The applause from the Olympiad still echoed faintly in Faye's mind, even days after the stage lights had dimmed. The gold medal lay in her drawer now, heavy and silent, like a reminder rather than a prize.
She had grown used to winning—but not to the weight that came with it. Every victory seemed to build another invisible wall between her and everyone else. Each title, another layer of glass. Each praise, another pressure she could never quite breathe under.
All she had ever wanted was her parents' recognition—something warmer than their polite nods and "Good job, Faye."
And now, that same quiet distance followed her into Northvale Academy of Excellence, her new school.
The door to Section 1-A STEM slid open, and chaos poured out. Paper planes darted through the air, laughter filled the room, and someone in the back was humming a trending pop song. Faye paused for half a heartbeat—just enough for her pulse to tighten—before stepping in, every movement composed and precise.
At the center of the room stood a tall boy with bright eyes and a sun-warm smile.
"Quiet. Teacher's here," he said simply.
And just like that, the noise vanished.
Faye blinked. 'They actually listened to him?'
The door opened again.
"Good morning, class," said Mr. Valdez, carrying his usual calm authority.
"Good morning, sir!" the class chorused, energy barely contained beneath their discipline.
Mr. Valdez smiled faintly. "We have a new transfer student today."
Whispers erupted immediately.
"Wow, really?"
"Boy or girl?"
"Pretty kaya?"
Jason chuckled under his breath, leaning back in his chair. His curiosity sparked. Then the whispers fell silent as she stepped forward.
A girl in a crisp navy-blue uniform. Long black hair gleaming under the morning light. Posture straight, movements measured.
It was her.
The girl from the Olympiad.
"Go ahead, introduce yourself," Mr. Valdez encouraged.
Faye bowed slightly, voice clear and steady despite the tightness in her chest.
"Samantha Faye Lopez. Eighteen, from Cebu."
Her tone was polite, formal—practiced. Beneath that calm exterior, her pulse thrummed with the familiar unease of being the new one. New faces, new judgments, new expectations. Just breathe.
Mr. Valdez added with a hint of pride, "To add, Ms. Lopez is the reigning national champion of the Science Olympiad, winner of several mathematics contests, and has represented the country internationally. She also served as Science Club president at her previous school."
The room buzzed instantly.
"Whoa."
"Science Olympiad champion?!"
"So that's why her aura's different."
Faye's fingers tightened around her notebook. She hated this part—the parade of her own accomplishments. To everyone else, it was impressive. To her, it was exhausting.
"Ms. Lopez," Mr. Valdez gestured, "you may take the seat by the window—directly across from Mr. Blake."
'Mr. Blake?'
Her eyes followed the gesture. Then she saw him—a boy sitting lazily in his chair, golden grin in place, sunlight glinting in his hair. He looked effortlessly confident. Too confident.
Faye walked to her seat, every step measured. She set her bag down, smoothed her blazer, and faced forward. The sunlight from the window pooled across her desk, turning her into the calm, untouchable figure she'd been labeled as since the Olympiad.
From the back, Jason's gaze never wavered.
He remembered that calm—the same quiet determination she had worn onstage when the entire nation watched her solve an impossible equation. But now, up close, he noticed something else: a flicker behind her composure, a quiet restraint that made her seem even more human.
Clint, his best friend, leaned in with a grin. "Bro, looks like you've got a new competitor."
Jason's grin softened, more thoughtful than teasing.
"Maybe," he murmured, eyes still on Faye. "Or maybe more."
"Huh?" Clint blinked.
Before Jason could reply, Mr. Valdez clapped once. "Alright, enough. Ms. Lopez will be with us from now on. Make her feel welcome."
Then his gaze shifted. "Mr. Blake."
Jason straightened immediately. "Yes, sir?"
"You're the class president. Help her adjust. Show her around. I trust she'll be in good hands."
The room filled with teasing 'ooohs.'
Jason laughed softly. "Of course, sir. I'll take care of it."
Across the aisle, Faye's eyes lifted for just a second. Jason's smile met hers—open, steady, disarming. It made something unfamiliar twist in her chest.
She quickly looked away. I can't afford a weak start. Not here. Not ever.
To everyone else, Samantha Faye Lopezwas just another prodigy in their midst. To Jason Blake, she was the girl who had once looked untouchable on a national stage—now sitting across from him, unknowingly about to change the rhythm of his world.