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.Unspoken Chemistry
Chapter 1: New Streets, Same Silence
(Lisa’s POV)
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I stared out the bus window as the city of Seoul blurred past me. It was early morning—the kind where the sky still carried shades of silver and blue, and the world hadn’t fully awakened yet. The cold glass touched my forehead as I leaned into it, feeling the hum of the engine beneath me. People boarded the bus in silence, eyes still heavy from sleep, and I liked that. I liked silence.
It had been three days since I landed in Korea. I came alone. No bodyguards, no flashing cameras, no brand-new car waiting outside the airport. I could’ve had all of that if I wanted—my last name held enough weight back in Thailand to make it happen. But I left that behind. I wanted to see how it felt to breathe without being watched.
My name is Lalisa—just Lisa for short. And I’m starting over.
Today is my first day at Seoul Central High. A prestigious private school owned by one of Korea’s most powerful families. I didn’t choose it for the reputation. I chose it because it was far from where people knew me. Far from home. Far from expectations.
The bus came to a halt. I grabbed my backpack and stepped off, my sneakers crunching lightly against the pavement. The school gate loomed ahead—tall, black, elegant. I tugged my hoodie higher over my head, letting the sleeves cover half of my hands. I wasn’t trying to hide, but I also didn’t want to stand out.
Kids were already gathering in clusters. Laughing. Whispering. Taking photos. I didn’t know any of them, and I didn’t want to.
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The classroom was on the third floor, second building. I remembered the map clearly—another one of my little habits. I memorize things too quickly, my teachers used to say. I was the kind of student who got perfect grades without trying too hard. It earned me admiration, but also a lot of jealousy. I learned long ago to keep my talents to myself.
When I entered the classroom, a few students glanced up. Then looked away. I liked that. I walked to the back row, picked the window seat, and sat down. The bell hadn’t rung yet, so the room buzzed with small conversations.
That’s when I saw her.
She walked in like a shadow—quiet, elegant, distant. Black straight hair tied loosely at the back, dark brown eyes that didn’t look at anyone. Her uniform looked crisp, but not flashy. Her steps were calm, deliberate.
She didn’t speak to anyone.
She didn’t even glance around.
She just took the seat next to mine.
I froze for a second. Not because I recognized her—because I didn’t. She didn’t have the energy of someone trying to be invisible. She had the aura of someone who already was.
Her bag touched the floor softly. She opened her notebook, already flipping to a blank page. She didn’t even look at me. Not once. And for some reason… that made my chest feel weird.
I wanted to speak. Maybe just say “Hi.” But my voice stayed caught in my throat. And somehow, that silence felt okay.
The teacher walked in moments later and introduced me to the class. “We have a new student joining us today. Lisa Manoban. He transferred from Thailand. Please welcome him.”
A few heads turned. One girl giggled. Another whispered something to her friend.
I bowed politely. “Nice to meet you.”
I heard the quietest scoff beside me, and for a split second, I thought it came from her. But when I looked, her face was unreadable. Eyes on her notebook. Unbothered.
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Lunchtime came, and I stayed in the classroom, headphones in but no music playing. I watched the trees outside sway in the wind, pretending not to notice people glancing at me. Whispering. Gossip spreads fast in places like this. Especially when you’re new.
She stayed too. Still next to me. Still not speaking.
Then, she stood up. Grabbed her lunch. And left.
No words. No noise. Just… gone.
I leaned back in my chair, eyes following the doorway she walked through. Why did I feel drawn to her? It didn’t make sense. She hadn’t even looked at me properly.
Maybe because we were the same.
Alone, even when surrounded.
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After school, I walked toward the bus stop again. My hands buried deep in my pockets, bag slung lazily over one shoulder. Students rushed past in groups. Some called drivers. Some climbed into luxury cars with tinted windows.
Me? I waited with the rest of the world.
The bus came five minutes late. I stepped in, found a seat near the back, and rested my head against the window again.
Then suddenly, a familiar presence entered.
She boarded the same bus.
My heart stopped for a moment.
She walked right past me, her eyes sweeping over the seats like she was looking for silence. And then… she sat across the aisle from me. One row forward.
She didn’t look at me.
Again.
But something about her presence was magnetic. As if she carried the same weight I did. The same loneliness.
And for the first time in a very long while, I wanted to get closer to someone.
Even if she didn’t want anyone close.
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To be continued…
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