The morning after a long, exhausting night, the skies above Makazhar were bright but slightly humid. Today wasn't a regular school day. In fact, it was a rather annoying one for Al.
He arrived at school early—an unusual thing for him. Not because he was excited, but because it was senior yearbook photo day. The kind of formal portraits people claimed would be cherished for a lifetime… though to Al, it meant nothing.
The school yard was already bustling. Students dressed neatly, some standing in front of hand mirrors, others fixing each other's hair.
From within the crowd, two familiar figures made their way toward Al.
Rina—the tomboy—stood casually with her hands in her pockets. Beside her walked Dila, who had recently gone on a fake date with Al. At this moment, Al looked like some rich boy flanked by two beautiful, popular girls.
"You're early today," Rina said with a smirk, patting Al on the shoulder.
"What's the deal with coming early?" Dila squinted, curious.
