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The sun was blazing over the field, and the women bent over, picking vegetables, their sun hats wobbling on their heads. One of them, balancing a basket like a pro, called out,
"Silya!"
Silya looked up. She was in her school uniform: a blue skirt, a white blouse untucked, a black tie hanging like it had given up on life, and a black jacket. On her feet? Football boots. Yes, football boots. With short white socks that barely reached her ankles. Her wavy hair was doing its own thing, unbrushed and proud, her skin pale, and her huge green eyes staring like she'd just seen a ghost.
She looked at the woman, unsure whether to run or laugh.
The woman gave her a hard look.
"You're late for school—and you're walking like a snail! And your clothes… your hair… honestly, are you trying to start a new fashion trend? And the football boots again? Really?" She grabbed Silya by the head, like she needed to check if it was even attached properly.
Silya waved her hands like, "Okay, okay, I get it!" and kept going, kicking up dust with every step.
From behind, another woman snorted.
"Mina, don't bother. She's hopeless. You know she's not passing this year, whether she's on time or actually wears her uniform right."
She sounded like she was half mocking, half laughing at the disaster in front of them.
Mina sighed, rubbing her forehead.
"I don't know what to do with her. All she wants is football. Like a boy. A very stubborn boy."
One of the other women piped up, smirking,
"At least teach her some housework, so she can pull her weight if she ever quits school."
The women all laughed, the kind of laughter that made Silya want to crawl into a hole—or maybe just kick a football right at them.
Silya was walking like she owned two completely different legs—one leading to the left, the other to the right. Not exactly the most graceful walk, and she muttered under her breath like she was narrating her own chaos.
From a distance, she spotted the school guard planted like a statue in front of the door—and a young man hobbling toward her on crutches, one leg in a cast.
A mischievous grin crept across her face. She slowed her pace, trying to sneak past unnoticed, tugging the tall guy along with her. She barely reached hes shoulder. His skin was somewhere between pale and tan, his brown eyes magnified by glasses, and his hair fell lazily to the sides of his forehead, leaving a gap in the middle. He looked at her like she'd just tried to steal the moon.
"What… what are you doing?" he whispered, bewildered.
Silya gave him a sly, slightly nervous smile, avoiding his gaze.
"Help me this time, and I'll owe you one," she said, trying to sound casual while secretly praying he didn't refuse.
The guard's eyes narrowed, suspicious. Silya pressed the young man's hand like she was negotiating a hostage release.
"Silya! Who's this with you?" the guard barked, suspicion dripping from every word.
Flustered, Silya stumbled.
"I… I… he's my friend," she said, pointing at his leg. "See? Broken leg. Had to help him. That's why we're late." She added a smile that was more "innocent troublemaker" than convincing.
The guard squinted.
"All your friends are stupid. What happened this time?" He pointed at the boy with his stick. "Loran, is she really your friend?"
Loran stared at her for a few seconds, while she gave him her best "please, say yes" look.
He nodded, very seriously.
"Yes."
The guard opened the door.
"Fine. Go on in."
Silya's grin turned fully mischievous as she sped up to slip inside.
But the guard wasn't done. He grabbed her arm. She spun around, half annoyed, half teasing.
"You're not taking your friend with you!"
She laughed, rolling her eyes in the most dramatic way possible.
"Hahaha, yes, yes! Of course I'm taking my friend."
She grabbed his wrist and started walking with him—like a kid dragging a reluctant dog—until they fell a little behind. She looked around, scanning for trouble, then turned to Loran with a sly smile.
"My name's Silya. I've got to get to class. If you ever need help, look for me."
Then she darted off, leaving him staring in disbelief. Slowly, painfully, Loran shuffled up the stairs on his crutches, muttering under his breath like a defeated hero.
Silya reached her classroom and watched the teacher droning on at the front. Every student glanced at her for a second, the usual "who's the late girl?" energy. As soon as the teacher turned to the board, Silya slipped quietly to the back, settling into her usual seat.
She glanced around. Two girls sat ahead of her, chatting and smirking, and a boy slouched at the last desk across the aisle.
One of the girls, with short hair and a dramatic amount of makeup, whispered with a teasing tone:
"How did you get in without getting in trouble?"
Silya tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and said with a sly grin,
"Trade secret."
