The school bell rang for dismissal as everyone stood up and left the class.
Rina was packing her books when someone came and sat down at her front.
"What you doing?" Karl asked looking at her books.
"What does it looks like?"
"You're going home already"
"You're smart" Rina smiled and wore her black bag on one shoulder.
"What you up to?" She asked him looking at herself on her phone screen.
"Lunch" Karl shrugged.
"How many times do you eat in a day?" Rina asked and walked out of the class before Karl followed her.
"Like four or so, maybe five" he said both hands in his pockets.
Rina looked at him in surprise.
"Oh my God, you're fascinating"
"I agree" he said putting an arm around her shoulders.
"Tell me, when did you move?"
Rina hadn't told him yet that she just moved in newly and now he is asking when? How did he know?
Rina stopped walking and looked at him.
"How did you know..."
"Indian, I know that already" he said before circling his face on the air with his index finger.
"Oh right" Rina said.
They could see it through her face but not her accent, she talked swiftly like an American.
"Do not worry, am not like them" he said and continued walking.
"Hold on, what do you mean?" She caught up with him.
"Am not a racist"
"KkRacist?"
"Yeah I accept anyone"
Rina was quiet when Karl leaned slightly and whispered in her ear. Where are you
"Also, you are much more beautiful than those hating you for where you came from" he smirked and then left.
Rina smiled at herself before she got a shock from behind her.
"Oh my God Flora! You scared me"
"So what did he say to you" she hung her arm around her shoulders.
"Nothing" Rina said.
"You're lying to me"
"That's not true, why do you say so?"
"Because I just saw you blush right after he whispered to you, so tell me and don't lie, come on"
"Later, tomorrow"
"Pfft today girl"
"Alright fine, he just said that am beautiful that's all"
"Ohh wow, Rider needs to hear this"
"Look he is not the first person to tell me that okay"
"But he is obviously the first person to tell you that and make you blush"
"Ugghhh am going home, good bye"
"See you tomorrow" flora waved her bye as Rina left.
...
...
...
"Look who enjoyed her first day at school"
"Hi mom" Rina hugged Zamora.
"Dinner is ready, hang your bag and go shower"
"Alright where is Marius"
"Be careful, he wouldn't like it if you call him that?"
"Whatever he called me mine, Marius! I am home"
"Stop calling me that!" Rina heard him shout from his room.
"Shut up Marius, that's your name!" Rina's said going upstairs.
"Whatever" Mari put on his headphones and continued pressing his phone.
After dinner, Rina went to their class group chat.
1236 new unread messages rang on her phone screen.
She tapped on it and saw different people chatting up, those she didn't have their number, were written by their phone number, only Rider and Flora's name she could see.
276-868: hey
Rina: who's this please?
276-868: guess
Rina: shut up and tell me now
276-868: Rude
Rina: 😒
276-868: What're you doing?
Rina: am sorry but I can't tell a stranger what am doing
276-868: shut up
Rina: you shut up
Rina: who are you?!
276-868: ...
Rina: hey!!
Rina: hello?!!
276-868 went offline.
"Ugh!" Rina dropped her phone and went to her laptop.
The next day Rina had breakfast and left to school with yes of course, food money and transportation fee too.
She wore a black v neck shirt written "black is beauty" and a white jeans wearing her sneakers, this time packing her long brown hair into a ponytail upward and putting on slight makeup.
"Bye mom"
"Bye! Remember to come home early"
"Alright"
...
...
...
"So you're saying that this number texted you and refused to tell you who he was?"
"Of course, I want to know who this is real bad"
"Chill out girl and just go with the flow"
"No I can't, I mean I can't text to no one I know, I mean somebody I don't know about, how he even got my phone number and how he knows me"
"Relax Rina, it might me somebody at school"
Flora told her scrolling through her phone.
"Is it this number?" Flora asked showing Rina her phone screen.
"No"
"This one?"
"No"
"How bout this one?"
"Not even close"
"Sigh' anyways, class will soon begin, you should save it for now"
"Alright" Rina closed her locker after collecting her chemistry book.
The bell rang for the next class as everyone went for lessons.
Rina was shocked to see Karl already sitting down in class when she came.
She went to him and sat beside him.
"Hey"
"Hey"
"You're here so early" she said dropping her bag.
"Yeah, is it a bad thing?"
"No no not at all, I am just a little bit surprised"
Karl didn't say anything, he just smiled and put on one of his ear pods.
"Hey shouldn't you give it a break"
"Do not pity it Rina"
"I don't, it's you I pity, at the examination hall"
Karl chuckled before bringing out the other EarPods from the case.
"Hey" Rina said immediately when Karl brought close to her ear.
"Relax, try it" he said and put it in her ears.
Rina listened to the music playing, she knew this music, her uncle loves playing this music when they were in India.
She smiled enjoying the music and didn't know when she started singing with it.
"I got to get my shit in order
I cry to my friends I have been alone, yeah
It's so hard when you're on your own
They tried to set me up with the guys I know
I just say I got plans I just be at home"
"You know the song?" Karl asked smiling.
"Yeah, my Uncle loves it a lot"
"Hmm you have a nice voice"
"Thanks, I love singing"
"Really, can you sing for me in one fo these days?"
Rina looked at Karl and said
"If I have the time to" she said and continued singing.
"Cupid shot me in my leg, yeah
And I tripped and fell on my face yeah
Yeah they say good bye I say hello
Never on the same page
Cause I read things too slow"
"What's your best type of music?" Rina looked at Karl and asked as she caught him staring at her.
Karl immediately drifted his gaze.
"Pop music"
"Really? Mine is country"
"I love your voice" Karl places his elbow on his desk and rested his head on his hands looking at Rina.
"You don't have to drag it way too much"
"It's okay am cool"
Rina smiled. "Thanks"
She removed the EarPods and was about to give it to him when..
"No no it's okay keep it"
"I don't think so...."
"Keep it, I have others"
"Thank you"
"Don't thank me"
"Alright class, so sorry for being late" Mr Mark spoke to the students.
"Okay, you guys will have a project assigned to you today and will be submitted next week, beware, it's a huge one, that's why I am giving you in pairs and yes, I am very well aware that I gave you guys a lot of time so I won't be expecting any excuse.
Nita, I will give you the questions and all that. distribute it to the class. Okay everyone pick your partner, in two's please, and no fighting, have a nice day." Mr mark said and left the class.
Flora flees from her seat and went to Rina and Karl's corner.
"Am your partner...." Flora told Rina
"Already picked her" Karl immediately said without raising his head from his phone.
"Is that true Rina?"
"Yeah is that true Karl?"
Karl looked at Rina then Flora.
"Flora right?" He asked.
"Yes"
"Gg Is right over there, you guys can be partners"
Alright fine" Flora left
"Why did you lie to her?"
"No reason" he said going back to his phone.