The first day of school wasn't as exciting as Ike thought it was. After the morning roll call in their first subject, Alonzo, the class's homeroom teacher, simply refreshed their memories regarding World History II and then vaguely mentioned what this year's subject was all about.
The second period was almost the same, giving them a pop quiz in which Ike got a zero. The third and fourth subjects weren't anything interesting as well. Although there were a few mischievous students who didn't participate, it wasn't like everything on the first day was recorded in their grades. It was mostly about introduction and recaps of what the students learned from last school year.
There were a total of five core subjects taught in their class: History, Language and Literature, Philosophy, Mathematics, and Science. Since it was the first day, they didn't have the extra curriculums such as Physical Education, arts and hobbies, community service, and some educational clubs.
And just like that, the last subject, which was self-study time, rolled in.
Ike was in disbelief that after preparing for this day to come for the past months, he would meet an uneventful day. Those five mischievous students this morning seemed to have felt the same, but at least they were a group and they could just chat to kill time.
Ike had no friends, staying in his seat with his eyes stuck on the open book on his desk.
"Horror," he whispered in horror, realizing this would be his life for the next ten months. "I don't like school."
"Same!"
Ike nearly jump in surprise when a pair of hands suddenly slammed on his desk. He slowly lifted his eyes, only to meet a pair of silver eyes behind those thick spectacles. Her copper hair with dreadlocks underneath fell over her shoulders, smiling from ear to ear.
Ashley Sinclair.
The female student would constantly gaze in Ike's direction. She had a tan complexion, and a small and thin nose, suiting her plumped lips and faded freckles. Her face was smaller up close and much prettier for sure.
"I hate school. It's boring, right?" her grin stretched broader, acting as if she already knew Ike. "Ashley, by the way. Your name is Ike — I heard from the roll call."
"..." Ike's lips opened and closed, his brain buzzing so suddenly.
Ashley raised her brows, tilting her head to the side. "Hmm?"
'What am I going to tell her?' he wondered. 'Scram?'
Having a conversation with her wasn't a problem, but Ike was the type who only had an interest in conversation he found interesting. That being said, even if he could, he had no spare energy for such small talk to gain friends.
"Are you talking shit about me in your head?" she humored after a minute of silence. "You're not even denying it."
"I am simply considering what to say and not." Ike sported a short smile. "State your purpose."
"What?" she quirked a brow. "I don't have a purpose."
"Why did you come here?"
"Because I think you're pretty interesting and I want to get to know you." Ashley didn't beat around the bush, grinning from ear to ear. "Is that bad?"
"No, it's not." Ike shook his head, peeling his eyes away from her.
Ashley pressed her lips into a thin line, retrieving her palms from his desk while he closed the book. He said nothing further, which meant he already decided to ignore her.
"Did I offend you?" she asked, only to receive a short "no" as an answer. "Really?"
"Yes." Ike gazed up at her again. "Really."
The two of them held each other's eyes in silence before Ike placed his material back in his bag. He didn't idle as he picked up his bag, standing up to his stature.
"It's flattering that you want to get to know me, but staying on the school grounds for another minute will kill me." He maintained his smile, speaking politely to her so she wouldn't think he was being rude. "So, I'll see you around, classmate."
RIIING!
The second the last syllable rolled out of Ike's lips, the school bell rang. He tilted his head down slightly before taking off to vent his disappointment somewhere else.
School was boring with run-on-the-mill subjects, no interesting classmates, and not even a hot teacher! Most of their instructors were either old ladies or guys in their thirties or forties, like their homeroom teacher Alonzo.
The first one who approached Ike wasn't even as interesting as Bonnie. At least, Bonnie had a talent in martial arts that he could talk about. Of course, that was biased since he didn't know Ashley, but for sure, there wasn't that anything interesting about this classmate.
As Ike sauntered off, blending with the students who were leaving the classroom, Ashley followed his figure with her gaze. She frowned, pouting and sighing in disappointment.
"Let's go." Her attention was snatched when a huge male student came to her side.
She turned her head, meeting Bernis's stiff face.
"Bernis, why can't you smile like that guy?" she clicked her tongue as if she was already fed up with Bernis's face. "You should loosen up a bit. It's just the first day of class, but you're already starting it with a bang."
Bernis's stoic face remained. "Why did you even approach him? Early recruitment? I don't think he fits the criteria."
"How are you so sure?" she arched a brow, crossing her arms under her chest.
"I just don't think he'll get along with others well." Bernis shifted his eyes towards the door, catching Ike's back before the latter crossed the threshold. "He is arrogant."
"He's not arrogant." Ashley jumped slightly, sitting on Ike's desk. "Just because he ignored me doesn't mean he is arrogant. Maybe he just finds it hard to communicate?"
Bernis cast her an indifferent sidelong glance.
"That's not what I meant," he said, gazing back at the entrance even though Ike was nowhere in sight. "That look in his eyes… he looks like someone who had reached a bottleneck and is unable to discern the purpose of life."
"Woah, Bernis… it's too early for this kind of talk." Ashley grinned. "But isn't that what makes him interesting? If the purpose is something he needed, then we'll give him one. Also, I like him and my gut feeling told me he'll be a good addition to the club. Has my gut feeling ever failed us?"
Bernis fixed his eyes on her before he sighed. "Do as you wish. It's not like I can stop you."
Ashley giggled as excitement shone in her eyes, gazing at the chair where Ike sat the whole day.