The girl next to her, hair neat and straight, minimal makeup barely noticeable, clothes perfectly in place, rolled her eyes and whispered,
"Yuna… as if you don't know, her tricks never end."
The boy beside them lowered his voice, hair parted neatly in two strands under his eyes, no tie, looking half asleep.
"I saw you sneaking in with a guy outside," he muttered.
"Guy?!" Yuna exclaimed loudly, but the another girl grabbed her just in time. They all turned toward their seats, the boy included, while Silya darted her eyes around the classroom as if nothing had happened.
The teacher's voice cut through the chaos, sharp and loud:
"Siiiiiilya! You and your stupid group, to the principal's office—NOW!"
Misa glanced at the boy, and the girls exchanged looks that screamed, we're in trouble again.
At that moment, a knock at the door drew everyone's attention. Standing there was Loran, his broken leg evident.
The teacher forced a calm smile, trying to hide her irritation.
"Come in, come in."
Loran entered, expression unreadable, and stood next to the teacher.
"This is your new classmate," she said, glancing at him. "Introduce yourself."
The boy whispered to Silya,
"He's the same guy who was with you outside."
The girls looked at him, and Silya shot him a teasing glance.
"My name's Loran," he said in his usual calm tone.
The teacher waited for more, but he said nothing.she looked at him
"that's all?"
He didn't replied
"ok then"
She gestured toward the empty seat next to Silya.
"Go ahead, sit in the back next to that girl."
He walked over slowly, every pair of eyes on him, especially Silya's friends, shooting suspicious glances.
Once seated, Silya whispered,
"You saved me… again."
Loran blinked and pulled a notebook from his bag.
She pointed toward her friends.
"These are my friends: Yuna, Misa, Jin."
He looked at them and then at her, bewildered. They all smiled and waved casually as ifo.
Silya couldn't stop chattering and glancing out the window, while Loran stayed focused. As soon as the bell rang, she and her friends rushed out.
Silya paused, slowly turning to glance at him for a few seconds. Her friends looked at her, puzzled. She returned to her desk, finding him gathering his bag and trying to stand.
She grabbed his bag and offered her hand.
"Here, let me help you."
He looked at her hand, then her face, then the bag.
"Put it down. I've got it," he said.
She smiled playfully.
"You helped me, now it's my turn to help you." She closed her eyes briefly, then opened them with a grin.
He raised his eyebrows, got up, and she took his hand. Together, they started walking.
When they reached her friends, she tossed Jin her bag with a wink.
"Carry it," she teased.
At the school cafeteria, some students were eating while a long line waited for their turn. Silya smiled mischievously at her friends. They smiled back, handing her their meal cards.
She held out her hand toward Loran.
"What?"
", give me your card," she Said.
Loran shook his head.
"I'll get it myself."
Silya, growing impatient, leaned closer.
"Your caaaard."
He handed it over, clearly confused by her antics.
Jin guided Loran, still bewildered, to a table. They watched as Silya crossed the cafeteria like a whirlwind.
Loran, staring at her, whispered,
"What is she doing?"
Misa grinned.
"Just wait… you'll see."
They all smiled mischievously looking at her. Misa stood, waiting for the girl at the front of the line to get her food.
A girl in the third row whispered to the one in the second row,
"Be careful. As soon as that girl gets her food, silya will swoop in and take your turn and '. And then… chaos."
Before she could finish, Misa was already at the front, taking the food calmly, ignoring their protests.
"Miisa! You took my turn!"
Misa didn't respond, focused on collecting her food like a pro, completely unbothered.
The girl tapped Misa on the shoulder with her finger.
" Hallo I'm talking to you! That's my turn—you need to respect the line!"
The girl behind her chimed in.
"Yes, respect the line! What are you even doing?"
Silya slowly turned toward them, a sly grin on her face.
"Next time, be careful so I won't take your turn."
Misa grabbed five plates like a pro and began walking through the cafeteria under the watchful eyes of everyone around. Whispers followed her.
"Rude… savage…"
She went straight to their table and sat down, brushing her hair back and rubbing her hands together.
"Let's see what we have today," she said, eyes sparkling.
Yuna smiled and patted Silya's hand.
"Nicely done."
Misa and Jin grinned, starting to eat, while Loran watched them with a slightly uncomfortable expression.
