"New beginnings
are often disguised
as painful endings."
- Lao Tzu
[Drake's P.O.V]
"Mr. Drake, it's a surprise that you're late," Mrs. Andersen's stern voice echoed in my ears as I entered her class, a good 20 minutes after it had started.
God, this was the fourth time I had been late to her class.
"Yeah, it's a surprise, isn't it?" I scratched the back of my head, releasing a nervous laugh.
I was screwed. Totally screwed. Detention was inevitable. Though it wasn't my first time in detention, it was still a waste of time.
"This was your fifth time being late-" Mrs. Andersen began.
I raised my right hand to level with my head. "It's only the fourth time, ma'am."
I knew I shouldn't speak back, but sometimes it was necessary to defend yourself, right?
Mrs. Andersen slapped the one-meter-long stick she was holding onto the table in front of her, and I slowly lowered my hand.
"Now, care to explain why you're late?" Mrs. Andersen questioned, her gaze piercing into my eyes. "And don't tell me it's because of the traffic."
Great, I was about to say that.
But before I could come up with an excuse like my cat locking himself in the bathroom and being unable to get out (which had actually happened once, don't ask me why my cat loved hanging out in the bathroom), someone knocked on the door, distracting my teacher.
"Come in," Mrs. Andersen answered.
The door slowly opened, and in walked a gorgeous-looking boy. The girls in the class started squealing as if he were some K-pop artist visiting town.
But, nah, I was definitely hotter.
He was wearing black baggy pants paired with an oversized black shirt and black shoes.
I wondered what his favorite color was.
Even though I couldn't see his body, I could tell he was fit from the way his shirt moved around his chest. Oh, and he only had the right strap of his bag slung over his shoulder, like the cool kids at school.
I hated that!
What was the purpose of having two straps on your bag if you only used one? And it was so unfair that one shoulder had to bear all the weight.
No fairness at all.
"Is this Grade 11 Archimedes?" he asked, closing the door behind him without turning his back to the teacher.
Was he just being polite or a total suck-up?
"Are you Mr. Mellow?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
He smiled, revealing his pearly teeth that made his hazel blue eyes sparkle. "Mr. Wise, you may now sit," I nodded. "And detention after class."
I knew she wouldn't forget.
I mentally rolled my eyes and looked at the new guy, who was also looking at me. I quickly averted my gaze to the side and continued to my seat.
"And you, Mr. Mellow, since you're new here, I will tolerate you, for now. But if you're late next time, I won't let it slide," Mrs. Andersen continued.
As they continued their conversation, I sat in my usual seat next to Anna, my friend and also my cousin. We had been friends since her parents decided to move here when we were in fourth grade. Our fathers were siblings and had started a successful cafe together. The cafe had become a hit in our town.
"Hey," I casually said, sliding my bag onto my seat.
"I thought you were dead," she teased, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
"I thought so too," we both giggled. "Anyway, do you know this new guy?" I asked, nodding towards Ethan.
She shrugged, her eyes following my gaze. "I dunno."
Right, how would she know? I rolled my eyes at my own dumbness.
"Can you introduce yourself?" Mrs. Andersen requested of Ethan.
"Hi, I'm Ethan," he paused, his gaze meeting mine. "Ethan Mellow." He smiled, as if we had known each other for ages.
But Ethan Mellow?
I felt like I had heard his name somewhere before.
"You may now take your seat... there," Mrs. Andersen pointed to the empty seat next to Ace, the school bully.
Since it was the second semester of the school year, all the seats were taken, except the one next to Ace.
Because, duh, who would dare sit next to the boy who had broken so many noses?
One day, someone claimed to have seen him walking in a shady place behind our campus with a nerdy-looking boy from our school. The next day, the boy didn't show up, and later on, rumors spread that he had transferred.
Like wht could' he have done to that poor boy?
The thought sent a shiver down my spine, as if I were watching a horror movie.
But just as my anticipation grew, a sudden commotion erupted in the classroom. Anna stood up abruptly, slamming her palms on the desk with a resounding thud. The sound echoed through the room, causing everyone to turn their attention towards her.
What the heck?
