Chapter 1
Lily walked quickly down the road, distracted by her dress. She was tugging at the loose fabric, trying to fix it before reaching school. She didn't even notice the boy coming from the opposite side on his bicycle.
Everything happened in a blur.
The bicycle swerved, the boy lost balance, and in the next moment, he crashed into her. They both stumbled, books scattering, the sound of metal clashing against the ground. Lily gasped and hurried to her feet, her face burning with shock and anger.
"Are you blind?!" she shouted, brushing dust from her skirt.
The boy, equally flustered, muttered, "I'm sorry, I didn't see you," before rushing away. But Lily's uniform was already stained. She bit her lip in frustration. Of all the days…
At school, things got worse. Her teacher scolded her in front of the class for her messy appearance. Lily sat quietly, her cheeks hot with embarrassment, but her thoughts weren't on the lecture. They kept returning to that boy, that clumsy accident, and his hurried apology.
Across town, the same boy—David—entered his school late. His school wasn't as strict, so he easily slipped into his class after asking for permission. But his mind wasn't on studies either. He kept thinking about the girl he had run into, the one whose angry eyes had followed him long after he left.
When school ended, Lily waited by the gate for her friends. Just then, the boy appeared again. She froze for a moment.
He walked straight to her, hesitated, then said, "Hey… what's your name?"
Lily narrowed her eyes. "Why should I tell you?"
He looked embarrassed but smiled anyway. "Because I want to know."
After a pause, Lily sighed. "Lily."
His smile widened. "I'm David. Which class are you in?"
"Ninth," she answered softly, glancing away. Just then, her friends arrived, and Lily quickly waved goodbye. "I have to go."
David watched her leave. When he opened his bag later at home, he noticed something strange—Lily's bracelet was tangled in the zipper. He held it carefully, as if it were fragile. I'll give it back to her tomorrow, he decided, before setting it aside and heading to dinner.
Meanwhile, Lily reached home. Her mother immediately noticed the stain on her uniform.
"What happened to your clothes?" she asked sharply.
Lily hesitated. "It… it was because of a boy."
Her mother frowned but said nothing more, simply handing her dinner. After eating, Lily got ready for tuition.
There, a boy named France kept stealing glances at her. He liked Lily secretly, but she never seemed to notice him. To her, he was just another classmate. What Lily didn't know was that her best friend Sophia had feelings for France, but Sophia never dared to confess them.
After tuition, Lily and Sophia stopped at a small restaurant. They laughed, shared food, and then went home. When Lily's mother offered her dinner again, she smiled proudly. "I've already eaten outside."
Later that night, she arranged her bed, checked her school timetable, brushed her teeth, and slipped beneath the blanket. Her mind drifted again to that boy—David.
Across town, David also lay in bed after finishing his work and dinner. The bracelet still rested on his desk, catching the faint light of the lamp
He picked it up one last time, turning it in his hand.
That's when he noticed something he hadn't seen before—tiny letters engraved on the inside.
David's heart skipped as he leaned closer. Slowly, he whispered the words aloud.
"Property of France."
Sleep was the last thing on his mind now.