Chapter 2: "Meeting(1)"
It's okay, Lettie, she sniffled, her voice barely above a whisper. "We'll meet more often and do lots of video calls, River assured her best friend, capping her cheeks.
Lettie was River's only friend. She hated going out or socializing. Her parents encouraged her to be more outgoing, but she got annoyed when they pushed her. Eventually, they stopped trying.
In her university days, River admired a girl in her language class who spoke multiple Western languages fluently. She longed to approach her, but her wealth and intimidating demeanor made River hesitant. One day, the girl arrived late, and the only available seat was beside River. People usually avoided sitting next to her due to her deadly glares. Despite admiring the girl, River didn't like someone sitting so close to her. She had no choice, though, it was the last seat left.
~ Flashback ~ Second Year ~
As the bell rang, signaling the start of lessons, the teacher entered the hall. He was a big-headed man with thick-rimmed glasses and a bushy beard, wearing a tweed jacket with leather elbow patches. He settled into his seat, removed a worn leather book from his bag, and placed it on the desk. Adjusting his glasses, he surveyed the room about beginning the lesson.
"Geez, this old hag never gets late," a blonde-haired boy grimaced, and his friends backed up. River, upon sitting in front of them, rolled her eyes after hearing them. The teacher's voice droned on about verb conjugations in Spanish, which was fitting since they were learning Spanish that day. Before university, River had wanted to be fluent in all languages, so she'd offered languages as her minor. She found it surprisingly easy, except for Italian, which still eluded her.
As the teacher asked a question, River kept her translator and notebook handy to jot down key points. Suddenly, the quiet class was interrupted by footsteps. The teacher turned sternly and said, "You're late again, Miss...?"
A stunning girl rushed in, commanding attention with her presence. Her shiny black wavy hair cascaded down her back like a waterfall, and her bright hazel eyes sparkled as she apologized, "I'm so sorry, Professor. Traffic was terrible, and I got stuck in a jam." Her melodious voice and apologetic smile captivated the class. Clad in a fitted white blouse and flowy black skirt, she exuded confidence.
River couldn't help but stare at the girl, feeling a mix of admiration and intimidation. "She's my idol," River thought, her eyes fixed on the girl's lovely features.