The class fell into a stunned silence as Anna's bold move caught us off guard. Even Mrs. Andersen paused mid-sentence, her eyes widening in surprise. It was a rare sight to see someone challenge her authority so openly.
Anna's gaze remained fixed on Ace and a big grinned on her face. Ace, who had been slouched in his chair, lazily resting his head on his hand, was now visibly annoyed by the interruption. He lifted his head, his eyes narrowing as he glared at Anna.
But Anna didn't seem to care about the Ace's reaction. With a determined expression on her face, she confidently declared, "I will sit next to Ace."
The classroom erupted into whispers and gasps. The students couldn't believe what they were witnessing. Anna, known for her calm and composed demeanor, was willingly placing herself next to the most feared person in the school.
Ace, initially taken aback by Anna's audacity, let out an exasperated sigh. He rolled his eyes and muttered something under his breath before closing his eyes again, seemingly unbothered by the whole situation. It was as if he had decided that Anna's presence was inconsequential and not worth his attention.
As the whispers continued to circulate, I couldn't help but feel a mix of admiration and concern for Anna. She had always been fearless, never backing down from a challenge. But this time, it felt different. It felt like she was intentionally putting herself in harm's way.
What was she up to? Was she looking for trouble or just being plain stupid?
Before I could stop her, she grabbed her bag and confidently sat next to Ace. My mind raced with worry.
Had she lost her mind?
Like, what the F?!
"Hi there, seatmate," Ethan's voice interrupted my thoughts as he walked towards me.
I hadn't even noticed him approaching. Maybe my stupid conscience was distracting me again.
Wait, I'm not stupid.
Maybe you are.
But you and me are the same, dummy.
Okay, now I was fighting with my conscience. Totally normal.
"Hey, are you okay? Is there something on my face?" Ethan asked, raising a brow and placing his bag on the desk.
"Um, nothing, why?" I questioned, feeling confused.
"Because you've been staring at me this whole time," he replied, taking his seat.
Crap! I hadn't realized that.
I quickly turned my head away, feeling my face burn with embarrassment. From the corner of my eye, I saw my so-called beloved friend—note the sarcasm—giggling from her seat.
"Oh, sorry," I mumbled, giving Ethan an awkward smile.
"It's okay," he said, throwing me another one of his pearly smiles.
As Ethan rummaged through his bag, I couldn't help but let my gaze linger on his face. His dark, shiny hair fell effortlessly across his forehead, framing his striking hazel blue eyes. Those eyes held a depth that seemed to draw me in, like an endless ocean of emotions. They sparkled with a mischievous glint, hinting at a playful nature hidden beneath his composed exterior.
His high cheekbones added a touch of elegance to his features, accentuating his strong jawline. A small scar adorned the side of his forehead, giving him a rugged charm that contrasted with his otherwise flawless complexion. It was a subtle imperfection that only enhanced his overall attractiveness.
A pair of perfectly shaped eyebrows arched above his eyes, adding an air of mystery to his gaze. They were neither too thick nor too thin, perfectly framing his eyes and adding to the allure of his face. And when he smiled, his lips curved into a captivating grin, revealing a set of pearly white teeth that seemed to shine with every flash of his smile.
There was something undeniably magnetic about Ethan's appearance. It was as if his features were carefully crafted to captivate anyone who laid eyes on him. And as I continued to study his face, I couldn't help but feel a strange sense of familiarity, as if I had seen him somewhere before.
Lost in my thoughts, I was startled when Ethan finally spoke, breaking the trance I had unknowingly fallen into. His voice was smooth and melodic, with a hint of playfulness that matched his charming demeanor. It was a voice that could easily draw anyone's attention and hold it captive.
"Here," he said, handing me a photo. "You've been checking me out for at least 15 minutes, and I'm starting to think you might have a crush on me. I knew no one could resist my charm." He looked at me, his eyes twinkling mischievously, and winked.
I felt a rush of embarrassment flood my cheeks as I realized how obvious my staring must have been. But deep down, I couldn't deny the strange connection I felt with Ethan, as if there was more to our encounter than mere coincidence.
Hate him? Maybe. But there was an undeniable intrigue that had taken hold of me, and I couldn't help but wonder what adventures and surprises lay ahead with this enigmatic boy named, Ethan Mellow.
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