Next day
Emirates academy
The classroom felt lighter today.
Not because anything had changed…
But because this few days has been peaceful, no one was bleeding, shouting, or threatening ICU visits.
Marco was mid-performance again,because of course he was.
"I'm telling you, if I become rich, the first thing I'll do is buy this school and cancel exams permanently."
Hugo leaned back. "You'll still fail somehow."
Misheal added dryly: "He'll fail owning the school."
Laughter.
Maria shook her head, smiling.
Andre sat quietly among them.
Not saying much.
But present.
Then
Eyes turned.
"Wow she let her hair loose today."
"Esmeralda is looking really beautiful."
"Shes my dream girl."
Esmeralda.
Walking in with her bag on her shoulder.
Her eyes were already locked on one person.
Andre.
She walked straight to him.
Stopped.
And for a brief second
Didn't speak.
Almost like she was choosing her words carefully.
"…Mmm. Good morning"
A small pause.
"You didn't give me the address."
"And…"
She tilted her head slightly.
"…you didn't tell me how I'm supposed to dress."
"You know, different clothes for different occasions, right?"
Marco leaned toward Hugo and whispered: "…She's asking how to dress to a hangout. Is this how the rich are?"
Andre looked up at her.
Unbothered.
Unpressured.
"Wear whatever you feel comfortable in."
Esmeralda blinked once.
"…Really?"
Andre nodded slightly.
"You can even wear a suit and tie."
A beat.
Silence
Then
The table erupted.
Marco slammed the desk laughing.
"I'M BEGGING YOU—PLEASE DO THAT!"
Misheal smacked him instantly. "Control yourself!"
Hugo chuckled. "That would actually be entertaining"
Even Maria laughed softly.
And for a moment
Esmeralda just stood there…
Taking it in.
And somehow
She liked the fact that she made people smile.
A small smile formed.
"…Okay."
Andre leaned forward slightly.
Voice calm.
"…Let me have your number."
Esmeralda's eyes widened just a little.
"…My number?"
Hugo leaned in immediately.
"She's the daughter of Mr. Dimitri."
A pause.
"They don't just give out numbers like that."
Marco nodded like a professor. "Highly restricted species."
Misheal rolled her eyes. "Exact problem with the so-called rich people."
Esmeralda slowly turned her head toward Hugo.
That look?
Sharp.
Controlled.
"…It's not like that."
Hugo raised a brow. "So I'm wrong?"
She exhaled softly.
Then spoke
And this time, her voice was quieter.
More honest.
"…You're wrong."
A pause.
"People are just usually too scared to ask me."
Her voice lowered.
"That's why I was surprised when he asked."
That landed.
Not as arrogance.
But as truth.
The table went quiet for a second.
Marco blinked. "…That's actually sad."
Misheal nodded slightly. "…Yeah."
Esmeralda reached into her bag.
Pulled out a pen.
And without hesitation
She grabbed a piece of paper.
Started writing.
Then,
She held it out to Andre.
"Here."
Andre took it.
Their fingers brushed.
A brief contact.
Barely a second.
Enough for Esmeralda to pull her hand back just a bit too quickly.
"I'll be on my way."
She said it casually.
But didn't move immediately.
Almost like she expected…
Something.
Andre nodded once.
"…Alright."
Simple.
No extra words.
No chase.
No pressure.
That…
Surprised her again.
For the first time in a long time
Someone wasn't trying to hold her there.
And strangely…
That made her want to stay longer.
She turned.
One step away.
Two.
She was leaving when and whispering to her self
"Please call me back."
"Please."
"Please."
" Please."
Then
"...Esmeralda."
Marco's voice.
Not loud.
But enough.
She paused.
Slowly turned back.
Marco scratched the back of his head, suddenly less confident than usual.
"Mmm… Esmeralda, right?"
She looked at him.
Then smiled.
Not her usual polished smile
Softer.
"Yes. That's my name."
Marco blinked.
"…Okay, good. Just checking If I'm dreaming."
Misheal sighed. "When will you ever learn to go straight the point."
"Be like your sister for once."