"What you did… it wasn't right," he muttered.
Silya looked at him slowly, mock-shocked.
"What?"
Loran frowned.
"Taking other people's turns… that's not good."
Silya rolled her hand over his neck with a cool air of confidence.
"Look, this is an old tradition between me and them. You won't understand… but in time, you will."
Suddenly, a shout came from the back of the cafeteria.
"He's here! The boy from Europe is here!"
Everyone turned toward the window. Silya and her friends exchanged mischievous smiles.
She stood, dragging her friends along—Loran stayed behind, confused and flabbergasted by their antics. Silya ran to the window, brushing aside anyone in her way, eyes wide.
A tall boy in a neat school uniform appeared outside, short hair, tan skin.
Silya's jaw dropped.
"He looks like a football player!" she whispered. She turned to her friends and held out her hand, jokingly matching her palms with theirs.
"Like Messi, right?"
Misa and Yuna nodded, equally amazed.
"Totally looks like him."
Everyone was staring at the boy as he walked, until he disappeared between the buildings.
Silya returned to the table, still enchanted.
"Did you see those long, muscular legs? He must play football every day."
Her friends nodded along with her, matching every gesture.
Loran, deadpan, muttered:
"Legs don't decide how good someone is at football "
Silya frowned.
"Shut up. What do you know about football?" She went back to gazing at him dreamily.
"He's like Neymar and Messi combined!"
Later that evening, leaving school, Jin carried four bags while the girls carried none. Silya held Loran's hand.
At the school gate, she let go. He said politely:
"Thanks for helping me. Now i don't own you nathing." Then he started walking ahead.
Silya grinned, waving goodbye with one hand as she separated from her friends. She followed him, tapping the ground with her football boots.
He turned to her.
"Why are you following me?"
She pointed ahead.
"This is the way to my house."
They walked together until he reached his house. She watched the building curiously.
"So… you're the boy from the city"
A minute later, she arrived home. Inside, her sister, the same age, was watching TV, their father reading a book, and their mother in the kitchen. She kicked off her boots.
"I'm back!"
Her mother came over, holding a cooking spoon, scolding gently.
"Where were you? Your sister got here half an hour ago and is already watching her educational program."
Silya smiled sheepishly.
"I… I… was… writing my homework and got delayed."
Her mother eyed her suspiciously and returned to the kitchen.
Silya asked her father,
"Dad, has the match started?"
He checked his watch.
"not yet " her mother shook her head helplessly.
Meanwhile, at Loran's house, he was sitting at his desk reviewing, his little sister coloring beside him. Their mother came in, handing him juice and sitting nearby.
"How was school? Did anyone treat you badly when they found out you came from Europe?"
He smiled calmly.
"Good day."
"And did you make friends?" she asked, trying to read him.
He nodded slowly.
"Yes, yes. Lots of friends… quirky ones."
His mother smiled happily.
Early the next morning, Silya left the house looking just as messy as usual, her sister neat and orderly beside her. Silya smirked at her little sister's hurry.
Minutes later, she saw Loran leaving his house. She waved excitedly.
"Ohh, Loran!"
He didn't turn, walking steadily. She ran up and stopped in front of him.
"Why… why didn't you stop when I called you?"
Expressionless, he said:
"If I waited, we'd be late."
She smiled understandingly and patted his shoulder, which towered over her.
"You're right."
He glanced at her hand, then at her, and she smiled back foolishly.
They reached school and met her friends.
Yuna, excited:
"Do you know where he is staying"
Misa, equally thrilled:
"He's in our grade, but class number 2!" She shouted.
"So we share the same teachers!"
Jin joined their excitement.
"I found a way for you to get close—tell him you forgot your book. Since his class is after ours, he'll give it to you."
Silya shot him a mischievous grin, patting his shoulder.
"Finally, you helped me with something."
Loran interrupted:
"But you don't know him… asking him will be awkward."
They all gave him the same glare.
"Shut up."
They headed toward the classroom.
Misa went to their next class, and she and her friends peeked through the window. Loran sat alone, dozens of eyes on him from the windows.
Misa nudged Silya, whispering:
"Go now."
Silya adjusted her stance, hair messy, tie crooked, blouse wrinkled, football boots ready…