Chapter 2

It was currently Wednesday and I felt a bit thrilled as much as I'd hate to admit it for the weekend. I was casually walking to the school when I saw one of my first closest friend, Shota. I only came to know Alice this year while I've known Shota for as long as Ovin. He was the one to introduce us to each other or rather, just put as besides each other and labeled it as 'bonding'.

"Hey, morning", I greet with a monotonous voice.

"Hey there glasses, you're up early today!", like a new lightbulb, he beamed when he saw and heard my voice as I go to walk besides him. 'Glasses', his oh so affectionate nickname for little me but since he's a close friend, I didn't mind such nicknames. If he wasn't, I would've still let them be but I would ignore them until they call my actual name.

"Actually- I slept pretty late. Two hours before my alarm clock", he takes out his homemade sandwich and offers me a bite to which I happily said yes, proceeding to taking a large bite out of his breakfast. Before he could complain, he just sighed and continued to eat the rest knowing my gluttonous appetite. He went on to tell me about his first days and rambled about this 'nice girl'. He was blushing at this point like a lovesick puppy as he tells me how beautiful and gracious this Josephine girl is.

"So a new crush? That was pretty quick", Shota looked taken aback by my statement and swallowed down the left out portion of food in his mouth before turning to me with a red face and an angry expression. "I can't help it! You go and meet them and lets see if you don't fall for them either!", I scoff and agree to his petty challenge, betting some of our stashed sweets in the process.

Time passes by and my phone rings a notification of a new message during my break. I was seated with Alice in the cafeteria who looked over casually to see who have messaged me as well.

𝙈𝙖𝙩𝙨𝙪𝙙𝙖 : 𝘼𝙛𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙨𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙡 𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙩 𝙜𝙖𝙩𝙚, 𝙗𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙊𝙫𝙞𝙣 𝙤𝙧 𝘼𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙚. 𝙎𝙝𝙚 𝙖𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙙 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙖 𝙨𝙩𝙪𝙙𝙮 𝙜𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙥

"He actually asked her..-", my words are cut off by the ever curious female beside me.

"Her? Who do you mean?", she looks at my eyes in question as I explain to her the bet we made.

"He sure is fast at falling for anyone doesn't he?", the pink eyed woman says as she turns a page on her book.

"Mhmm, agreed" , I nod along with my words as I turn off my phone, deciding that the one who I'll bring is Alice knowing how she'll want to be in this newfound girl that Shota talked about. Pulling the package of bourbon biscuits open, I take a piece of the chocolate biscuit and slightly shake the package in Alice's direction to indirectly ask her if she wants some. She takes a look at it and pulls out one, eating it into two bites while her eyes busies themselves with swallowing the words printed on the book her hands are holding. We usually talk in breaks but today just seemed like a calm one where we just bask in each other's presence. The peace was so warm and fulfilling that only when I looked up again that I realized the bell had already rung. I quickly finish the final piece of biscuit in my mouth and wrap the leftovers closed with an unused elastic hair tie I always keep inside my wallet.

"If either of us gets our class done first, let's wait by each other's classroom's but if not, then let's go straight to the front gate and wait by there"

"Alright then, see you later!", Alice happily chirps back to me as she closes her book after placing that aesthetically cute bookmark of a rabbit on a grass with small doodles? of flowers below.

"For this part, we'll continue it by Friday so make sure to do an advance reading on this lesson.", the old woman finally finishes as the students heave a silent sigh of relief. This teacher was known for being strict with the students, not giving them any chance at all whenever they fail a quiz or any type of activity especially when it comes to exams as well. Many didn't like her because of that so a few have gathered the courage to talk about how her way of grading is unfair and that she should give them a chance. The old teacher only rebutted a reply of "a way to better discipline them" and "they should've passed their works in time then I won't have to do those" but the students were persistent and addressed the topic of "what if something of emergency have happened and they couldn't do their works or pass it in time?", at this, the teacher actually considered it and gave permits to excuse those who have valid reasons. She also made it a rule to make a hand written letter by a parent or a guardian whenever that type of situation does happen as evidence.

We all bid goodbye and started to pack our things. As usual, Ovin came to my table to wait for me silently. I stood up and started to walk towards the door with Ovin behind me as he let me open the door this time for the both of us, noticing me glance around as well right after we exited.

"You trying to find someone?"

"Yeah, Alice and me we're supposed to meet with Shota and his new crush by the front gate", both of us snickers. All three of us, Me, Ovin and Alice, knew how easily can Shota fall for someone that sometimes it's worrying. It's almost as if everytime a girl does any act of kindness towards him, he automatically thinks it's an act of affection so I guess we'll try to get to know this Josephine girl first to see if she actually likes him or just being kind again like the previous others.

Ovin and I have said our farewell's earlier when we reached the gates that's flooding with students. The school is quite big and I don't mind it much as long as I'm with someone. I already got lost twice inside the school while trying to find the clinic room and if it wasn't for a random student who happened to not feel so good as well, I would've gotten lost til it was lunch break. Speaking of that random student, I noticed they were really pale. I'm not sure if that's how their skin is like or if it's because they're sick but they sure did look really tall...They could almost reach the top of the door during our time entering the clinic and when he went to pull down his mask...'Oh God, please don't tell me he's one of those types-' I thought as I stared for a bit at his face to take in his features. He was a very attractive student and I'm sure they're the type to easily attract anyone's eyes without any effort. Ever since I saw some of the popular students here, I've developed a dislike towards popularity. To me, they looked like snobby kids who lacked any affection from their parents unless they prove me otherwise. For example, Shota isn't popular like others but he's pretty well known since he tends to actively participate in school events. When he started getting popular, I thought he'll turn into a snobby kid as well but he didn't. He just...went on like how he would normally. That made my dislike towards snobby kids lessen but they're still there though.

I was about to pull out my phone to call the others til someone grabbed on my arm and put a piece of candy in front of me. It was a lollipop and I have always liked this type of candies so I took it, unwrapped and put it inside my mouth. Alice smiled at my response , knowing that my action of accepting the candy meant as me forgiving her for making me wait. "I saw a really cute candy store nearby so I couldn't help but check it out~". She tells me as we wait for the other two while she takes out her own favorite piece of candy, a hard strawberry flavored candy. Soon enough, we see Shota and Josephine approach and it looked like they were having a good conversation til they saw us.

"Josephine, these two are my friends. This shorty-", he points to me, "is Catherine and the other one is Alice". I nod and give out a hello to her while Alice waves her hand and does the same reply. I have to admit, Josephine is an attractive girl. Her golden brown hair makes her look like an angel as it's being smoothly and softly blown by the wind. Her eyes were a golden hue as well that made her shine and gives out that brightening look to others.

"A pleasure to meet both of you, shall we get going?"