EPISODE 2.
"Let's get seated before the professor comes," she said. As Sia and Diana settled into the back seats, the professor strode into the classroom, his presence commanding attention as a conductor leading an orchestra.
The lecture began, and the murmurs of the class swirled around them, a soothing background noise that accompanied the professor's words.
That's when they walked in - six boys who seemed to have an otherworldly effect on the girls, their arrival sparking a collective gasp of admiration. "Oh my heavens, they're so hot," a girl in front of Diana cooed, her voice barely above a whisper, her words echoing the sentiment of the rest of the female students.
Diana's gaze, however, was drawn to one boy in particular - the one she'd collided with in the hallway, his piercing eyes and chiseled features etched in her memory as a work of art.
She focused on the lecture, but her mind betrayed her, conjuring up images that made her skin prickle with awareness, a whispered secret in her ear.
The professor, visibly irritated by the noise, struggled to maintain his composure, his voice firm but controlled as he commanded,
"Silence, class." The room fell silent, except for the soft rustle of papers and the creak of chairs as the six boys took their seats, their movements fluid and synchronized.
Michael, the boy from the hallway, slid into a seat mere feet away, his piercing gaze skimming over Diana before he looked away, leaving her feeling pinned to a board. She felt a shiver run down her spine as their eyes met for a fleeting moment, a spark of electricity that lingered long after they broke contact. The professor's voice cut through Diana's reverie, snapping her back to reality.
"The girl beside Michael, please stand and explain what I just covered." The class's collective gaze settled on Diana, and she felt a wave of panic wash over her, her heart racing wildly.
Diana stood, frozen, as the murmurs and whispers swirled around her, her mind a jumbled mess of thoughts and emotions.
"Fuck, I wasn't even paying damn attention," she cursed lowly, her words lost in the silence.
The professor's gaze swept across the room, finally landing on her, her eyes narrowing slightly as she awaited Diana's response.
"So, Ms., what's your name?" she asked, her voice firm but polite.
"My name is Diana," Diana replied, forcing a smile despite the tightness in her stomach, her voice barely above a whisper.
She isn't someone to get lost when an important note is being judged.
The professor posed her next question. "Diana, can you explain to us what you understand by the term 'youth empowerment'?" Diana took a deep breath and tried to compose herself, her thoughts racing.
"Youth empowerment is about equipping young people with the necessary tools and resources to make informed decisions about their lives and take control of their futures," Diana said, striving for confidence, her words tumbling out. The professor nodded, a hint of a smile playing on her lips, her eyes sparkling with approval.
As the class progressed, Diana's initial nervousness began to dissipate, replaced by a growing sense of confidence, a sunrise breaking over the horizon. When the lecture finally ended, Diana exhaled a sigh of relief and gathered her belongings, her movements swift and efficient. Sia turned to Diana, a warm smile on her face, her eyes shining with genuine concern.
"Hey, you did great there. I was worried you were going to freak out or something," she said, her voice filled with warmth and camaraderie. Diana chuckled, feeling a sense of connection with Sia, they'd shared a secret joke. As they walked out of the classroom, Diana caught a glimpse of Michael, his piercing eyes locking onto hers, drawing her in with an irresistible force.
She felt a flutter in her chest, and her heart skipped a beat, a dancer missing a step. Sia noticed Diana's gaze and followed it to Michael, her eyes sparkling with amusement.
"Oh, that's Michael," Sia said, her voice low and conspiratorial, her words dripping with intrigue. "He's one of the most popular guys in school. And he's definitely interested in you," she teased, her eyes glinting with mirth.
Diana felt a flush rise to her cheeks as she quickly looked away, trying to play it cool, a poker player hiding their hand.
"I'm not interested," Diana said, her voice barely above a whisper, her words a feeble attempt to deflect Sia's observation.
Sia laughed, her eyes sparkling with amusement, a firework exploding in the night sky. "We'll see about that," she said, winking at Diana, her words hanging in the air as a challenge.
As they walked into the school cafeteria, the aroma of food wafted through the air, mingling with the hum of conversation and the clinking of dishes. Sia placed a reassuring hand on Diana's, her touch warm and comforting.
"Don't worry about Michael. Don't get distracted," Sia said, her voice filled with genuine concern, her eyes locked onto Diana's. "But Diana, what was that in class? I know Michael and his friends are handsome, but don't get distracted by them."
Diana hesitated, unsure how to articulate the strange sensation she felt whenever Michael was near. Her mind was a jumble of emotions.
