"Did he really fail?" Emily asked, her voice soft with concern.
"Yeah! Three classes, all at 59," Daisy replied with a smirk. "He's unbearable. Always late, like today, making it impossible for anyone to concentrate."
"Fifty-nine?" Emily's brow furrowed. "So if he didn't miss so many classes, he could have passed."
"Maybe. But who knows? The teachers could be punishing him on purpose."
Emily's gaze drifted to Ryan, asleep at his desk, a faint bitterness lingering in her heart. How could someone so reckless seem so vulnerable?
"And he fights, too!" Daisy continued. "At least twice, he's sent people to the hospital. But no matter what he does, his rich family bails him out. He walks around like he owns the place."
Owns the place? Emily reflected on how harsh he'd been that morning, how brash during class. Yet now, Ryan lay there like a child, fast asleep, far from the image of someone "in charge."
Noticing Emily's far-off look, Daisy nudged her. "Hey, Emily!"
"Yeah?"
"Do you read romance comics?"
"Not really."
Daisy sighed in relief. "Good! Stay away from that stuff. Some girls start thinking bad boys like Ryan are attractive. Then they end up following him around like love-struck idiots. It's embarrassing."
Emily laughed. "Thanks, Daisy."
"For what?"
"For looking out for me." Emily's smile was warm and genuine. "I'm really lucky, right? To have met you."
Daisy's eyes softened as she grasped Emily's hand. "I like you too! Guess we were meant to be friends!" She suddenly gasped, her eyes widening. "Oh, look—here comes the drama!"
Emily followed Daisy's gaze to the classroom door, where a stunning girl walked in. Her delicate face, large doe-like eyes, and flowing black hair captivated everyone's attention. Every guy in the room turned to watch her, their mouths slightly agape.
"Wow," Emily whispered, mesmerized.
"She's Norah, the flower of the Literature department," Daisy whispered back with a grin. "She's been playing the role of Ryan's 'guardian angel' for as long as anyone can remember. Breaks a lot of hearts."
Norah approached Ryan's desk, her expression full of tender concern as if she were a saintly figure watching over him.
"Ryan," she whispered, her voice soft as a dream, afraid to disturb him.
Before Emily could react, a sharp voice rang out.
"Seriously, Norah?" Katherine snapped as she strode over, placing herself between Norah and Ryan. "Can't you see he's sleeping? Stop hovering and go away."
Norah didn't even acknowledge Katherine, her eyes fixed on Ryan.
"Are you okay? You look so tired," Norah murmured.
Katherine rolled her eyes dramatically. "Gross."
Daisy leaned over, muttering with a laugh, "Norah versus Katherine, round 301. It's their ongoing war whenever Ryan's involved."
"Are they both his girlfriends?" Emily asked, surprised by how different the two girls were.
"Ha! You underestimate Ryan. His girlfriends could fill a truck! But these two are the most obvious."
Sunlight streamed through the windows, casting a warm glow over the strange scene. Ryan, oblivious to the tension, continued to snore softly, nestled between the two women—one fierce, one delicate. Emily couldn't help but wonder if Ryan had a peaceful world in his dreams, so far from this chaotic reality.
"Cut it out!" Ryan suddenly growled, his sleepy, annoyed eyes glaring at the buzzing duo.
"I'm sorry," Norah whispered, tears welling up in her eyes. "I didn't mean to disturb you…"
"You know you're annoying. Why do you always come around?" Katherine sneered at her.
Ryan's voice was cold as ice. "Leave."
Katherine froze, her face a mix of shock and disbelief.
"I said leave! Didn't you hear me?" His voice grew louder, rage bubbling to the surface. "I told you last week—I'm not interested!"
Silence fell over the room, the tension palpable.
Emily watched, stunned. Ryan's voice was so loud she could hear it from the hall. Katherine's face flushed red, then pale, as she turned and fled the room, tears streaming down her face.
Norah bit her lip, barely able to suppress a smile, as she gently reached for Ryan's arm. "You haven't been yourself lately. Is something wrong?"
Ryan pushed her away, his tone flat and dismissive. "Just go. I want to sleep."
Norah, flustered and hurt, nodded before quickly leaving.
Ryan collapsed back onto his desk, resuming his sleep as if nothing had happened.
And so, Ryan slept through the rest of the morning, oblivious to the storm brewing around him.