The weekends unfolded with familiar rhythms, but amidst the routine, one element made this time different - the presence of Kaida, a subtle yet significant addition to her life.
Without realizing it, Yuna steered clear of Kaida throughout the weekend, unsure why she felt compelled to do so. She only left her room for meals, and even then, her interactions with Kaida were brief.
Normally, her room was her sanctuary, but this time, she retreated there for longer stretches than usual.
As the school day dawned, Yuna hastily prepared herself for school. She swiftly got dressed into her school attire and made a quick exit, avoiding any interaction with Kaida, almost as if she sought to flee the tension that had built up over the weekend.
- - -
At Gold highschool.
The scorching heat wave and deafening birdsong created a suffocating atmosphere, with the school's air conditioning struggling to keep up.
In Mr. Daniel's classroom on the second floor, the students' attention span was dwindling, their exhaustion and discomfort palpable.
"Listen up!" Mr. Daniel's middle-aged face turned stern. Like a command, he jolted them out of their trance-like state, his eyes scanning the room as he chastised, "You're mere months away from becoming seniors, yet you're behaving like middle schoolers!" The rebuke served as a wake-up call, a reminder that their time in high school was fleeting.
A chorus of 'Sorry, sir' echoed through the classroom as the students endeavored to shake off their fatigue, their faces still etched with exhaustion. While most of her peers feigned attention, Yuna's mind wandered, captivated by the majestic cherry blossom tree outside the window, its beauty captivating her.
Seated near the window, she gazed longingly at the tree, the gentle breeze carrying the sweet scent of blooming flowers added to the allure, transporting her to a world beyond the stifling classroom.
Mr. Daniel's discerning gaze settled on Yuna, though lost in her thoughts, she remained oblivious.
Her desk mate attempted to rouse her, whispering "Yuna, Yuna" but she was too entranced to respond.
It wasn't until Mr. Daniel's deep voice boomed "Yuna!" that she snapped out of her reverie, rising to her feet as if on autopilot.
Suddenly aware of the collective gaze upon her, Yuna's confusion grew. 'What did I miss?' she wondered, her eyes darting to the board for a hint, but finding only a brief, enigmatic note. Mr. Daniel's silence was oppressive, his look telling her to focus, before resuming the class.
Flushing with embarrassment, Yuna turned to her desk mate, her expression asking, 'What just happened?' before taking her seat.