He lights in the classroom buzzed as Arden walked to the back. Fourteen years old, dark messy hair, which he swore had a mind of its own, kept falling into his bright blue eyes as he tried to avoid the stares of his new classmates.
"Hey everyone, we've got a new student! This is Arden Kane," the teacher practically yelled.
All eyes were on him. Arden wished he could disappear. "Uh, hey," he mumbled, his voice cracking. "I'm Arden. I just moved here with my aunt." He froze, unsure what else to say. "Um… I like video games?" he blurted out, feeling his face heat up.
A few kids giggled. Arden wanted to crawl under his desk. He slumped into the only empty seat – dead center in the back row. Perfect for the main character.
Every day at his new school felt the same. Listen, take notes, avoid being called on. School wasn't fun, not without his parents, not without any memory of who he was before the plane crash.
The only person he really had was Auntie Mei. Her warm smile and kind eyes were like a safe haven. He couldn't remember anything before waking up in the hospital, her hand holding his. The crash, the DNA test that said they weren't related – none of that mattered to her. She took him home, cared for him, and loved him like her own.
The only thing that got Arden even a little excited was a promise he made with Auntie Mei. First place on the school leaderboard, and she'd take him out for a whole weekend to do whatever he wanted.
He didn't care about being the best, but a weekend with Auntie Mei, eating awesome street food, and just hanging out? Now that was worth working for. So he hit the books, not for the grades, but for Auntie Mei.
Finally, after weeks of waiting, the leaderboard went up. Arden was shocked to see his name at the very top! He felt relieved, but not really happy. All he could think about was those amazing noodles from their favorite street vendor.
Just as he turned away, he heard a gasp.
It was Meilin Lin, standing stiffly in front of the leaderboard, her delicate face frozen in surprise. Her sleek, black hair, always perfectly straight, framed her face like a curtain, making her big, dark eyes seem even larger. They were striking eyes, Arden had always thought, like polished obsidian, reflecting everything and revealing nothing. She always seemed so sure of herself, but now, for just a second, she looked...different. Shocked, maybe even a little jealous.
Everyone knew Meilin. She was basically the smartest girl in school, cool and quiet, like she owned the place. The first-place spot was practically hers. Until now.
Arden caught a glimpse of anger on her usually calm face. They'd barely spoken, just a few awkward exchanges across the classroom. But in that moment, their eyes met, and it felt like something clicked. They got each other.
He saw a flicker of sadness in her eyes, a sadness that mirrored his own. They were both searching for something, for a place to belong. For the first time since starting at this school, Arden felt curious about another person. Maybe, just maybe, school wouldn't be so bad after all.
The bell snapped him out of his thoughts. As other kids shuffled out, he noticed Meilin was still standing by the door, her gaze glued to the leaderboard. Arden slung his backpack over his shoulder, wondering if he could slip out unnoticed.
But something stopped him. Maybe it was the way her usually serious face softened, revealing a vulnerability he hadn't seen before. Or maybe it was the reflection of his own loneliness in her dark eyes.
"Hey," he said, surprised by how rough his voice sounded.
Meilin turned, her expression guarded, raising one perfectly arched eyebrow at him.
"You're Arden, right?" Her voice was unexpectedly soft.
Arden just nodded, unsure what to say to the Meilin.
"You… you didn't even seem to care," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "About getting first place."
Arden shrugged, shoving his hands in his pockets. "I guess not really. My aunt promised to…" He trailed off, embarrassed to admit his motivation was a plate of noodles.
A tiny smile played on Meilin's lips. "To celebrate? That's cool." She glanced back at the leaderboard, a hint of longing in her eyes.
"What about you?" Arden asked, surprising himself by keeping the conversation going.
Meilin's shoulders slumped. "My parents… they expect it." The air felt heavy with unspoken pressure.
"They must be proud of you," Arden offered, though the words felt empty even to him.
Meilin scoffed. "They'd be really proud if I got into Qinghua University."
Arden had heard whispers about that university. It was like the Harvard of their country, only the best of the best got in. He couldn't imagine that kind of pressure.
He was about to say something, anything, to break the awkward silence when Meilin surprised him again.
"Do you wanna… study together sometime?" she asked, a blush creeping up her cheeks. "For the next exams, I mean. Not that I need any help," she added quickly, her usual confidence returning. "But, you know, two heads are better than one, right?"
Arden stared at her, a mix of shock and hope bubbling inside him. He was used to being invisible. No one, especially Meilin, ever asked him to study with them.
He hesitated for a second, then a slow smile spread across his face. "Yeah," he said, his voice catching. "That'd be cool."
The library was surprisingly calm for a weekday afternoon. Sunlight poured through the big arched windows, making bright spots on the long tables. The faint smell of old books and paper mixed with the quiet sound of pages turning, creating a cozy, familiar feeling.
Arden had gotten there early, his stomach doing nervous flips while he scanned the bookshelves for Meilin. He still couldn't believe she'd agreed to this. Meilin, who probably aced every test without even trying, wanted to spend time with him.
He spotted her in the back, bent over a giant textbook, her brow furrowed in concentration. A mountain of books surrounded her, making her look tiny.
