Some girls stepped out of the restroom, their laughter and animated chatter filling the hallway. As one of them turned to leave, another girl entered.
She expertly maneuvered to avoid bumping into the trio, who seemed oblivious to her presence. A curtain of jet-black, straight hair partially concealed her face as she walked to the sink.
After washing her hands, she pulled out a handkerchief, only to frown as she noticed its distinctive scent.
The handkerchief, made of silk and slightly out of place with her otherwise simple appearance, seemed to carry a fragrance she didn't recognize or appreciate. Without hesitation, she placed it under the running water, washing away the scent with the liquid hand soap at the sink.
Her brow furrowed in frustration as she thought, 'How careless.'
She shook her head, the action betraying her irritation, and carefully dried the handkerchief using the hand dryer before tucking it away in her bag. Her expression remained contemplative, reflecting her dissatisfaction with the situation.
...
Outside, the school day had come to an end, and students began to spill out into the afternoon sun. Kenneth, Luca, Justin, and Gabriel were gathered near the school gates, preparing to head to their respective club activities or practices.
"Where should we go after clubs this afternoon?" Kenneth asked with palpable excitement.
His enthusiasm was a stark contrast to the more relaxed attitudes of his friends.
"Are you treating us?" Luca asked with a teasing grin, his tone light but serious.
Kenneth's face fell into a look of bewilderment, "Shouldn't it be you guys?"
"Who won the national tournament?" Luca replied, raising an eyebrow.
"Justin also won his tenth concours since entering high school," Kenneth pointed out, trying to shift the focus.
Justin shrugged, his tone nonchalant, "Don't pull me into this. I'm not the one who keeps insisting on being treated."
"But I'll be starving after our practice," Kenneth protested.
"Then buy your own food," Justin said firmly.
"Hey, free food is the best food," Kenneth argued back with a playful grin.
Luca chuckled, clearly enjoying the back-and-forth.
"Shall we head to the library while waiting for these two?" he suggested, turning to Gabriel.
Gabriel, who had been quietly observing the exchange, was already holding a book and ready to read.
"Let's go," Gabriel agreed, not missing a beat.
"You guys go ahead with your practice. Send us a message once you're done," Luca said, waving as he and Gabriel prepared to leave.
"Okay, see you later," Kenneth replied, his enthusiasm undiminished, and Justin followed suit with a casual wave.
Luca and Gabriel started walking in the opposite direction. Midway to the library, Luca suddenly stopped.
"Ah, I forgot some of the textbooks I planned to work on," he said, a look of realization crossing his face.
"I'll wait for you in the library," Gabriel replied, already resuming his path and burying his nose in his book.
"You could have joined me," Luca muttered, shaking his head as he turned back to retrieve the textbooks.
...
The school gate buzzed with activity as students discussed their plans for the afternoon. Some were excitedly chatting about karaoke or dining at a family restaurant, while others discussed studying at a library or a café.
Groups of students strolled together, while a few walked alone, lost in their thoughts.
As she stepped out of the gate, she shielded her eyes from the harsh glare of the setting sun with one hand. Her jet-black hair and glasses provided little protection from the blinding light.
The crisp autumn air was turning colder, a reminder of the approaching winter. She shivered slightly, aware that the year was drawing to a close.
Suddenly, someone bumped into her, causing her to stumble. She looked up to see a group of boys laughing and fooling around as they left the school premises.
"Oh, sorry," one of them said, his tone far from sincere.
He had barely slowed his pace, already turning back to his friends and resuming their playful banter.
"That was rude," one of his friends laughed, watching her with a mixture of amusement and disdain.
"What? At least I apologized. It was her fault for standing there without any presence," the boy said, his words followed by a ripple of laughter.
She simply shook her head, her expression a mix of indifference and resignation. She adjusted her glasses and moved a few strands of her waist-length jet-black hair from her face. Her phoenix-brown eyes, reflecting her indifference, were a stark contrast to the lively atmosphere around her.
With a sigh, she fixed her earphones and was about to take another step when she suddenly frowned. Realizing something was missing, she removed her backpack and began searching inside.
Her frustration grew as she couldn't find what she was looking for.
Panic set in.
She turned on her heel and hurried back toward the school building, her urgency causing her to bump into a few students along the way. The once calm and composed girl was now a whirlwind of distress.
*SLAM*
The door to the classroom flew open with a loud bang. Luca Stewart, who was standing in the middle of the room, looked up in surprise.
The girl who burst in was breathing heavily, her previous indifference replaced by visible panic.
Luca blinked, his emotions a mix of confusion and empathy.
He wiped a tear from his cheek, though he wasn't sure why he had started crying. The girl's eyes widened when she saw him holding the sky-blue notebook she had lost. The familiar cover made her heart race with relief.
"Oh, is this yours?" Luca asked, holding up the notebook.
She approached him quickly, extending her hand with a sense of urgency, "Please give it back."
Luca was momentarily stunned by her polite yet hurried request. He had expected her to snatch the notebook from him more abruptly.
"Did you write it?" he asked, glancing at the contents.
She took the notebook, placed it in her bag with a grateful nod, and started to leave. Her composure was returning, though her face still carried a hint of distress.
"Thank you," she said quietly, not waiting for him to respond.
Luca watched her walk away, still in shock from the unexpected encounter. As she disappeared through the door, he raised his hand and wiped away the remnants of tears on his cheek.
"It was beautiful," he murmured to himself, deeply moved by the brief but remarkable passage he had just read.