Aria's POV____
Her room, night_____
I placed my phone down on the bed.
"AHHHHHHHHHHH!"
I screamed out loud, overwhelmed with disbelief and excitement.
"Aria! What's your problem, kid? Don't we want to sleep?!" my mom yelled from downstairs.
"Sorry!" I yelled back, trying to contain my squeals.
I flopped onto my bed, my heart still racing.
Did I really just text him like that? So natural? So casual?!
Ughhh—who even am I right now?
But who cares… he said we'll meet soon.
SOON!!!
I need to groom myself better. I mean—he has a lot of fans. I have to stand out. I want to be more than just one of the girls who admire him from afar… I want to be the one he remembers.
Even though I didn't get a chance in GHSS, my decision to join KHSS was super right.
Totally fate-approved.
I rolled over and pulled my blanket up.
Tonight, I'll sleep with a smile on my face… and dreams filled with him.
*********************************
NEXT DAY ___
Classroom ____
Aria sat quietly at her seat, the classroom still empty even though the bell had rung.
But she didn't seem to care.
Her eyes were locked on the delicate chain in her hands—the one she'd made herself. A soft, shy smile curved her lips as she admired the little flower sealed within.
Suddenly, a hand snatched it from her.
Startled, she turned around sharply.
"Where did you buy this?" Sona asked, turning the locket over in her hands, examining it curiously.
"That's so rude!" Aria snapped, standing up.
"Is that a new shop or something?" Sona continued, ignoring the protest.
"What? I said what you just did is rude!" Aria said again, louder this time.
Sona chuckled, unfazed.
For the next couple of minutes, she kept staring at the chain, admiring it, while Aria stood by, impatiently waiting to get it back.
"Wait—is this… that flower?" Sona asked, now glancing at Aria.
"Y–yes… so what?" Aria replied, her voice soft but defensive.
The next second, Sona dropped the chain like it was something filthy.
"Are you MAD?!" Aria shouted, rushing to pick it up from the floor.
Sona just rolled her eyes as Aria carefully wiped it and wore it again.
"Do you know what you caused yesterday?" Sona asked, finally sitting on a bench, her eyes staring out the window.
Aria didn't reply. She just fastened the chain around her neck and looked away.
"Zorvath is angry at you. Be careful," Sona said quietly.
Aria turned to her, confused. "Why should I be? Wait—who is he, anyway? Why is everyone so scared of him?"
Sona smirked.
"We're not scared of him… we respect him."
Her voice softened, almost as if speaking to herself now.
"For what he's done for us… even a lifetime won't be enough to repay."
She tilted her head back, eyes closed for a moment.
"Soon… you'll understand."
Something about her tone made Aria uneasy.
She stood frozen for a moment, clutching the chain tightly, unsure what she had stepped into—or what exactly was waiting ahead.
"Hiiiiiii guyssss!"
A sweet, bubbly voice echoed from outside the classroom.
Both Aria and Sona turned toward the door.
A girl stepped in with long pink-tinted hair, glowing fair skin, and soft baby pink lips. Her whole vibe screamed charming chaos.
"Sreya!" Sona gasped and rushed to hug her.
"Where were you all these days?"
"Just thought I'd tag along with Danvy for her competition," Sreya replied, flipping her hair.
"You mean sabotage my focus," came a dry voice from behind her.
Danvy entered the room with a calm confidence. Her short black hair framed her face, her posture relaxed but sharp. She wore her school uniform shirt as an overcoat on top of a casual tee and baggy pants—effortlessly cool.
"How was your competition, Danvy?" Sona asked, turning to her.
"Good," Danvy replied, but her eyes were now fixed on Aria, who stood quietly, unsure what to say or do.
"Your—" Danvy started, but before she could finish, Sreya jumped in like a firework.
"You're Aria, right? I'm Sreya! Oh my god, you're soooo pretty! I love your eyes!"
She gushed, hugging, shaking hands, and planting a quick air kiss on Aria's cheek—all in one breath.
Aria just stood there… frozen. Like a statue.
Then Danvy stepped forward and offered a hand.
"Danvy."
No extra words, no sugar coating.
"Aria."
She responded with a polite smile and shook her hand.
Meanwhile, Sreya and Sona had already launched into animated chatter about the trip and everything else in the universe.
After just five minutes, Aria had already started getting a feel for the group.
They were close—like a perfectly mismatched puzzle that somehow fit together. Their bond was real.
