Velle Collins was the definition of silence. Inside their classroom, she was the quietest student of all, yet ironically, she was also one of the top students. While everyone else was noisy and energetic, Velle preferred to stay in her corner, observing everything around her like a spectator watching a movie unfold.

She wasn’t completely alone, though. She had friends, but only three people truly mattered to her: Jessica, Thea, and Fiona. These were the souls who understood her complicated personality.

Jessica was the group’s energy and joy. She was the class joker who never ran out of funny stories and silly antics, always making sure everyone around her was laughing and happy. Thea, on the other hand, was the embodiment of kindness. She was gentle, understanding, and always ready to lend a shoulder to cry on or give wise advice whenever someone needed it. Then there was Fiona—undeniably the most beautiful among them, the girl who easily caught everyone’s attention, but remained humble and loyal to her true friends.

And then there was Velle. To others, she was a mystery. One moment she would join their conversations and smile brightly, and the next moment she would suddenly drift away, lost in her own thoughts and world. She rarely shared what was going on inside her heart, making people wonder what secrets she was hiding.

In the year 2017, their high school journey officially began. It was a fresh start, filled with new faces and new lessons. But for Velle, this year marked the beginning of a feeling that would stay rooted in her heart for years to come.

Because it was this year that she met him—Medalle Hunts.

Medalle was the perfect guy everyone dreamed of. He was tall, handsome, and carried himself with such grace and humility. Just like Velle, he was also one of the top students and someone who preferred silence over noise. He didn’t talk much to people he wasn’t close to, but despite being reserved, he was well-known and admired by almost the entire student body. Girls would line up just to greet him or ask for his notes, but he always remained polite and respectful.

However, there was one thing that broke Velle’s heart from the very start: they were not classmates.

Medalle was assigned to Section A, while Velle was in Section B. The school building was huge, and their schedules rarely matched, so seeing each other was like finding a needle in a haystack. But Velle found a way.

Every break time, without fail, she would go to the canteen. She would stand near the entrance or by the corridor, pretending to wait for her friends or buy snacks. But her real reason was clear—she was waiting for Medalle.

And whenever he walked past her, something magical happened. The noise, the crowd, the lights—everything around her would blur and disappear. In her vision, only Medalle existed. His smile, the way he walked, the way he talked to his friends—every little detail became the reason for her happiness.

But reality always pulled her back. She knew she wasn’t like those girls who chased after him—beautiful, confident, and seemingly perfect. Compared to them, she felt ordinary and invisible. That was why she never found the courage to confess. She was too afraid that she didn’t stand a chance.

So she chose to love him silently, watching from afar, keeping her feelings locked deep inside her heart.

To be continue...

Two years passed by in the blink of an eye, and now the year was 2019. It was the start of another school year, and this time, everything was bound to change.

Velle woke up late on the very first day of classes. She hurriedly fixed herself, put on her uniform, and ran as fast as she could towards the school. Her heart was beating fast—not just because she was running, but also because of nervousness and excitement. This year, the students were reshuffled into new sections, and she couldn’t help but wonder if fate would finally be kind to her.

When she arrived at the classroom, she was already out of breath. She pushed the door open, ready to apologize for being late, but the words died in her throat the moment her eyes landed on someone inside.

There he was.

Medalle Hunts was sitting near the window, arranging his books and notebooks. He looked up when he heard the door open, and for a brief second, their eyes met. Velle immediately looked away, her face turning bright red as she quickly walked towards the back seats.

“Guess what, Velle! We’re all classmates again! And look who’s here too!” Jessica whispered excitedly, pointing discreetly towards Medalle.

Velle just smiled, but inside, her heart was doing somersaults. After two long years of only seeing him from afar, they were finally under the same roof, sharing the same classroom, the same teachers, and the same time every single day.

