It was now time for another school year, but not just any other school year, because this year, Zorel will be attending a new school. She's excited, and who wouldn't? It's like a fresh start and a new adventure. Zorel has been looking forward to this. A school where nobody, hopefully, knows her name like it's in her previous school. She can get low scores, she can skip class, Zorel can sleep at lunch without anyone's prying eyes, and she can finally study. With no pressure, but because Zorel likes to learn.

But who is she kidding? Everyone is excited on the first week and loathe school after. She doesn't want to lie even more to herself. At least Zorel accepted that fact.

It may be early to go to school, but Zorel wants to explore the grounds and building as soon as possible. Finding a good and quiet spot might be hard, and Zorel may like a few friends this year, but not right away. That would be too much work and would exhaust her social battery quickly.

Looking at the mirror, Zorel was ready. Her uniform is a button-up blouse with a mint green necktie dangling around her neck. Zorel's wearing a knee-length dark blue skirt and white rubber shoes. Zorel smiled at the mirror. Nobody is going to make her wear school shoes no matter what the teachers or faculty says. What if the situation requires to run? School shoes are going to make your feet hurt. Yep, it is not happening to Zorel.

Walking out of her room, Zorel grips the strap of her bag and her purplish headphones around her head. Walking in the quiet hallway, Zorel knows that the only one's awake yet would probably her little sister. Gabrielle is such an energetic kid that Zorel seldom wants to be alone in a room with her. It's draining and too noisy. She'd rather drown her ears with her music.

The little 8-year-old was already walking around the kitchen aisle holding a cellphone. Zorel taps the kid's shoulder. Gabrielle's dark brown doe eyes looked up to Zorel with a head tilt. "Whatcha up to, big sis?" she asked with that baby voice that Zorel couldn't help smile a little.

Zorel leans down to her height, "I'm going to school so, tell Mom and Dad that so I won't get an earful later. Got that little hopper?" Zorel said and patted her sister's bouncy hair. The curls were softer as always, and Zorel straightened her back. She headed to the door when her sister called back.

Gabrielle was running with her cute little legs, her hands holding a little box of cartooned milk. "Breakfast? It's milk. You love milk." The little girl handed the cold beverage to Zorel.

Zorel laughed at the sentiment of her sister. She looked at her, and for the life of her, she's going to make sure she'll keep that cheery smile. "Thanks, hopper! Gotta go!"

"Byeeee! Gimme gifts when you come home!"

Zorel smiled widely and waved back at the still opened door of her house where her little sister was waving enthusiastically at her. "Yeah, sure!" Zorel headed off to start this year, her main goal to graduate High School.

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Pedaling the last few meters until she reached the parking area for bicycles, Zorel look to her right and saw the center of the school. It was a cemented rectangular area. She wondered if everyone will gather there for the flag ceremony as there is a large stage with a flag pole just ahead. Sometimes, the ceremony is held indoors.

Her mind flying again, Zorel was too late to notice someone's back. "Ah! Move away quickly!" she shouted in panic.

The bronze-haired boy looks back and saw Zorel's slowing bike. But not too slow for him not to get hit. He quickly drops his back, was about to lift to the rack but jumped to the side. Zorel's bike, zooming through the rack, making the other bikes fall.

Zorel let out a yip. Her right knee, hitting a metal pole. She shivered in pain in silence as she gets down from her bike. The boy noticed this and stuffed his hand to his mouth to prevent laughing.

Zorel glared mockingly at the boy. "Yeah, let it out. I sure hope you end up farting, you dunce," she said, still feeling the pain from her knee.

The boy burst laughing, "I might have thought for a minute there that you might be one of those girls." the boy wiped the corner of his eyes in amusement.

"What one of those girls? Do people normalize bulldozing other students in this school?" she asked, confused by the statement.

The boy waves her off. "No, it's just some girls can settle to rough ways to get attention." he shrugged.

Zorel got up and eyed the boy from head to toe.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" the boy deadpanned.

The boy is handsome in, Zorel's opinion, and he has quite the build for someone playing sports. She got close to him and, poking his right shoulder. And there was indeed muscle there. Zorel looked up at the boy squinting her eyes at his face.

To say Jonathon was getting nervous and uncomfortable was an understatement. 'Can anybody get this girl to learn personal space?!'

"Were you just implying earlier that girls flaunt at you?" she said in a deadpanned yet accusing tone. The boy in front of her is handsome and tall, which equals girls with heart eyes.

"Of course I am! Who couldn't resist my beautiful looks?" he said proudly while pushing his hair back. Indeed he took pride in the fact that she is gifted in looks that girls just can't help themselves.

Zorel shivered in disgust. She just has to meet a narcissistic lunatic. "You're disgusting of a man." she plainly stated and went to fixing the fallen bike.

Zorel doesn't want to associate herself with such a person. Most of them think the world only revolves around themselves and don't let her get started with their egos. She'd rather repeat a year than be in 1 meter near the guy.

Jonathon was shocked. He feels as if someone stabbed him in the chest. He feels as if his soul left his body, and he can't pull it back. 'Did this girl just called me disgusting? In all my life...'

"You d-dare..." he mumbles in shock.

After parking and fixing her mess, she looks back, seeing the boy hasn't left yet. "Oh, the pervert hasn't left yet."

In Zorel's eyes, people like him are perverts to her. People like him, having high thinking about their selves. As if they're referring to another person, thinking about it makes her shiver in disgust, and flaunting their egos, and making others see why that's no difference of a pervert. 'Definitely a pervert, just the different kind to me.'

Jonathon staggered at that. He'd never heard those words said to him, and how can the girl in front of him say it so casually? He can see his soul leaving his body. Jonathon feels as if something in him broke, like glass cracking and soon shattering with one last push.

Zorel snickered in mock disgust and shoved the boy to the side, heading towards the mint green-colored building. Zorel hopes she won't see the boy again, but again, that's just wishful thinking.

Zorel huffed while walking. The earlier guy did not land on her good graces. "The pervert is wearing the same tie as me. Damn it. I hope he's in another section, or I will be glaring at his disgusting form all the time.

It was just that life sometimes doesn't follow what you want. Unbeknownst to Zorel, that encounter is the start of a life-changing friendship.

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Jonathan was still rooted in the parking space, trying to get his soul to come back to his body.

"Did I just got insulted? And by a girl?" he can't believe she didn't find me attracted at all. Jonathan can't believe it.

Three boys passed by the parking space and noticed and figure standing. They squinted their eyes to try to recognize Jonathon, who was standing very still with a dejected back.

"Is that Jonathon?"

"Why the hell is he standing like someone called him ugly?"

"Yeah, and class is starting soon too."

Pushing his other friends to walk again, the taller one sighed. "Don't mind the dude, but I gotta say, he looks like a creep being like that."

The others took a glance back and nodded their heads.

Jonathon could only weep in silence.