Misheal leaned forward, arms crossed.
Direct.
Blunt.
"I don't really like you."
"But…"
A pause.
"…you're cool with my brother."
She nodded toward Andre.
"And you haven't done anything stupid yet."
Another pause.
"…so I guess we can get along."
Maria smiled gently.
"You can stick around."
Simple.
No conditions.
No edge.
Just… acceptance.
Marco clapped his hands lightly.
"Since the two penguins aren't in class by that i mean poppy and Emilia."
Misheal joined in.
"And I guess you are going to seat alone. Why don't you sit with us"
Marco winced. "we have space."
He pointed dramatically at the empty chairs.
"Luxury seating. Limited offer."
Andre looked at Esmeralda.
Calm.
Steady.
"That's a direct invitation."
A pause.
"…Are you going to decline?"
For a brief second
She hesitated.
Actually hesitated.
That alone was shocking.
Then she lightly shook it off.
"…No."
A small exhale followed by a big smile.
"I'd like to sit with you all."
And just like that
She stepped forward.
Pulled the chair.
And sat.
Maria leaned closer almost immediately.
Eyes bright.
"Wow… you have really long hair."
Esmeralda blinked.
Then smiled.
"Thanks."
A small pause.
"…but yours is longer."
Maria laughed softly. "Not by much."
Misheal then went closer to her.
"Mmmm, you smell like candy."
Esmeralda smiled.
"It's my perfume."
Maria came closer and inhaled the air.
"I love your perfume."
Marco scoffed
"This smell make me hungry."
Maria hit him on the head again
"You fool"
Misheal then narrowed her eyes slightly.
"You're barely ever in class."
A pause.
"Where do you usually disappear to?"
Esmeralda smirked just a little.
"You didn't like me…"
She tilted her head.
"…but you noticed I'm not usually in class."
Misheal looked away instantly.
"…Well the moment you step into class everyone notices."
Marco whispered loudly: "It starts with the whispers."
Misheal kicked his chair.
Esmeralda chuckled softly.
"I'm on the hockey team."
A pause.
"Sometimes I'm with them."
Then her voice lowered slightly.
"…Other times…"
She glanced away briefly.
"…I just sit at the basketball podium and write."
That part slipped out quietly.
Almost like she didn't mean to say it.
And for a second
No one joked.
No one interrupted.
Because that sounded…
Lonely.
Marco notices the sour mood and decides to shake it off
"…Wait."
Marco leaned forward.
"You write?"
He gasped dramatically.
"Guys, she's secretly a poet."
Misheal groaned. "Please don't start."
Marco continued: "Imagine, 'Roses are red, money is power'"
Esmeralda raised a brow.
"That was a direct hit to me."
"…Do you want me to leave?"
Marco sat back immediately.
"…I apologize."
The group laughed.
Even Esmeralda.
A real laugh this time.
Then
The door creaked open.
Rufus stepped in first.
Behind him his sister. Anastasia.
Her eyes scanned the room once…
Then narrowed slightly at her brother.
A silent warning passed between them.
"I'm I dreaming or is that the arrogant girl we saw the other day."
They approached Andre's group.
Esmeralda rose slightly from her seat, her posture softening a rare warmth in her expression.
"Hi… you must be Anastasia."
Then she glanced at Rufus.
"And you're Rufus."
A faint smile.
"I'm Esmeralda."
Anastasia returned it instantly. Elegant.
"Pleasure is mine."
Rufus didn't bother with words.
Just a thumbs up.
Marco leaned toward Hugo and whispered:
"…I like this guy already. No long speeches. Straight to business."
Hugo smirked.
"Focus, idiot."
For a second
It felt normal.
Like a group forming. Like something new was beginning.
Then
A voice cut through the air like a blade.
"Hmmm…"
A pause.
"The parasite found new hosts to feed on."
Silence dropped.
Heavy.
Cold.
Carlos.
Standing at the entrance. His gang behind him like shadows.
Smirking.
Everything changed.
Esmeralda stood up instantly.
Chair screeching loudly.
"What the hell do you want?"
Carlos walked in slowly. Hands in pockets.