From that day onwards, Medalle became the center of her world. Every morning, the first thing she did upon entering the room was scan every corner just to find him. During class discussions, even when the teacher was talking, her gaze would unconsciously drift towards his direction. She memorized every little habit of his—how he scratches his head when solving difficult problems, how his eyes light up when he gets the correct answer, and how he listens intently whenever someone speaks.

“You know, you’re really obvious,” Thea said one afternoon while they were walking home. “Every time Medalle is around, you become even quieter, and your eyes don’t leave him.”

Velle bit her lip and looked down at her shoes. “Is it really that noticeable?”

“Only to us, because we know you,” Fiona replied gently. “But Velle… do you really plan to keep this feeling inside forever?”

Velle sighed deeply, her heart feeling heavy yet full. “What else can I do? Look at him. He shines so bright, like a star in the sky. Everyone wants to reach him, everyone admires him. And me? I’m just a girl standing on the ground, watching from below. I’m scared that if I tell him everything, things will get awkward, and I won’t even be able to look at him anymore. It’s better this way. Loving him in silence is enough for me.”

But as days turned into weeks, Velle realized one thing that she would never forget. Loving someone really does make you crazy. You stop caring about what other people say or think. You don’t care if it makes sense or not. Because when you are in love, sometimes you can’t do anything right. Your heart takes over your mind, and all you know is that you love that person, no matter what.

She didn’t care if she looked foolish or if people thought she was strange. As long as she could see him every day, as long as he was happy, she was completely content. This was her love story—simple, quiet, and purely hers.

To be continue...

Being classmates gave Velle the best gift she could ever ask for—time. Now, she didn’t have to wait by the canteen or hope for a chance encounter. Every day, for eight hours or more, Medalle was within her sight, within her reach. And every small moment they shared became a precious treasure that she kept locked in her heart.

There were days when they were grouped together for projects or activities. Whenever this happened, Velle would feel her hands tremble slightly and her heart beat louder than usual. But Medalle was always the same—kind, calm, and polite.

“Pass me the marker please, Velle,” he would say with his gentle smile, or “Good job on this part, it’s really well-written.”

Hearing her name come out of his mouth was like listening to her favorite song. Those simple words would make her entire day brighter, and she would replay them in her mind until she fell asleep at night.

Jessica, being the supportive friend that she was, always tried to create opportunities for them.

“Medalle! We’re heading to the library later to finish our research, you want to join? Velle is coming too!” Jessica would say, winking secretly at Velle behind his back.

Medalle would usually nod and agree. “Sure, I need to borrow some reference books anyway.”

Those library hours were Velle’s favorite time. Sitting across from him, surrounded by books and quietness, stealing glances whenever he was busy reading or writing. It felt like the whole world stopped moving, and it was just the two of them existing in that moment.

Even during recess or lunch breaks, their group would eat together. Velle would sit opposite him, trying her best to act normal even though her heart was racing. She would listen carefully to every story he shared—about his love for basketball, how close he was to his younger sister, and his dream of becoming a civil engineer someday. Every detail she learned was stored carefully in her memory.

But of course, it wasn’t always easy. There were painful moments too. Like when other girls from different sections would come to their classroom just to give him letters, chocolates, or gifts. Or when someone would openly confess their feelings in front of everyone.

“Medalle, I like you! Please give me a chance!” one brave girl said once, standing right at their doorway.

Medalle rejected her politely and respectfully, but seeing someone else have the courage to say what she couldn’t made Velle feel a little sad and envious.

“Why can’t I be like her?” she asked herself quietly.

But then she realized, love doesn’t have to be loud or grand. Her love was different—it was quiet, patient, and sincere. Even if she couldn’t say it out loud, the feelings she carried were just as real and deep.

“You know what?” Medalle said to her one afternoon while they were cleaning the classroom. “You’re really interesting, Velle. Sometimes you talk and laugh, then suddenly you’re in your own world again. But I like it. You’re different from everyone else.”

Those words were enough to make all her worries disappear. As long as he saw her, as long as she had these little moments, she was happy. Loving him was enough, no matter how it was done.

To be continue...