As the sun began to rise, the dark blue sky of night faded into warm orange hues. The first rays of light struck the city's buildings, then filtered through the leaves of tall, lush trees. Birds flitted across the sky, some chirping freely while others added their melodies to the familiar hum of morning life.
Among the countless homes in the neighborhood, one stood out—a modest two-story gray house tucked away in a humble district. It had one window on the ground floor and two upstairs. A tiny sparrow perched on the left upstairs window, peering into a green-painted bedroom. Inside, a desk lamp sat near the right wall, a sturdy wardrobe stood in the corner, and below the window was a desk. Next to it, I lay in bed, completely unaware of the day beginning around me.
The sparrow fluttered away just as my alarm blared through the room, determined to drag me from my sleep. I groaned.
"Ugh… just five more minutes…"
Sadly, the alarm won the battle. Half-asleep, I reached out and slapped the stop button on my phone. On instinct, I draped an arm over my face as my eyes slowly adjusted to the light. I stayed like that for a few seconds, waiting for my mind to catch up, then finally sat at the edge of the bed and slipped on my slippers.
After stalling for a bit longer, I forced myself up and shuffled toward the bathroom, shoulders slouched, my entire posture screaming fatigue. Each step was slower than the last.
"First day of school... always the worst."
I muttered complaints as I turned on the faucet, letting the cold water run over my fingers. The chill bit into my skin, jolting me a little. I cupped my hands, splashed my face, and looked into the mirror.
Black hair—messy as always. Sky-blue eyes. Light brown skin. And the tiny notch on my left earlobe that never quite healed.
"Let's try not to draw attention today." I grabbed a towel and dried off.
Twenty minutes vanished in the shower. Cold water really is the best cure for a sleepy mind. Once out, I dressed in my uniform: a white shirt and black pants—both mandatory. My shoes were plain black, and I threw on a gray jacket for warmth. The final touch? A small purple earring.
My stomach growled in protest, reminding me I hadn't eaten. I slung my backpack over my shoulder and headed downstairs. As I entered the kitchen, which sat to the right of the staircase, I noticed a note pinned to the fridge. I peeled it off and read:
"Hi, sweetheart. Mom has to work late today, so you'll need to make something for dinner. But I made you a snack—it's in the fridge. Love you! — Mom."
"...You said you'd be home more often..." I mumbled, frustration and disappointment slipping into my voice.
I glanced at the time—already late. Grabbing the sandwich from the fridge, I started eating as I walked. Two slices of bread, ham, and mozzarella. Simple, but enough.
I live just ten minutes from school, which means I'm constantly leaving late. On the way, something caught my eye: a single blue iris hanging delicately in a flowerpot. I wanted to admire it longer.
But a few more steps, and the school gate came into view. Just before I reached it, a cherry blossom petal floated down and landed on my face.
Inside, the courtyard buzzed with students—some new, some returning for their second year like me. My eyes wandered across the crowd, and then I saw her.
She stood among her friends, laughing softly. I had no idea why, but my heart skipped a beat.
And just like that, I was walking without watching where I was going, completely entranced. I didn't snap out of it until someone jumped onto my back.
We nearly crashed to the ground. I barely caught my balance and turned to see who it was—only to freeze.
"Eduarda?" I blinked in disbelief. She'd been studying abroad for two years.
"Hey, Guilherme!" Her voice overflowed with joy.
"What are you doing here? And yep, still full of energy, I see."
"My exchange program ended. Can you believe it? We're in the same school again!"
"Crazy. How have you been?" We started walking again to avoid being late.
"I've been good. Studying in Brazil was fun, honestly. So much more lively than I expected."
"Oh yeah? Met anyone interesting?"
"No one worth remembering. And you?" She nudged me playfully.
"Same as always."
After some more catching up, the bell rang, and we split off for our classes. I headed straight to the back of the room—my usual spot, far from everyone else. The teacher arrived, everyone found their seats, and my plan was going smoothly. No one had sat next to me.
Until *she* walked in.
The girl from earlier.
My heart kicked up again as she stepped through the door. The teacher introduced her as a transfer student joining our class. Of course, there was only one empty seat left—right next to me.
Time passed quickly, and before I knew it, it was lunchtime. I slipped away as quietly as possible and made my way to the greenhouse behind the school. I've always been better with plants than with people. The only exception to that rule was Eduarda.
After eating, I checked my phone—still twenty minutes left. I decided to spend them tending to the flowers and greenery in the greenhouse.
That is, until someone called my name.