Emi arrived in class on time, just as the professor was entering the room.
"Good morning, students. Let's get started," the professor said.
Suddenly, a sweet, melodious voice interrupted him. "May I come in, sir?"
All eyes turned to the door, where a boy stood, dressed in baggy jeans and a hoodie, his face obscured by a blue denim cap and his hair falling over his eyes. The blue cap and jeans complemented his fair complexion nicely, and he had a sharp nose and rosy lips.
All the girls in the class went crazy over him, and the boys were in awe. They couldn't believe how handsome he was.
"Is he directly descended from heaven?" someone exclaimed in surprise.
"He's so cute," another said.
"Is he really a boy?" someone else asked.
Everyone in the class discussed him, going on and on about his charming personality, except for Emi. She was lost in her own thoughts, staring out the window.
"Emi, where are you lost? Look at him. He's so handsome. If he's going to be in our class, then I swear I'm never going to skip a class again," Jia said.
"Emi, Emi," someone called her.
"What?" Emi replied, coming back to reality.
"Are you even listening to what I'm saying?" Jia asked.
Emi had been deep in her own thoughts, not paying any attention to what Jia was saying.
"What happened?" Emi asked.
"You're always so out of it. You just look out the window. "JIA said sarcastically.
"What a beautiful view!" Jia again went into her fan girl zone.
The professor interrupted them. "Quiet, everyone. Is this a fish market? Yes, come in," he said as the boy entered the classroom.
That was the first time Emi saw him - his wide forehead, sharp nose, beautiful lips, fair complexion, and, above all, his deep black eyes. The entire class started hooting for him.
"Quiet, everyone. What's your name? I haven't seen you before in this class," the professor asked.
"Sir, I'm Allen. I missed some of my previous classes due to personal problems, but I'm going to attend from now on," Allen replied.
"Wow, he's going to study with us!" someone exclaimed.
"Quiet, class. Oh, so you're Allen, the topper of the university exam. You're the one who won the national science fair," the professor said.
"He's a genius. Now I remember. He's the one we talked about during early semesters," someone said.
"Yeah, we thought he'd gone abroad."
"What a combination - beauty and brains," someone else said.
"That's usually said for girls," another countered.
The class erupted into chaos again. It felt like a fish market.
"Class!" Professor Ren shouted. "Can you all just shut up? Jia, stand up. Professor shouted." You're chitchatting the moment I came here. You don't even study a word and you're disturbing Emi. Go to the last bench," he instructed.
"But sir..." Jia tried to reason, but it was of no use.
"Just go," Professor Ren repeated.
"Okay," Jia went to the last bench reluctantly.
"Allen, sit next to Emi. She's also a top student in our class. She can help you catch up on the lessons you missed," the professor said.
"Why next to me?" Emi was annoyed. She didn't want Allen to sit beside her.
"I know he's a prodigy who likes to brag. I don't want to hear about his meticulous work every day. Also, the girls... I'm sure they'll be all over him like flies on honey. I don't want to be surrounded by them. Previously, there was only Jia to annoy me, but now..." Emi thought to herself.
Emi was lost in thought when she heard a thud - Allen had put his bag down.
"Can't you put your bag down calmly? Do you have to make such a loud noise?" Emi said, irritated.
"Why are you shouting? I'm just putting my bags down," Allen retorted.
"You could have done it gently," Emi said.
"I can't believe it. It hasn't even been a minute, and you're already quarreling with me. I'm not going to sit with you," Allen said.
"Neither do I want to," Emi replied, annoyed.