Jayden and Daisy
In the midst of late May, the weather presented a picturesque scene.
As he walked up the path toward the school building, the blonde young man hardly took notice of the beauty around him. His mind was fully engrossed in the notes spread out before him, as he scrambled to prepare for the impending test, which was just hours away.
From the corner of his eye, he caught sight of Damian, the mute boy, also making his way up the path, seemingly unfazed by the group of girls trailing behind him. Jayden made an effort not to be distracted by their chatter, focusing his attention on the important material in his notes.
Under his breath, Jayden muttered curses as he tried to commit the definitions on his sheet to memory.
"Heyyyy!" came a playful female voice, as she raced up the path alongside him and playfully tapped him on the arm.
"Daisy!" he whined, a slight smile tugging at his lips.
Glancing at his notes, she remarked, "Oh, you're still studying? Miss Tan won't spare you if you flunk this test!"
"Care to lend a hand, then?" Jayden inquired.
She seized his notes, teasingly remarking, "How can you be so proficient in Japanese but struggle so much with Mandarin?"
"Hey! Japanese just comes naturally," he replied.
***
Aleena and Shane
In the middle of the school, two best friends found themselves grappling with the same impending test, although their reactions differed significantly.
"Shane..." Aleena lamented, burying her head in her arms. "I can't take it anymore. My brain feels like it's about to explode."
Shane couldn't help but smile, though he kept his eyes firmly fixed on his notes. He understood that Aleena tended to exaggerate. Shane possessed a remarkable intellect and rarely needed to study intensively for tests because he paid close attention in class, a fact he often denied to his friend.
In contrast, Shane knew he had to put in the effort to study if he wanted to do well on the test. So, he continued to diligently pore over his notes.
Aleena peeked at Shane from under her arms, observing him. Their friendship had endured since their first year of high school, and they were rarely apart. Both were generally reserved individuals; Aleena often at a loss for words, her awkward charm making her endearing, while Shane was naturally obedient and quiet.
Shane remained oblivious to his friend's gaze, his concentration solely on his studies. Aleena sighed softly, resting her arms comfortably on the desk, still watching her friend. She wondered if Shane would eventually look up and catch her staring, but for the time being, Shane remained engrossed, unaware of the eyes upon him.
***
Damian and William
In the classroom on the other side of the library, two boys sat, positioned far apart, seemingly indifferent to the buzz of activity around them. Many students chose to arrive early for class rather than linger in the corridors, and among them were Damian and William.
Damian, surrounded by a gaggle of girls from his class and even some from other classes, was the center of attention. They clustered around him, vying for his notice. In stark contrast, William was a solitary figure; he had precisely zero friends due to his aloof and rebellious demeanor. His piercings openly defied school rules, and his uniform was persistently in disarray. No one dared to approach him, as his sarcastic quips and snarky remarks repelled even those initially drawn to his good looks.
Damian rarely uttered a word in the presence of his classmates, leading everyone to believe he was mute. Yet, to his group of fervent admirers, this only enhanced his mystique and allure. His striking jet-black hair and piercing eyes had an almost idol-like appeal to the girls who were enamored with him. They encircled him, competing to capture his attention.
Sighing inaudibly, Damian rested his head on his desk, attempting to drown out their voices and steal a few precious moments of sleep after a sleepless night. He believed that if they discovered his true self, they would likely steer clear of him.
William observed the spectacle with a stoic expression, disdain evident as he watched the girls practically throwing themselves at Damian. When one of them noticed his eye roll and confronted him, he scoffed in response.
"You're just mad because no one likes you, William."
William retorted, his remark about having no friends stinging a bit more than he cared to admit. With that, he departed, his aversion to desperate individuals guiding his actions.
Damian, overhearing the exchange from his desk, decided to escape to the rooftop in search of some peace and solitude. He rose from his seat, and his admirers followed him. Internally cursing, he exited the classroom.
Once on the rooftop, Damian settled on the edge, plugged in his headphones, and pretended not to notice the group of girls who had trailed him up there. They stood before him, nervously giggling as they awaited his attention.
Eventually, one of the girls mustered the courage to approach him and presented a gift, stammering, "Damian----, w-will you accept this gift f-from m-me?"
He cast a passive glance at her before hopping off the roof and walking away. The girl's lip quivered as her friends supported her, offering solace. It wasn't that Damian disliked her, although her persistent pursuit was trying. He felt a twinge of guilt for rejecting her so bluntly, but the girls had been bothering him for quite some time, never grasping that he was not interested and never would be.