I walked through the gates of Black Pearl Academy, adjusting the bag on my shoulder. The sky above was bright and blue, yet my eyes felt dim—like there was nothing to see.
Laughter filled the entrance. Friends linked arms, sharing jokes, talking about random things. And here I was, standing alone in the middle of it all, like the weird one out.
"First day of school," I thought. "After two months of holidays making dolls in the shop, this feels strange."
My family owned a doll shop. We crafted dolls, sold them, and even bought from others to keep the shelves from looking empty.
I hesitated before stepping forward. My hands were sweaty, and my stomach growled.
"Great," I sighed inwardly. "I'm scared of day one like a little kid?"
It was always the same: stomach twisting, head aching, toes turning pale, wishing I could take a leave. Year after year, I acted like a child. Maybe that's why everyone thinks I'm strange.
I scanned everyone around me. No one called out to me. No one said, "Hey, long time no see, buddy." Nothing.
Then—everyone's gaze shifted to Sofia. Not that it was surprising. She was the most popular girl in the school, her beauty impossible to ignore.
My heart started pounding so fast I thought it might burst. Her face… perfect. Her walk… elegant. Her eyes, like sparkling ocean blue, and her soft white hair swaying gently with every step.
"I love her," I thought. "I have for a long time…"
I couldn't take my eyes off her. Other students glanced her way too; some girls quickly flocked around her. Not for an autograph—she wasn't a celebrity—but because she had a huge circle of friends. And I… didn't care.
Suddenly, she turned—and caught me staring. My face instantly flushed. Heat surged through my body as our eyes met. Just making eye contact felt like my heart would explode. I couldn't handle it, so I quickly looked away, trying to act casual… though I probably looked painfully awkward.
I scratched the back of my head as I turned. On impulse, I wrapped my arm around a random guy nearby.
"Does the teacher… tell us to write homework?" I asked. "If she did, could you… show me yours, if you don't mind?"
The guy slumped back slightly, startled by my sudden closeness. "We're not even classmates," he said. "And the holidays just ended yesterday. And now you're asking if the teacher gave homework? What a nerd."
He spoke with annoyance, even though he didn't push me away.
I chuckled nervously, realizing how weird I must look in his eyes. Quickly, I withdrew my hand and brushed my hair back.
"Just… just asking if there was any summer homework…?"
"Like we care about summer homework." He groaned, rubbing his forehead as he walked off. "Leave me alone. I'm not in a good mood today."
I stood there, cheeks burning. He was right. Nobody cared about summer homework. Not even the teachers.
I turned toward where Sofia had been, but she was gone.
Did she see me acting like that? I wondered.
"That's the most embarrassing moment of my entire life!!!" I thought, scratching my head. "How am I ever going to show my face to Sofia now?"
People nearby glanced at me and began whispering to each other. I already knew what they were probably thinking. Of course they think I'm a weirdo. Or a creep. Like always. The thought made me shrink inside. My gaze dropped to the floor as I resumed walking.
When I entered the classroom, everyone was chatting with one another.
Maybe just the usual: "I missed you a lot" and all that. Not that I cared, but the fact that no one called out to me still felt like a kick to the gut.
As my eyes landed on Sofia, I realized she was staring at me. My heart skipped a beat, heat rushing to my cheeks. I quickly turned away, avoiding her gaze.
I dragged my chair closer to the window and sat down. Sofia was across the room near the door. From the corner of my eye, I stole one last glance at her, but she was no longer looking my way. She was laughing with her friends.
I felt like I'd already mortified myself on the first day of school. The thought sat heavy in my chest, even though I knew she probably didn't care.
The teacher entered the classroom and slammed a book down on the desk, silencing everyone. I stared at him blankly — there wasn't much else to do. The first day was always easy. No real lessons, no homework. But by the second day, back pain was guaranteed.
I glanced at the seat beside me. Still empty. Guess no one wanted to sit next to me.
The teacher clapped his hands to get our attention.
"Good morning, everyone! How were your summer holidays?" he asked with a playful smirk.
Sofia was the first to answer.
"Yessss!" she said, smiling brightly and throwing her hand up as if she wanted the spotlight.
I looked at her again. Of course she'd be like that — the class bee. But somehow, the way she acted just made her seem… cute.
The teacher chuckled at Sofia's cheerful answer.
"Great. So I guess everyone's ready to take notes too, huh?"
Groans and protests erupted from the class.
I was surprised. Notes on the first day weren't common. Maybe he was just messing with them. But I didn't care. Notes or no notes, I'd accept either way.
The teacher waved his hands as the argument continued.
"Fine, fine. No notes—but stay quiet, okay? I have some paperwork to do."
Hands shot up in victory.
"VICTORYYYY!!!"
I chuckled awkwardly. My classmates were… so cringe. Maybe that's why they all got along. Cringe friends with cringe friends. Huh. Guess I'd need to find someone just as weird and awkward as me. Not going to be easy.
The teacher smiled and glanced at the door, then quickly turned back to us like he'd realized something.
"And one more thing," he said. "We have a new student joining us today."
He gestured toward the door. A girl walked in, a doll keychain dangling from her bag. Sunlight caught her brown hair, making it glimmer as she turned to face the class.
"Hi, it's me—Eve. Your new classmate."
She smiled, hand flying to her face in a playful peace sign, her orange-tinged eyes shimmering in the sunlight.
To be continued-