"I don't know... it's just that whenever I see him, I feel strange," Diana managed to say, her voice barely above a whisper, her words tumbling out in a confession. Sia's eyes widened in surprise.
"OMG, Diana, are you in love?" she asked, her voice full of excitement, her words echoing through the cafeteria as a challenge.
Diana's mouth dropped open, and she stared at Sia, unsure how to respond, her face a mask of confusion. The girls in the cafeteria erupted into a frenzy as the six boys walked in, their arrival sparking a collective gasp of admiration. Sia chuckled and began introducing them, her voice weaving a spell of excitement.
"The one with gold hair is Jay, son of the famous fashion designer Jacob Bruce from Paris. The one with green hair is Scott, whose family owns a company in New York City called S.O." Sia continued, her words painting vivid pictures in Diana's mind.
"The one sitting next to Michael is Dave, he's let's just say, rude.." Sia's eyes sparkled with amusement as she added. "Dave's a musician; have you heard the song 'Forever Yours'?" Sia asked with a bright smile, her enthusiasm infectious.
"Yes, I've heard it, but I didn't know it was him. I'm not really into following artists," Diana replied, her voice laced with a hint of apology. Sia nodded understandingly.
"Hmm, you're missing out, girl! So, where was I? Oh, Dave's family has a good relationship with your crush, Michael," Sia said, winking at Diana, her words dripping with teasing. Diana blushed, her cheeks burning with embarrassment.
"Stop calling him my crush; someone might hear," she said, glancing at Michael, her eyes darting away.
"It doesn't matter; a lot of girls are in love with him, so it's nothing new," Sia replied, digging into her food with gusto.
"What about the other guys with them?" Diana asked, her curiosity piqued.
Sia's eyes sparkled with amusement as she began to describe the boys. "Oh, you mean Joseph and Johnson, the male twins with different attitudes. They have their own lifestyle. Johnson's an artist; he drew me in the lab once. I went home blushing at how beautiful I looked in the artwork." Diana's eyes widened in surprise.
"Joseph's a flirt, always surrounded by girls," Sia continued, her voice laced with a hint of warning.
"And last but not least, your beloved Michael... every girl's dream man. His father's the owner of this school," Sia said, her words dropping as a bombshell, leaving Diana reeling. Diana's eyes widened in surprise. She felt a shiver run down her spine as she glanced at Michael, her eyes locking onto his.
"What? You mean the son of the owner, Mr. Dickson? Oh my God, he's Michael Dickson?" she asked, her eyes darting towards him, her voice barely above a whisper. She felt a flutter in her chest as their eyes met, and she quickly looked away, her cheeks burning with embarrassment. Sia chuckled, her eyes sparkling with amusement.
"I don't know what's making you blush, but we need to head back to class; the bell will ring soon," she said, gathering her belongings and standing up. Diana stood up quickly, following Sia out of the cafeteria. As they walked to class, Diana realized she'd left her phone in the cafeteria, a pang of worry shooting through her.
"Mm, Sia, my phone... I think I left it in the cafeteria. Let me go get it," she said, ready to turn back. Sia stopped her, her hand on Diana's arm.
"Should I come with you, just in case?" she asked, her eyes filled with concern.
"No, Sia, I'll manage," Diana replied, walking straight to the cafeteria area.
As she entered, she bumped into a hard chest again, her forehead throbbing with pain.
She rubbed her sore forehead and looked up to see Michael and his friends standing in front of her, their faces a blur of handsome features and charming smiles.
"Who do we have here? New girl in class, Diana, right?" one of Michael's friends asked with a charming smile, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Hi, I'm Joseph," he said, stretching out his hand for a handshake. Diana's hand met his, her handshake firm but polite.
"Hello, I'm Diana, as you already know," Diana replied shyly, her voice barely above a whisper, her eyes darting towards Michael. Michael stood frozen in front of her, his gaze intense and awkward. The silence was palpable, wrapping itself around them, making it hard to breathe. Neither of them made a move to leave, the air thick with tension.
"Diana, or whatever your name is, are you doing this on purpose?" Michael said, leaning in close to her, his eyes piercing danger into her skin. His voice was low and husky, sending shivers down her spine. Diana's heart skipped a beat as she met his gaze, her voice caught in her throat. She felt a rush of adrenaline as she stood there, frozen in time.
Joseph, seemingly oblivious to the tension, chuckled and clapped Michael on the back. "Hey, man, ease up. You're scaring the poor girl."
Michael's gaze lingered on Diana's face for a moment before h
e stepped back, his expression unreadable.