Danvy, she quickly learned, was a boxer. Tough, reserved, and only spoke when necessary. Her words were short, but her presence? Loud.
Sreya, on the other hand, was the total opposite. A lively soul with a fashion obsession. She wasn't a professional designer yet, but she ran a small online boutique that already had a solid following. Her bold style spoke before she even opened her mouth.
Apparently, they had just returned from Delhi, where Danvy had gone to compete. Sreya, in true Sreya style, had tagged along at the last minute—unexpected and uninvited—but no one seemed surprised.
Suddenly, a loud noise echoed from outside—shouts, footsteps, chaos.
Sona quickly peeked out of the classroom and saw a wave of students rushing toward the canteen. She grabbed a boy sprinting past.
"What's happening there?" she asked.
"Fight! Fight!" he shouted breathlessly before disappearing into the crowd.
"Fight!!!" Sona echoed, yelling back into the classroom.
Sreya's and Danvy's eyes lit up like it was a festival. Without another word, both dashed out of the room with excitement.
Sona was about to follow them but paused at the door. Aria was still sitting calmly at her desk, completely unbothered.
"Not interested?" Sona asked, raising an eyebrow.
Aria simply shook her head, a small smile on her lips.
Sona grinned back. "Suit yourself," she said, and with that, she ran off .
After Sona left, Aria was alone in the classroom—almost alone on the entire block. The silence wrapped around her like a blanket. Every small movement she made echoed in the empty room.
She sat back in her seat, the chair creaking under her. She pulled out her phone and started scrolling through last night's chat with Sinas.
"I can't believe I said all that…"
A shy smile crept onto her lips.
Awww… I'm sure our meeting in two days will make us even closer.
She was so lost in her thoughts that she didn't notice the group of boys standing at the door, watching her silently for a moment.
"What are you doing here all alone?" Mirzand's voice suddenly cut through the air as he stepped into the classroom with the rest of the gang.
"Probably checking that idiot's texts," Zorvath muttered.
Startled, Aria immediately hugged her phone to her chest protectively.
"Ohh mohh, we're not here to steal your phone," Aswin said with a smirk.
"What do you guys want?" Aria asked, her eyes scanning the group warily.
"Just here to get to know the new beauty," Leo said, sliding into the seat next to her.
She stood up instantly.
"She knows you well, Leo! Rejected already!" Aswin laughed, elbowing him.
Leo shot him a mocking face, and Aswin did the same back.
"Stop this childish nonsense," Rithul finally spoke, sounding bored.
Aria crossed her arms, irritated. "So? What do you guys want?"
"Who is he to you?" Zorvath asked, stepping forward, his sharp gaze fixed on Aria.
"Who?" she blinked, genuinely confused.
"Ohhh, you're good at acting, baby," Leo added with a smirk.
Aria rolled her eyes. "If you're talking about Sinas—then yes, we just met yesterday. And from what I know, you all saw that too. So why these ridiculous questions?"
"Because it's Sinas," Aswin replied, flopping onto the bench beside Leo. "With just one night, you could already be his wife."
Aria narrowed her eyes. "Oh really? Before judging me, maybe look in the mirror first." She turned to face Zorvath directly. "I don't know what your issue is, but whatever it is, it's either a misunderstanding or something pathetically small."
Zorvath stepped even closer, his voice colder. "Defeating him by staying in KHSS… how dare you."
She flinched slightly but held her ground.
"Looks like she won't last long here," Mirzand said under his breath.
"You can leave if you want," Zorvath continued, "but the second you step into GHSS, you'll be the most hated ex-KHSS student."
"What is your problem, man?!" Aria burst, her voice sharp, stepping back.
Leo suddenly pointed. "Wait—is that the flower?"
Her hand instinctively covered the pendant around her neck. "Mind your own business."
She took another step back, but before she could react further, Zorvath grabbed the chain roughly and yanked it from her neck.
The others immediately circled in.
"It's beautiful… but disgusting," Aswin said dryly.
"Did you make this?" Mirzand asked, turning it in his hand.
"GIVE IT BACK!" Aria shouted, her voice cracking.
Zorvath looked at the chain one last time—then tossed it casually out the window.
She rushed to the window, her breath caught, watching as the pendant landed somewhere far below.
The others walked out one by one.
Mirzand paused at the door. "Nice effort, but you used the wrong symbol."
And just like that, she was alone again.
Weak.
Angry.
Shaking.