As he got closer, he noticed a half-eaten sesame bun and a carton of milk balanced on the edge of the table. He smiled, remembering her saying that studying on an empty stomach was a crime.
"Hey," he said quietly, setting down his bag.
Meilin looked up, her face softening when she saw him. "You're here!" She tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, a faint pink creeping up her cheeks.
"Yep, thought we could start with history," Arden said, pulling out his textbook. He was surprised by how comfortable he felt around her.
"Good call," Meilin replied, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "It's my worst subject."
Arden raised an eyebrow, not buying it for a second.
"Okay, maybe not my worst," she admitted with a laugh. "But it's definitely not my best."
And so began their unlikely study session. They quizzed each other on dates, debated the impact of ancient civilizations, and even cracked up over Meilin's hilariously bad drawings of famous emperors.
As they dug into the material, Arden realized that Meilin wasn't just book smart. She had a real passion for learning, a curiosity that went way beyond just getting good grades. He found himself drawn to that, to her ability to find something interesting in everything.
He also discovered that beneath that cool exterior, Meilin was hilarious. Her dry humor constantly caught him off guard. They fell into an easy rhythm, the initial awkwardness melting away.
As the afternoon went on, they took a break from history, sharing bits and pieces of their lives. Arden told her about Auntie Mei, the plane crash, the missing pieces of his past that haunted his dreams. Meilin listened intently, her silence filled with understanding, not pity.
Then she confided in him about the pressure she felt from her parents, their expectations weighing her down. She admitted that sometimes she just wanted to disappear into a good book, to escape it all.
Arden was surprised by how much he related to that. It wasn't about actually disappearing, it was about finding a place where you could just be yourself, without all the pressure.
"I totally get it," he said softly, pushing aside his physics textbook to face her. "Sometimes I just want to… I don't know… escape into a video game and forget about everything else."
Meilin's lips curved into a small smile. "What game?" she asked, genuine interest in her eyes.
Arden hesitated. He rarely talked about gaming. He was afraid it would just reinforce everyone's image of him as the quiet, awkward kid. But with Meilin, it felt different. Safe.
"There's this one game," he started, his confidence growing as he spoke. "It's this whole fantasy world, with magic and dragons and incredible quests. You get to create your own character, decide who they are, what they fight for…"
He described the details of the game, the amazing landscapes, the challenging quests, the friendships he'd formed with people online. He even found himself sketching the backstory he'd created for his elven warrior, a skilled archer haunted by a dark past.
As he spoke, he saw that same spark of wonder in Meilin's eyes that he felt when he got lost in a good book. It was the spark of shared passion, of finding common ground in unexpected places.
"Wow," she breathed, leaning in to get a better look at his drawing. "He seems so real."
"He feels real," Arden corrected, a shy smile spreading across his face. "At least, when I'm playing, it feels like I can be anyone I want to be. Like nothing else matters."
He gestured vaguely around them, at the textbooks, the pressure, everything.
Meilin nodded slowly, her expression thoughtful. "Maybe we just need to create our own quests," she mused, tapping her finger on her history book. "Our own worlds where we can be ourselves, even if it's just for a little while."
A comfortable silence settled between them, the air buzzing with their newfound understanding. Maybe that's what their friendship was becoming, Arden thought, a shared quest, a space to escape expectations and just be.
The weekend arrived, bathed in warm spring sunshine. True to her word, Auntie Mei whisked Arden off on their adventure. The smell of garlic and chili oil filled the air as they navigated the crowded street food market. Their favorite vendor waved at them from her usual spot.
"Two bowls of your best, Mrs. Wong!" Auntie Mei called out, her eyes crinkling at the corners as the vendor beamed at them.
Arden grinned, his stomach growling. He couldn't remember the last time he'd felt so carefree, so… happy. It wasn't just the promise of delicious noodles; it was the easy comfort he felt with Auntie Mei, the way she seemed to understand him even when he didn't say a word.
As they slurped their noodles, Auntie Mei studied him with a knowing look. "So," she began, her voice full of playful curiosity. "Tell me about this study session."
Arden choked on his noodles, his face burning as he sputtered, "How… how did you know?"
Auntie Mei chuckled, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "You haven't stopped smiling since you walked through the door. And I have a feeling it has something to do with a certain sharp-witted girl who also happens to be top of your class."
Arden groaned, burying his face in his hands. Leave it to Auntie Mei to read him like a book.
"It's not like that," he mumbled, though even he could hear the lie in his voice. "We're just… study buddies. It helps."
Auntie Mei patted his hand, her touch gentle. "Arden," she said softly. "It's okay to make friends, to have people in your life who make you happy."
He looked up at her, a mix of gratitude and uncertainty in his eyes. "I know," he whispered. "It's just… everything's different here."
"I know it is," Auntie Mei said, her gaze filled with understanding. "But different doesn't have to be bad. Sometimes, change brings unexpected gifts. People who surprise you, who see you, who make this new life a little brighter."
Her words resonated deep within him. He thought about Meilin, their shared laughter, the quiet moments of connection in the library. Maybe Auntie Mei was right. Maybe Meilin, the last person he expected, was becoming that unexpected gift in his life.