Anna woke up determined not to think too much.
Yesterday didn't matter. The hallway didn't matter. The boy didn't matter.
It was just school.
When she entered the building, the corridor was already busy. Lockers opening. Shoes dragging against tiles. Girls laughing too loudly about something that probably wasn't that funny.
And then she saw them.
The four boys from the upper class.
Everyone in school knew them. They attended a separate class on the top floor. No one was completely sure why. Some said it was for advanced studies. Some said it was for special preparation exams. Teachers never explained.
They were known for one thing — they were always among the top students.
They didn't mix much. They kept to themselves.
But somehow, she kept seeing one of them.
He was walking toward her again.
Not fast. Not slow. Just… steady.
For a second, their eyes met.
Not by mistake.
Anna felt that small, uncomfortable awareness in her chest — the kind that makes you conscious of how you're walking.
Before he could get close enough to say anything, she adjusted her bag and moved slightly to the side, passing him without a word.
She didn't look back.
She didn't want to make it a thing.
She honestly didn't even understand why she kept noticing him.
It annoyed her a little.
Lily and Linda were in another class this year, which meant Anna had to adjust to being on her own more often.
She didn't mind it too much. She wasn't the loud type anyway.
During the second lesson, someone dragged a chair closer to her desk.
"Is this seat free?" he asked.
Anna looked up.
It was a boy from her class. She had seen him before but never really spoken to him.
"Yes," she replied.
He sat down, placed his notebook on the desk, then cleared his throat slightly.
"I'm Gabriel."
"Anna," she said.
"I know," he added quickly. "From attendance."
He looked a little embarrassed after saying that, like he wasn't sure if it sounded strange.
She almost smiled.
He didn't seem like he was trying to impress her. He just seemed… normal.
During class, he asked her once or twice about something the teacher wrote too fast on the board. She showed him her notes. He thanked her quietly.
That was it.
Nothing dramatic.
During break time, he stood near her desk instead of running outside like most of the others.
"You don't really talk much," he said, not in a teasing way. Just noticing.
"I talk when I need to," she replied.
He nodded. "Fair enough."
There was a short silence after that. Not awkward. Just two people figuring out how to stand next to each other without forcing conversation.
It felt simple.
And simple was comfortable.
When they stepped into the hallway later, Anna's eyes automatically scanned ahead.
She didn't mean to.
But he was there again.
The boy from the separate class.
This time he was alone near the staircase.
He wasn't doing anything special. Just standing there like he had somewhere to be.
His gaze landed on her.
Then briefly on Gabriel.
Then back to her.
His expression didn't change.
Anna felt that same tightness in her chest again — not fear, not excitement. Just awareness.
She looked away first.
"I need to return something to the classroom," she said quickly to Gabriel.
"Oh. Okay," he replied. "See you."
She walked in the opposite direction, pretending she hadn't noticed anything.
Maybe it was coincidence.
Maybe the school wasn't as big as she liked to think.
Or maybe she was just overthinking everything.
Either way, she told herself one thing as she entered the empty classroom:
She wasn't going to make it complicated.
It was just school.
And tomorrow would be just another day.