Relaxed.
Dangerous.
"What a welcome…" He chuckled softly.
"Why are you always so aggressive?"
Esmeralda stepped closer.
Eyes burning.
"What else do you want from me?"
Her voice cracked slightly.
"You've ruined enough."
A beat.
"What more do you want?!"
The room held its breath.
Carlos smiled.
Soft. Cruel.
"No, no… you've got it all wrong."
He gestured lazily toward the group.
"I'm here to save them."
Marco blinked.
"…Save us?"
Carlos nodded.
"Yes from her."
He pointed at Esmeralda.
"She's a devil." "Manipulator." "Everything she touches breaks."
A pause.
"She's already started with you."
Esmeralda snapped.
"CARLOS, LEAVE ME ALONE!"
The shout echoed.
Raw. Desperate.
"…Please."
That last word came quieter.
And it changed everything.
For a second
Even the room felt it.
Rufus stepped forward.
"Stop it, Carlos."
Carlos tilted his head.
"Ooooh…"
"Big boy is angry."
"Careful… I have anger management issues."
Henry and Kelvin stepped forward.
Cracking knuckles.
Grinning.
"But luckily I have them to fight my battles."
Marco stood up instantly.
Hugo beside him.
Chairs scraping.
"Not today, Carlos."
Then
Buck stepped in between them.
Arms spread.
"What's wrong with you guys?"
His voice carried frustration.
"We're all brothers here."
A pause.
"Why are we acting like enemies?"
Kelvin shoved him.
Hard.
Buck stumbled slightly.
The room gasped.
"Since this girl entered your head"
He pointed at Maria.
"you lost your brain."
Something changed in Buck's eyes.
Sharp.
Cold.
"You think I've lost my sense of reasoning?"
A step forward.
"Push me again."
His voice dropped.
"…and I'll show you what senseless looks like."
Carlos stepped in.
Now serious.
Now involved.
"I told you."
He looked at Buck.
"That girl would make you weak."
A pause.
"And now…"
A step closer.
"You've made me your enemy."
Buck froze.
Regret flickering.
"I didn't mean to—"
"I'm sorry, Carlos—"
"Sorry?" Kelvin laughed.
"There's no going back now."
And then
A chair moved.
Everyone turned.
Andre.
Standing.
Silent.
He walked forward.
Calm.
His eyes locked on Kelvin.
"You cockroach…"
His voice was soft.
"…you always tend to cause confusion."
Kelvin instantly stepped back.
Straight behind Carlos.
Fear.
Andre smiled.
Not friendly.
Not kind.
Predatory.
"Here's where you messed up…"
A step closer.
"Shes my friend now"
A pause.
"…And if any of you do anything stupid, I'll have all three of you on the floor before you blink."
Carlos stepped forward immediately.
Chest to chest.
Eyes locked.
"You really underestimate me."
Andre tilted his head.
"I don't."
A faint smirk.
"I overestimate you."
The class erupted in whispers.
Marco whispered:
"…Just when we thought we had peace"
Carlos cracked his neck.
"Then let's test it."
"Fight me."
Maria rushed forward.
Grabbing Andre's arm.
"No, don't!"
Hugo joined.
"Not here, man!"
Misheal too.
"This is exactly what he wants!"
Andre didn't move.
Didn't blink.
Didn't breathe differently.
Just stared at Carlos.
Like deciding something irreversible.
And then
A voice cut through everything.
"What is going on here?!"
Mr. Angelo.
Standing at the door.
Eyes sharp.
Presence commanding.
Silence dropped instantly.
Like nothing had happened.
Like the storm hid itself.
Marco raised his hand casually.
"Yes sir!"
"We were just planning a rally."
Mr. Angelo blinked.
"…A rally?"
Marco nodded seriously.
"Yes sir."
"For student unity."
A pause.
"…and free food."
The class exploded.
Laughter.
Tension cracked.
Even Hugo turned away laughing.
Mr. Angelo sighed deeply.
"…Sit down. All of you."
But as everyone returned to their seats
Eyes still lingered.
Carlos ↔ Andre.
Unfinished.