Third Person's Point of View
Sewol high experienced a really devastating catastrophe. After the news that some of their students were notorious gangsters, killing and doing horrid things to different students, they decided to permanently close the school.
There were no dead bodies found, but no member of the gang was seen after the tragedy.
Suspicions say that the gang committed suicide and burnt the whole school. Some say that someone wanted revenge. Others say that a teacher left the stove open, and it caused the fire.
Nobody knew what really happened.
Except for Niana and Bella.
Bella decided to take an exam that would advance her to high school. With her intelligence, she passed the exam and entered a high school far from where she lives.
Niana also took the exam. Fortunately, she also passed.
Both of them are now in high school, taking new steps and a new journey to welcome.
They decided to live in their university dorm since it would be a hassle if they still had to take busses.
Bella was bright and clever. Her facial and body features became more prominent and beautiful. Everyone admired her beauty and intelligence in just a short period of knowing her.
"Hi, Bella." A group of boys greeted Bella while she was walking in the hallway. 
She smiled at them.
Compared to what she was before, she is now completely different. 
She keeps smiling, soft, and tender.
Everyone knows it's a facade.
...
"Bella, after everything that has happened, how can you live a normal life?" Niana asked Bella while they were sitting at a bench in the garden of the school.
Bella licked her ice cream and faced Niana.
"We shouldn't dwell on the past, Niana. Time flies by, the leaves will soon die, the Earth won't stop rotating, and we must always move forward, no matter what." 
They exchanged glances for a while, and Niana awkwardly smiled at Bella.
"You know, Bella, I never met a person like you before. Uhm... not that I regret meeting you, I'm very grateful you became my friend. I just hope you could live a normal life."
"What do you mean? Am I not living a normal life?"
"No... no, not like that. I mean, you know what I'm saying. I hope you could feel emotions." Niana muttered and looked away.
"How many times do I have to tell you? I can't."
"But you can go to a psychologist! They can help you, Bella."
"I won't. Do you know what happens to people who feel emotions? They get trapped by those stupid emotions. Love, hate, jealousy, anger, sadness, all of those. And no, I don't want that to happen to me."
"Were you born with it? Were you born a psychopath? Naturally?" Niana asked without making eye contact.
Bella took another lick of her ice cream and sighed.
"Actually, no. When I was a kid, maybe three or four, I used to cry all the time. I know I was sad." Bella uttered while looking at the beautiful view of the sunset, creating silhouettes of trees.
"Do you mind telling me more about it? Uhm... but if not, it's fine."
"Well, I constantly experienced all kinds of horrible things. Abuse, terror, pain," She stopped for a while and finally took her final bite of the ice cream cone.
"and being unloved." 
Silence happened, and it was deafening.
"You're brave, Bella. I admire you for that." Niana broke the silence.
"Hmm, so stop forcing me to feel emotions already. I can't. I don't wanna be weak."
"Okay."
"Don't you ever mention anything about the past again? Okay, Niana?"
Niana nodded and placed her head on the left shoulder of Bella.
...
Three months later...
"Yow, guys! Our rankings are finally posted!"
"Really? Who's on top?"
"I'm a bottom."
"Shut it, I'm talking about the rankings!"
"Bella?"
"You mean, Princess Bellania?"
"No, I mean, Belladonna Salvador!"
"Oh, that means Princess Bellania is gonna be so disappointed."
"Hey. Hey, Bella, wake up." Niana, smiling from ear to ear, shook Bella, who was in her deep sleep.
Bella half-opened her eyes and looked at Niana, "What is it?"
"You're the class top notcher for this quarter! Come on! Look at the bulletin!" Niana giggled and pulled Bella from her seat.
They both went to the bulletin board, but Bella was still half asleep. She bumped with another student and fell on the floor. After that, her senses finally awoke.
"Watch your way, miss." The girl she bumped with uttered sarcastically.
Bella glared at her and stood up. She clenched her fists but realized that she needed to create a good reputation.
