MORNING

BEAT'S POV

I was sleeping soundly, still exhausted from all the unpacking yesterday. Suddenly, my eyes snapped open, startled by a loud disturbance. I squinted at the clock-it was already 8 a.m. The noise was coming from outside. Groggily, I shuffled to the window and peeked through the curtains.

A woman was hanging wet clothes on a rope strung across the yard. A tall, thin boy was helping her, and they were chatting loudly, their voices echoing in the quiet morning.

Really? I thought to myself. Just yesterday, the landlord had specifically warned us not to make noise because the second-floor renters didn't like that kind of behavior. Now here they were, breaking their own rule. The irony wasn't lost on me.

Before I could grumble any further, Mom walked into my room. "Get up and freshen up," she said briskly. Reluctantly, I dragged myself out of bed and headed to the washroom.

At breakfast, we gathered around the dining table. Dad casually mentioned that Mom would be applying for a job at his office and that they'd both be heading out today. For a moment, I felt neglected-left behind yet again. But then Dad added something that caught my attention.

"I've already chosen a high school for you," he said. "Tomorrow, I'll take you to your new school."

That small announcement sparked a flicker of excitement. A new school meant new opportunities, new people, maybe even a fresh start.

After my parents left, I spent the next three hours gaming, trying to distract myself. But the truth was, I was bored. I missed my friends back in the village-our silly jokes, the way we'd hang out for hours. Needing a change of scenery, I decided to step outside.

In the garden, I spotted the landlord snipping flowers. She noticed me immediately and called me over. At first, we exchanged polite small talk, and for a brief moment, I thought she wasn't as bad as I'd assumed. Then she asked for my help.

Great. Just great.

I'm not exactly thrilled when it comes to household chores, but I couldn't refuse. Begrudgingly, I helped her with the flowers while she peppered me with questions about my studies. I answered without much enthusiasm, but when she asked for the name of my high school, I froze.

Dad hadn't told me the name. All I knew was that it was near his office. So, I said exactly that.

To my surprise, she immediately recognized the school. "Oh! That's the same school the boy on the second floor attends," she exclaimed.

My mind flashed back to the boy I'd seen earlier. She went on to gush about him like he was a local celebrity. "You should be friends with him," she said, smiling. "He's very talented, popular, and hardworking. Everyone loves him!"

The way she talked about him irritated me. It wasn't jealousy-well, maybe just a little-but it was the way she kept piling on adjectives. Handsome. Charming. Intelligent. Ugh, enough already!

Trying to stop her from rambling, I casually asked, "What's his name?"

"Heart," she said with a proud smile.

What a coincidence! His name was Heart. And mine? beat.

Of course, she didn't stop there. She immediately pointed out how our names sounded like a perfect match. "Oh, how cute! Heart and Beat, Heartbeat!" she teased, grinning mischievously.

I regretted asking her anything at all. She started teasing me relentlessly, her voice dripping with playful insinuations. "Are you interested in him, hmm?"

Her comment made my stomach churn. I could feel my face flush with irritation. What was wrong with her today? It was like she'd binge-watched one too many BL dramas and now she was casting me in one of her fantasies.

Barely managing to hold my composure, I muttered an excuse and escaped back to my room. I needed to get away from her teasing and from this bizarre morning altogether.

Back in my room, I flopped onto my bed and closed my eyes, willing the awkwardness to fade. Before I knew it, sleep took over, giving me a much-needed break from the chaos of the day.

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