"You really can become close to anyone, Luca. I never thought you'd end up getting cozy with the drama club princess," Kenneth teased as he slapped Luca on the back.
Luca raised an eyebrow and glanced at the three guys who had approached him—Kenneth, Justin, and Gabriel. They'd been quietly observing after he'd suggested using Harmony's story for the play, and now they seemed ready to voice their thoughts.
"Drama club princess?" Luca asked, intrigued.
Kenneth shrugged, leaning back against a nearby table with a lazy grin. His school uniform was unbuttoned, revealing a black T-shirt underneath. Wristbands adorned both his wrists, matching the headband on his messy hair.
"Yeah, there are a few drama princesses in the school—girls who excel in the drama club. Beatrice just happens to be the one from our class."
Luca smirked at the nickname.
It fit Beatrice well, given her talent and poise. But Kenneth wasn't done yet.
"What shocked me more was that you even knew our wallflower had such a great story. Honestly, half the time I forget she's even in our class."
"Same here," Gabriel chimed in, adjusting his glasses as he glanced at Harmony's now-empty chair.
He was the more studious type, with his uniform neatly buttoned, unlike the others.
"I only remember her when we do group projects. She barely speaks, but whenever she does, it's something that helps tie the project together. She always adds just the right details."
Luca nodded, knowing exactly what they meant. Harmony had that quiet, unobtrusive presence. She wasn't loud, but when she contributed, it was worth paying attention to.
Justin leaned in, his usual laid-back demeanor now filled with curiosity.
"Now that you mention it, she kind of stands out in her own way. She only speaks when it matters, and she's silent the rest of the time. That's... impressive, in its own way."
"Do you think it's really not her story?" Justin continued, raising an eyebrow.
Luca shrugged nonchalantly, "It doesn't really matter whether she wrote it or not. Beatrice said it best—we should still be grateful to her for sharing such a good piece with us. That story could win us the competition."
Kenneth chuckled, shaking his head as he pointed at the notebook in Luca's hand.
"And now you've been roped into reproducing it and turning it into a full script. I swear, Luca, you're way too nice. Aren't you being a little too generous taking on all this extra work?"
Justin crossed his arms and smirked, "Kind? Nah, let's just call it what it is—you're a busybody, Luca."
Luca laughed at their teasing, flipping through the notebook.
"It's not that hard. I've got a plan to make it work. Besides, why not make things easier for everyone? It's our last year in high school. Might as well go all out."
"You always say stuff like that without batting an eyelid," Justin said with a grin.
"You really are something else."
Their banter was casual, but it carried a deeper layer of understanding.
The school they attended was prestigious, and with that prestige came with secrecy. No one used their family background or influence to gain an advantage; the school prided itself on its neutrality.
Most students went by different names, and though their real identities were known to the administration, they remained confidential. It was an unspoken rule that everyone was equal here—no matter who you were outside the school gates.
Among Luca's friends, though, they all knew each other's backgrounds. After three years of friendship, there were no secrets between them.
"By the way," Gabriel cut in, shifting the conversation.
"Are you good for this weekend? We've got the first script reading session."
Luca scratched his head, glancing at his phone to check his calendar.
"Yeah, it's going to be a tight squeeze. I've got to travel for two hours to get to this party I needed to attend, but I'll make it work. Since this is our last year, why not make it memorable?"
His friends groaned in sympathy.
They all knew how much Luca hated those high-society gatherings he was forced to attend.
Sure, he enjoyed parties, but not the kind where everyone was obsessed with flaunting their wealth and connections. He had to endure those superficial conversations—parents boasting about their children, businesspeople flexing their influence. It was a battle of words, not a party for fun.
Kenneth shook his head in disbelief, "Man, your parties are a headache. We get the occasional gathering, but yours... that's on another level."
Luca chuckled, "Yeah, it's a pain. But my parents promised that after this one, I won't have to attend any for a while. They only insisted because it's a big event."
"You've got it rough, dude," Justin said with a grin.
"Enough about that. I'm starving. Let's grab some lunch," Luca said, changing the subject.
He pushed away from the desk and led the way out of the classroom, his friends following close behind.
…
Harmony shivered as she sat on a bench in the garden behind their school building.
She'd just finished her lunch, the crisp autumn air biting at her skin. She pulled her coat tighter around her shoulders, feeling the chill deepen.
'Winter's coming,' she thought as she felt her phone buzz in her pocket.
After glancing at the message and quickly replying, she tucked the phone away and stretched out on the bench, staring up at the sky.
The clouds drifted lazily above her, and she let out a soft sigh.
'Just a little while longer,' she thought, closing her eyes.
She always found peace out here, away from the noise of the classroom. Even if it was cold, it was better than being surrounded by people. She wasn't avoiding anyone, exactly—it was more that she found solace in the quiet.
And today, especially, after all the attention her story had drawn, she needed that quiet more than ever.