The smell of chalk dust. The squeak of sneakers on waxed floors.
A bell ringing in the distance.
"Is this… really happening?" Alexander Harrington muttered under his breath, staring at the rectangular brick building in front of him.
A high school.
He adjusted his tie—wrong move. Nobody here wore a tie. Well, not unless it was part of a uniform. His own was freshly ironed, spotless, the blazer tailored so well that the seams probably cost more than the entire school's library budget.
He caught a group of students eyeing him from the gate.
Too formal? No, I'm blending in… right?
Alex sighed. He was twenty-three years old, CEO of Harrington Tech Industries, a multinational empire with offices spanning from New York to Singapore. He had commanded board meetings, negotiated billion-dollar contracts, and been listed on Forbes' "Top 30 Under 30."
And yet here he was, standing like a nervous transfer student at a foreign high school, pretending to be eighteen.
Why?
Because money, luxury, and fame had given him everything—except love.
---
"Excuse me, are you the new transfer student?" A voice piped up.
Alex turned. A girl in a neat uniform with twin braids peered at him, a clipboard tucked under her arm. She looked like the type who took her role as class rep far too seriously.
"Yes," Alex said smoothly. He flashed the practiced smile that had melted the hearts of investors and socialites alike.
The girl blinked, cheeks flushing pink. But then, she squinted.
"…Why do you look like a teacher?"
Alex froze.
Before he could answer, another voice cut in.
"Hey, rep, don't scare him on the first day. He probably just has one of those mature faces."
The second speaker was Emily Tanaka. She was leaning casually against the gate, arms folded. Her brown hair framed sharp, intelligent eyes. Unlike the blushing class rep, Emily gave Alex a look that could pierce steel.
Alex's heart skipped. Not because she was the most beautiful girl he'd ever seen—though she was breathtaking in her simple way—but because, for the first time in years, someone wasn't dazzled by him.
Instead, she looked… unimpressed.
Interesting.
---
The introductions went smoothly enough—at least on the surface. The teacher ushered him into Class 3-B, explaining he was an international transfer student.
"Students, this is Harrington Alexander," the teacher announced.
A murmur rippled across the room.
"Whoa, he's tall…"
"Looks like an actor."
"Bet he's rich."
"Do you think he's single?"
Alex cleared his throat. "Just call me Alex."
The teacher pointed to an empty seat beside Emily Tanaka. Of course. Fate had a twisted sense of humor.
---
He sat down, trying to project calm confidence. Emily, however, didn't even glance at him. She was doodling on the corner of her notebook, utterly uninterested.
Strange. Normally by now someone would've asked for my number. Or an autograph. Or at least a coffee date.
Determined to make a good first impression, Alex leaned slightly toward her.
"Hello. I look forward to being classmates."
Emily finally turned her head, raised one eyebrow, and deadpanned:
"…Are you sure you're in the right place? This isn't a business seminar."
Alex blinked.
"…Excuse me?"
"You look like you're about to sell us insurance."
The class around them erupted in muffled giggles. Alex, for once in his life, was speechless.
Rejected. On the very first sentence.
---
As the lesson droned on, Alex slumped slightly, battling humiliation.
This is harder than I thought. But no matter. Alexander Harrington doesn't give up. If love won't come to me through boardrooms or cocktail parties, then I'll win it here, in this classroom. Even if it kills me.
Emily, sensing his resolve but not knowing his thoughts, sighed quietly.
Great. Another weirdo. Just what I needed.
---
That was the beginning.
The billionaire CEO had officially entered high school life… and his first crush had already rejected him without even trying.