The cold start

April’s pencil rolled off her desk for the third time that morning.

She ducked down quickly to retrieve it, cheeks red. A few snickers came from the back of the class. Mr. Rahim didn’t even pause in his lecture—he never noticed her, not really. No one did.

Except maybe… someone did. That note. It still burned in her pocket.

April stared at the chalkboard, pretending to focus. Her thoughts danced behind her eyes like jittery moths.

“Meet me behind the science block.”

She had checked the handwriting ten times. It wasn’t from any of her brothers. It wasn’t from her teachers. And Daze… well, he barely even glanced at her in class. He sat two rows over, near the window, drawing little shapes in his notebook while the girl beside him giggled at his every word.

She tried not to look at him—but failed. His head was tilted slightly, his lips curled into that lopsided smirk. His hair was a little too perfect. His shoes were actually clean—how did he do that?

Then he turned his head. Just a little.

April whipped around so fast her neck cracked.

He hadn’t been looking at her, had he?

No. Of course not.

By lunchtime, she was spiraling.

What if it was a prank? What if Daze’s gang found out she liked him and decided to mess with her? April imagined them all behind the science block after school, pointing and laughing, Daze leading them with that charming grin.

But… what if it wasn’t?

What if he had noticed her—just once? Maybe he remembered the promise too. Maybe he missed their garden days. Maybe—

“April!”

She blinked up. It was Daze’s mother, standing near the school gates with a lunch bag.

“Your mom asked me to drop this off! She said you forgot it. Silly girl,” she said fondly, patting her head like a toddler. “You need to eat properly or you’ll blow away!”

A few students turned. Some snickered.

April wanted to evaporate.

Daze’s mom waved goodbye and walked toward her car, calling out, “Tell your mother I’ll see her tonight!”

From the other side of the courtyard, Daze stared. Their eyes met for half a second.

April’s heart jumped.

He looked… blank. Then he turned back to his friends.

Lunchtime passed with April picking at her sandwich in silence. She watched the clock tick closer to the end of the day.

Science block. After school.

She didn’t know what was waiting there—but she had to go.

Because deep down, under all the clumsiness, April still believed in childhood promises.

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