My name is Anna, and if there's one thing I've learned about high school, it's that people love to compete for attention, for grades, for friends, for everything. I wasn't the kind of person who backed down easily, and maybe that was why the very first time I met Akai, it felt less like an introduction and more like a battle.
It happened on the very first day of our new semester. The classroom buzzed with the usual chaos,chairs screeching, students laughing too loudly, teachers trying to pretend they had control. I walked in, determined to claim the seat by the window. It was my favorite spot, the only place where I could breathe without feeling trapped.
But someone was already sitting there.
A boy leaned back casually in the chair, his feet propped against the desk, his expression sharp and almost daring. He looked up at me with eyes that didn't move away even when I glared at him.
"That's my seat," I said firmly.
He smirked, not even trying to move. "Really? I don't see your name written on it."
The arrogance in his tone sent heat rushing to my face. Who did he think he was?
"I've been sitting there since last year," I shot back. "Everyone knows that's mine."
"Well," he said lazily, folding his arms, "everyone knows rules are meant to be broken. Looks like you'll have to find another spot."
The class quieted for a moment, sensing the tension. My pride screamed at me not to give in. I pulled the chair next to him roughly, making sure it scraped loud against the floor.
"Fine. But don't think you've won anything," I muttered.
That was the first time I heard him laugh—low, confident, and annoyingly calm. "You've got an ego," he said, tilting his head toward me. "Guess I do too. This should be interesting."
"Don't flatter yourself," I snapped, crossing my arms.
But the truth was, something about him unsettled me. The confidence, the smirk, the way he didn't back down—it was like looking at a reflection of my own stubbornness.
When the teacher finally entered, she introduced him as Akai, the transfer student. The class buzzed with curiosity, but I stayed silent, staring at my notebook. Still, I could feel his eyes on me, as if he was daring me to look back.
That day, something began -not friendship, not romance, but a strange fire between us. Neither of us wanted to lose, neither of us wanted to bow down. And yet, deep inside, I already knew this rivalry would change me in ways I wasn't ready for.
Ego met ego that morning. And maybe, just maybe… love was hiding somewhere behind it.
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