After the chaotic first day of school, I thought I'd finally get to live the quiet life I had hoped for. But apparently, that was wishful thinking.
The next morning, as I walked into school, I prayed that the day would go smoothly—no mafia, no crazy encounters, just peace. But of course, fate had other plans.
"Hey! That's Fah, right?"
The cheerful voice from behind startled me. I turned around to see none other than Beam, the same girl I'd accidentally helped escape the mafia yesterday. She waved at me like we were old friends, her grin radiating enough energy to charge a small city.
"Uh, B-Beam, right?" I replied hesitantly, unsure if I'd remembered her name correctly. Her vibrant presence was already draining my energy, and it wasn't even 8 AM.
"What a coincidence! We're in the same class?" Beam leaned casually against the classroom door, her excitement shining through her wide smile. It felt like my existence had made her day.
"Uh… yeah, I guess so. Great," I said awkwardly, trying not to sound like I was already overwhelmed. Socializing wasn't exactly my forte, especially with someone as effortlessly cool as her.
"So, no more trouble since yesterday?" she asked, scanning the hallway like she expected the mafia to pop out of the lockers.
"Nope, nothing weird," I replied, glancing around nervously. The events of yesterday had left me half-expecting to be dragged off to the Gulf of Thailand at any moment.
"That's good! And seriously, thanks again for yesterday," Beam said, patting my shoulder lightly. Her grin was warm and genuine—too genuine for someone who had just met me. And I couldn't help but notice how her smile could probably charm a rock into blushing.
"Oh, it's nothing," I mumbled, unsure how to respond.
"Hey, since you helped me out, how about I treat you to lunch today?" Beam said suddenly, her tone leaving no room for refusal.
"Oh, no need, really. It wasn't a big deal," I tried to protest, but Beam's determined smile shut me down instantly.
"Nope, I insist! I've never had anyone help me like that before," she said, stepping closer until I felt the need to back away.
"Uh… okay," I finally relented, unable to withstand her hopeful gaze any longer.
"Great! See you at lunch!" she declared before walking into the classroom with a wave.
Meanwhile, I shuffled to my desk, hoping to avoid the curious stares that followed me.
"Wow, first the Princess, and now the Prince? New girl's on a roll!" someone behind me whispered, followed by giggles.
"Ugh, Beam's charm strikes again," another voice chimed in, full of mock jealousy.
I sank into my seat, praying for the ground to swallow me whole. Couldn't I just stay under the radar for one day?
By the time lunch rolled around, my nerves were shot. I tried sneaking out of class, but Beam was waiting for me by the door, as cheerful as ever.
"Ready?" she asked, placing a hand on my shoulder like we were lifelong buddies.
"Uh… yeah," I mumbled, caught between dread and resignation.
Beam led me to the cafeteria, which was bustling with activity. Despite the crowd, she found a quiet corner and pulled out a chair for me. Her confidence was overwhelming, but it also had a strange calming effect.
"Take a seat. I'll grab us some food," she said before disappearing into the crowd.
I sat there awkwardly, trying not to make eye contact with anyone. When Beam returned with two trays of food, she set one in front of me and plopped down across the table.
"Dig in!" she said with a grin, already starting on her meal.
"Thanks," I murmured, picking up my fork. The food looked great, but my appetite was overshadowed by the awkwardness of the situation.
"You know," Beam said between bites, "you were pretty cool yesterday. Not everyone would've kept their cool with those guys."
"Cool? More like terrified," I said, poking at my food. "I was just scared out of my mind."
Beam laughed, a bright, genuine sound that made me forget my embarrassment for a moment.
"Scared or not, you still helped me. That's what counts," she said, flashing that dazzling smile again.
Her positivity was infectious, and I found myself smiling back despite myself.
"So, what do you do for fun?" Beam asked, leaning forward with genuine curiosity.
"Uh… mostly watch shows, play games, and… sleep," I admitted, half-expecting her to judge me.
"Seriously? That's awesome! I thought you'd be into, like, painting or writing poetry or something," she said, laughing.
"Why would you think that?" I asked, genuinely puzzled.
"You just have that vibe. You're so… cute. Like, really cute," she said casually, making me choke on my drink.
"I… I…" Words failed me as my face turned bright red.
Beam just laughed again, clearly enjoying my reaction. "Relax, I mean it as a compliment. You're fun to be around."
Her words were so earnest that I couldn't help but believe her. For the first time since coming to this school, I felt like maybe, just maybe, I wasn't completely out of place.
"Thanks," I said quietly, finally taking a proper bite of my food.
As we ate, Beam kept the conversation flowing effortlessly, her energy balancing out my awkwardness. By the time lunch ended, I was laughing along with her stories, feeling lighter than I had in days.
Maybe being friends with the Prince wasn't such a bad thing after all.