Special Someones

Chapter 1 Migration

Hot and sticky. That is what the days are like in Malaysia, always. Maybe a bit of respite when it rains. Certainly not today, not in Tranquerah High School, Malacca.

"Jenn! Did Cikgu* Halimah brief you on the new student?"

Jennifer would rather finish some homework between classes, but that was her best friend Wati asking. "She did. It's a boy from Guang Ho," Jenn responded.

Nearby, another girl perked up. "Did you say it's a boy?"

A wave of excitement spread like wildfire through the classroom, and Jennifer soon found herself surrounded by the girls of the class.

Jennifer closed her books. So much for homework.

The classroom was stuffy enough as is, what with the students' seats were packed closely together in pairs. The ancient fan hanging from the ceiling helped somewhat (they didn't dare set it to max speed lest it falls on someone). But Jenn would be pretty unpopular if she didn't entertain the girls.

They started with the most important question; "Is he cute?"

"Cikgu Halimah's not going to tell me that lah* ," Jenn replied curtly.

That didn't dampen their enthusiasm. "Is he Korean?"

"SJMK Guang Ho is a Chinese school* in Malacca. Not Korea lah." The name's not even remotely Korean.

"Maybe half-Korean. Another halfie!"

Jennifer was trying her best not to roll her eyes. "Just because we have one--"

"I hope we'll get someone cool this time. Unlike the last one."

The girls turned to look at the only brown-haired student in the class (everyone else had black hair). He was sleeping on his desk, ignoring the commotion. Not everyone was used to the stifling heat.

Jennifer wasn't going to let that last comment pass so easily. She rapped her knuckles on her desk to get everyone's attention and looked sternly at that last girl.

That girl apologised sheepishly. The rest kept gossiping. "I heard Guang Ho full of naughty boys lah."

"Don't say that lah. But...," Jenn hesitated but figured she should share this, "...apparently he was transferred because he hit a teacher."

You'd think they'd be concerned. "That's so extra! We really got someone cool this time!"

How exactly is that cool? But Jenn figured she had satisfied the girls' hunger for juicy gossip by this point, so kept quiet.

"If he's also cute, I don't think my heart could take it!" one of the girls squealed.

A cough at the door.

The girls dispersed in embarrassment, revealing a Chinese boy at the door. Tall and lean, wearing Guang Ho's blue pants instead of standard dark green. And yes, pretty cute. It's the boyish face and cheeky grin.

Speaking of cheeky, he was checking Jenn out shamelessly.

It's worth pointing out that Jenn was the only Chinese girl in the class. Slim, pony tail. And in spite of her petite spectacles (or perhaps because of it), she was pretty cute herself.

The new boy winked at Jenn then swaggered over to the Chinese boys in the back of the classroom, giving just a cursory glance at the sleeping brown-haired boy along the way.

Well, someone thinks he's hot stuff. Jenn got up and approached the brown-haired boy. Let's introduce you to your competition.

She reached for the brown-haired boy's arm, but it jerked away at her touch. Jenn unconsciously rubbed her hand as if she had been stung. "Wake up, Matt."