CHAPTER 4: My competitor

"Excuse me, sir." The newcomer's voice carried across the room without effort. He stood with one hand in his pocket, the other holding a crumpled schedule.

Mrs. Chen gestured him forward. "Ah yes, our new student. Please, introduce yourself."

He took his time walking to the front, each step deliberated, like he was counting ceiling tiles. A few seats squeaked as students leaned forward.

"I'm Nathaniel. Nate," he corrected himself, running a hand through his already disheveled hair. "Just moved here from New York," he said in a deep mature voice.

His blue eyes, with half-Japanese ethnicity, swept across the room, pausing briefly at the back corner.

The girls in the class couldn't help but whisper among themselves. "Wow, he's handsome!" one of them said. "He's mine," another teased, while someone else added, "No, he's my husband!"

At the back of the room, Evangeline's friends, Joe and Lilly, exchanged looks. Joe leaned in and whispered, "He's, my type." Lilly raised an eyebrow, adding, "He's every girl's dream."

Joe watched his lips, and she murmured, "From today onwards, I will never skip a single class.".

Lilly nodded her head with the same vibe, holding a pen. "Yes... Me too."

Evangeline, who had been silently watching the whole class reaction, rolled her eyes and sighed, her tone laced with irritation. "Don't judge a book by its cover. A person's appearance doesn't indicate their character. He's probably nothing but a manwh*re."

Joe was shocked after hearing those words, and she laughed and teased, "Jealousy, perhaps?"

"If you talk anything like that about my man, Hereafter. I kill you" Lilly added, oil to the fire.

"What......... You choose him over me??????" she asked in shock.

Joe and Lilly without any hesitation, "Yes..........."

"You guys never change. Get a grip," Evangeline said with an annoyed smile and she watched Nate standing in front of the classroom. Even though she acted like she didn't like him, she couldn't take her eyes off him from the corner of her heart.

"There's an empty seat in the back," Mrs. Chen said, pointing past the rows of students. "Behind Miss Martinez."

Nate's footsteps echoed in the sudden quiet. As he passed Evangeline's desk, her pencil stilled for just a moment. He slid into the seat behind her, the subtle scent of his cologne mixing with the classroom's usual smell of chalk dust and floor cleaner.

Evangeline's shoulders tensed. She shifted her textbook slightly to the left, creating a barrier between them.

The corner of Nate's mouth twitched upward. He leaned back in his chair, all casual confidence, but his eyes kept drifting to the rigid set of Evangeline's shoulders, studying her like a puzzle he couldn't quite solve.

Mrs. Chen cleared her throat. "Now, as I was saying about the Civil War..."

But the energy in the room had shifted. Everyone was painfully aware of the new current running through their usually mundane Monday morning history class. Everyone except Evangeline, who was now pressing her pencil so hard against the paper that it seemed in danger of breaking.

At lunch, the cafeteria buzzed with its usual lunch rush chaos. Nate balanced his tray, scanning the room while pretending not to. His eyes caught on a familiar flash of dark hair by the entrance.

Evangeline stood with her back to him, her laugh carrying across the space as she threw her arms around someone. The guy—tall, athletic, wearing a varsity jacket—hugged her back with the easy familiarity of old friends.

"Hey, Aaron! she called, her voice cutting through the noise. Long time no see!" she asked with an elegant smile

Aaron grins gently. "It's been a while. How was your trip to the native?"

Evangeline shrugged, a playful glint in her eyes. "Oh, you know. Just the usual – family, food, and my mom always giving advice and so on....."

Aaron laughed, loud enough to draw a few glances. "Some things never change, huh?"

"Anyway, you should come by next time. My mom misses having someone around who can match her sarcasm."

Aaron nodded, tucking the notebook away. "I'd like that. It's been too long."

Someone then extended a hand toward Nate's shoulder, breaking his focus. "Hey, man. I'm Mike. I'm new too. Nice to meet you." He proceeds towards a pacific smile.

Nate looked at him, giving a brief nod. "I'm Nate."

"Are you waiting for someone?" Mike asked

"No..." Nate replied, but his mind was somewhere else.

"Oh! Can I join me?" Mike asked, friendly with a wide smile.

Nate hesitated at first, but he had no choice. "Um... Yeah. Sure," he murmured, and having a single friend made nothing different, he thought.

Mike's brows were narrow and glistening. "Why the hesitation?" Mike teased.

Nate overlooked facing Evangeline's side. "No, I am not."

Mike grinned, and he whispered in Nate's ear. "You sure about that?"

Nate watched them while talking to Mike, his curiosity piqued. His gaze lingered on Aaron's easy smile and the way he leaned in closer to Evangeline. Was he a competitor or merely a friend of hers? Nate couldn't shake the feeling that Aaron was more than just a friend. I'll find out later, he thought, his mind racing. Just then, someone called out to him, interrupting his thoughts.

"Nate! Hey, Nate!"

The voice was faint but familiar. He turned to see who that person was, and when he saw the face, his expression changed to shock. He hadn't expected him there.

"Kim? What the f*ck is he doing here?" Nate thought to take part in a race with shock.

Mike, standing nearby, asked, "Who's that? You guys know each other?"

Kim walked toward Nate and hugged him tightly. "Hey man, why didn't you tell me you were coming to the same school?" He whispered in his ear, "Don't mess up," and he smiled widely.

Nate forced a small smile. " I didn't have time to tell you. It all happened fast," he replied, his tone dismissive but controlled.

"It's okay, Nate. I'm just asking. Well, good to see you here. We can study like in the old days." Kim's attention shifted to Mike. "Hey, I'm Kim Hyun Joong."

"I'm Mike, Nate's classmate. If my guess is correct, you guys are childhood friends, right?" He inquired about their relationship.

Kim nodded gently. "Yes..., it's nice to meet you, Mike. By the way, let's head to class; lunch is almost over."

 They walked; Nate's thoughts raced. Kim wasn't just an ordinary student; he was one of Nate's father's assistants, four years older, and always meticulous in his work. His youthful appearance was likely due to his Korean genes. Nate realized that his father must have sent Kim to keep an eye on him. Typical.

After lunch, in class, Evangeline fully captured Nate's attention. He watched her actions, habits, and how she interacted with others. As he analyzed her demeanor and communication style, he began formulating a strategy for their first conversation, hoping to make a strong impression.

Mike noticed Nate's gaze. "Dude, do you know her?"

"You mean Evangeline?" Nate replied without thinking, realizing, "Shit! I messed up, I have to think before I speak next time" he thought, somehow I have to manage now.

"Wait… How do you know her name?" Mike's brow furrowed, suspicion creeping into his voice.