She smiled at the student and apologized. She was about to follow Niana, but the girl held Bella's wrist.
"Wait, are you Bella?" The girl asked.
"Yeah," Bella responded flatly.
The girl moved closer to her and smirked, "Nice job, Bella. You're on top." The girl whispered.
"Hmm, is your name Bella too?" Bella asked the girl.
"No, it is Princess Bellania. Don't call me Bella." She replied, moved away, and pulled a lip balm from her pocket.
"Okay, Bella. Nice to meet you." 
Bella proceeded to the bulletin and saw her name with her picture and a label indicating her rank.
Belladonna Salvador - Class E - Rank One
She smirked.
"See, your hard work paid off," Niana said and smiled at Bella.
"I need to be the best at everything."
"Oh, hi. May I interrupt?" 
A guy with brown hair, a charming face, a warm ivory skin tone, and a tall physique approached Niana and Bella.
"Yeah, sure. What do you need?" Bella asked in a kind voice. 
"Well, I am a school newspaper journalist, and I'm actually finding an editor. I saw your name on the rankings. Are you perhaps interested? Miss Bella?" The guy asked while spinning a pen on his fingers.
"Sure, I don't have any clubs yet anyway." Bella agreed.
"Great! Uhm... so should I see you tomorrow? At the club room?" The guy asked.
"Wait, wait. Just the two of you? What about me?" Niana raised her hands and looked at both the guy and Bella.
"If you want, you can be the club room janitor." The guy said and burst out laughing.
Niana glared at the guy while Bella was just blankly staring at him.
"I'm not kidding, okay, mister happy pants? If there are no available spots for the clubroom, then can I come with Bella every time you guys have a meeting?' Niana suggested.
"Sure, no problem with that. But why are you so attached to Bella?" 
Niana glanced at Bella for a second and replied, "She's my best friend."
"Hmm, okay."
"Don't we have any other members?" Bella asked.
The guy scratched his neck and answered, "Apparently, there are little to no students who are actually interested in this club. So, I'm just alone, basically."
Bella just nodded and walked away.
"Eh, uhm... hey, Bella! Wait for me!"
...
All these years, Bella couldn't help but think of Jameson. She usually dreams about him in her sleep. She remembers the night when Jameson died right in front of her eyes.
It makes her think about it a lot.
"Niana."
"Hmm?"
"Why don't you make other friends? I mean, you're not unlikable."
"I don't want to make other friends anymore. Remember when I told you that I'm an outcast? That freaking traumatized the hell out of me."
Bella didn't speak.
"One friend is enough. I don't need a lot, Bella."
"Do you like Jameson?" Bella asked her out of the blue.
Niana's eyes widened, and her face turned red.
"Uhm... yeah... but that was when he was still alive and kicking," Niana said while stammering.
"I know." 
"What? Then why would you ask?" 
"Just making things sure."
"Are you not mad? I mean, I thought you had a thing with Jameson before. You were quite close during middle school."
Bella smiled. It was a small but genuine smile.
Everybody celebrate!
"Wait, did you just smile?" Niana lowered her face to peek at Bella's reaction.
"No, I didn't. And James and I are just-"
Bella stopped and was probably thinking of a word.
"Just?"
"Friends."
Niana smiled at Bella and hugged her.
"I won't get mad if you admit that you also have a crush on Jameson. I mean, can't you even at least have a crush on someone?" 
"I told you -"
"Yeah, you can't feel emotions. Uhm... Bella, what if Jameson is alive? What would you do?" Niana asked, and the ambiance suddenly changed.
Bella pursed her lips and looked away.
"He's dead, Niana. We should bury the past behind us already. Why are we even talking about him?"
"You started it."
Bella sighed heavily.
"That night, I've waited for hours in the hospital while he was in the emergency room. The moment the doctor showed up, I knew it. I knew his life was over. The doctor also told me that he was dead."
Niana looked behind Bella and saw a familiar person.
"Did you see that?"
"You're seeing things again?" Bella asked and turned around.
"BOO!"