
"And don't stay out late again," her mother added quickly. "You know how you get."
She nodded.
They meant well. That's what she told herself.
But it was always like these questions with no real care behind them. Warnings instead of warmth.
Only one person asked her anything real.
"How are you feeling, little one?" the housekeeper, Auntie Meera, whispered as she handed over a warm toast.
That one question almost cracked her.
But she just smiled, muttered a soft, "Fine," and grabbed her bag.
Today was the first day at the new school.
Her heart beat a little faster.
And no one even asked if she was nervous.
Or… excited.
The bus hissed to a stop, just the usual city route.
No one had time to drop her off. Of course not.
She stepped off with a quiet sigh, tightening the straps of her bag. Her shoes clicked softly on the pavement as she reached the school gate. The security guard gave her a small smile.
"New student?" he asked kindly.
She nodded, forcing a smile. "Yes, sir."
"Go on, classes have started. Good luck."
"Thanks."
The halls inside were eerily silent, echoing with the faint sound of chalk on boards and distant teacher voices.
Everyone was already in class.
Typical.
She found her way to the staff room, where a middle-aged teacher,Mr. Dev looked up as she entered. Her parents had spoken to him before. Familiar face, unfamiliar place.
"Ah, there you are," he said with a polite nod. "Ready?"
She nodded.
"If you need anything, anything at all, you come to me, alright? Don't hesitate."
Another nod. That was all she had in her.
He led her through the corridor until he stopped in front of a door labeled 'Class 12 - Section E'.
Muffled laughter and a teacher's voice floated from inside.
Mr. Dev pushed the door open gently and walked in, whispering something to the teacher at the front. Heads turned. Eyes stared.
The teacher, a woman with sharp eyes and a patient smile, turned to the class and said,
"We have a new student joining us today. Come in, dear."
She stepped in slowly, back straight, heart pounding. A hundred eyes burned into her as she stood in front of them all.
"I'm… Han Aera," she said quietly.
Murmurs.
Whispers.
The teacher gestured toward the last row. "Take the seat in the back, Aera."
A beat of hesitation. She started walking down the aisle when the whispers returned:
"Poor girl. First day and she's gotta sit with him?"
"Why'd she place her there?"
The teacher clapped sharply. "Silence!"
Aera just kept walking, ignoring the stares, until she reached the back.
He was there.
Head leaned against the wall, earphones in, eyes closed.
Tall. Broad shouldered. Hair a little messy.
And a scar, just above his right brow.
She sat down beside him, her bag carefully placed between them like a shield.
A moment passed.
Then he stirred, eyes slowly blinking open.
Aera turned slightly, trying to be polite. "Hello… my name is Aera."
Nothing.
No nod. No glance. No word.
She blinked. "Rude."
She caught the tiniest curve at the corner of his mouth. Barely there. Almost like… amusement?
But he didn't say a word.
The class dragged on, but her thoughts were louder than the lecture.
Whispers still floated in pockets of silence.
Her name was already a topic. And apparently, so was he.
She dared another glance.
He was leaning back again, head against the wall, earphones tucked in, pretending the world didn't exist.
Or maybe he really just didn't care.
Scar above the brow. Slight shadow under his jaw. He looked like he walked out of a fight and didn't regret it.
She looked away quickly.
Nope. Not today. Not doing the whole drama.
Except… maybe a little curious.