Chapter 1 - The first day of school

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As I step into my new school, Manuel I. Santos High, I can already sense that this place will be anything but ordinary. Though it's supposed to be just a regular high school, the new students have barely begun to show their true selves, yet the school is already catching the attention of the government. And today marks my first day here.

"The first day of my high school life," I say with a mix of excitement and nerves to Aizen, my cousin, who is also attending this school.

He rolls his eyes and replies, teasingly, "What are you so excited about? Worried you might fall in love with someone? Haha!"

As much as I hate to admit it, Aizen isn't entirely wrong. The thought of high school romances has crossed my mind, but I know better than to let it distract me. High school is just a stepping stone on my path to achieving my dreams. Love is the last thing on my mind.

"What? No way! I'm just focused on getting the highest scores and graduating as the top student," I respond confidently, unaware of the fact that this school is brimming with talented individuals who may outshine me.

After chatting for a while, we finally reach our designated classroom—or what could just as easily be called our personal version of hell.

"Here we are," Aizen says, a hint of sarcasm in his voice.

"Ugh, I hope our section is decent enough," I mutter in reply, a bit apprehensive about what's to come.

We arrive early, but despite that, a few students—our soon-to-be classmates—are already inside the room. They seem engrossed in their own worlds, some chatting with friends, others lost in thought as they stare out the window.

As we settle into our seats, the bell rings, signaling the start of the day. The noise in the classroom fades as everyone's attention is drawn to the front, where a teacher is standing.

She introduces herself with a commanding yet motherly tone.

"Good morning, everyone. My name is Ms. Celestino, and I'll be your advisor for this school year. Whether you like it or not, you don't have a choice but to listen," she says with a playful smile.

There's something about her warm aura that immediately puts me at ease, melting away some of the first-day nerves.

"Let's start today's homeroom by getting to know each other. Aizen, why don't you go first?"

As she calls on Aizen, I feel a slight flutter of anxiety, knowing that I'll be next.

Aizen stands up confidently. "Uh, good morning, everyone. My name is Mark Aizen Ablat, I'm 14 years old, and I have strong analytical skills."

Ms. Celestino nods approvingly, and then her eyes land on me.

"And next, let's hear from you," she says, gesturing toward me.

I take a deep breath, standing up slowly. "Good morning, everyone. My name is [Your Name], and I'm 14 years old. Last year, I was the top scorer in my previous school. I'm passionate about learning, especially when it comes to challenging subjects. I'm excited to be here and look forward to making the most of this school year with all of you."

I finish with a small smile, feeling a mix of pride and anticipation as I take my seat. The introduction is brief, but I hope it leaves an impression.

As everyone in our room finished their introduction the teacher announced us to head to the auditorium.

The auditorium is packed with students, and the air is buzzing with anticipation. As unexpected as it is, I feel the weight of the moment as I'm called to the stage. My heart pounds in my chest as I make my way up, the spotlight suddenly feeling very real.

Standing at the podium, I take a deep breath and begin to speak, introducing myself and sharing a bit about my excitement for the year ahead. But as I scan the crowd, my words falter for just a split second.

That's when I notice him.

A single figure stands out among the sea of faces. He's sitting near the back, calm and composed, with an air of quiet confidence that's impossible to ignore. His eyes meet mine, and for a moment, everything else fades away. There's something about him—something intense and intriguing—that makes it hard to look away.

But I force myself to focus, quickly regaining my composure and finishing my speech. As I step away from the podium, the encounter lingers in my mind. Who is he? And why did he catch my attention so completely?

As the assembly continues, I find myself glancing back in his direction more than once. Aizen notices and nudges me. "You okay? You look a bit distracted."

"Yeah, I'm fine," I reply, trying to shake off the strange feeling. But the truth is, my thoughts keep drifting back to that brief, electric moment. I didn't come here looking for anything but academic success, yet this one encounter has already thrown me off balance.

And as the assembly ends and we head back to our classroom, I can't help but wonder if I'll see him again. There's something about him that I can't quite shake—a sense that our paths are destined to cross again.