Chapter 2: The Transfer Student

I thought Jake would be the biggest distraction in my college life.

I was wrong.

Because on an ordinary morning...

A girl walked into our classroom.

She changed my story forever.

......

The room was unusually noisy that morning. Everyone was talking, laughing, and gossiping about who knows what,

I rested my chin on my hand while strolling through my phone, barely paying attention, Jake, on the other hand, wouldn't stop talking beside me.

"So... are you free after class?" he asked with his usual teasing smile.

I looked at him for a moment.

How could the campus heartthrob possibly be interested in me?

It didn't make sense.

I'd heard countless rumors about Jake. People said he was a player—a guy who knew exactly how to win a girl's heart, only to leave once he got bored. Every smile, every compliment, every sweet gesture... according to the rumors, they were all part of his game.

Maybe...

I was just his next target.

His next victim.

I quickly shook my head, pushing the thought away.

No.

I wasn't going to fall for someone like him.

Not now.

Not ever.

"Hay answer my question are you free after class"

"No."

"Tomorrow?"

"No."

"This weekend?"

I sighed.

"Jake... don't you ever get tired?"

He laughed.

"Not when it comes to you."

Before I could answer, our professor walked into the classroom.

"Good morning, class."

"Good morning, sir," everyone replied.

"I have someone I'd like you all to meet."

The classroom instantly fell silent everyone's excited.

The classroom door slowly opened.

For a moment, everything seemed to slow down.

A young woman stepped inside, unlike everyone else who tried so hard to stand out, she carried herself with quiet confidence.

Calm.

Gentle.

Kind.

Her long chestnut-brown hair rested softly over her shoulders, and her warm hazel eyes wandered around the classroom with genuine curiosity. She wasn't wearing anything flashy, nor did she seem interested in attracting attention.

Instead, she simply smiled.

A small, sincere smile, it wasn't the kind of smile people wore to impress others. It was the kind that made you feel at ease.

Somehow...

It felt real.

"Everyone," our professor said, "please welcome our new transfer student."

The classroom immediately filled with whispers.

"She's pretty."

"I've never seen her before."

"I wonder where she transferred from."

" I like her" Boys whisper.

Unlike the others, I stayed quiet.

I simply watched her.

There was something about her that I couldn't explain.

She looked...

Comforting.

Familiar.

Safe.

"Good morning, everyone," she said with a warm smile. "I'm Sunny Quire. It's nice to meet all of you. I can't wait to get to know everyone and become friends with you."

She gave the class a small bow before taking a deep breath, her smile never fading.

Our professor glanced around the room before pointing toward the empty chair beside mine.

"Sunny, you may sit next to Chelsa."

Sunny nodded politely.

"Yes, ma'am."

She walked toward my desk with calm, steady steps. When she reached my seat, she looked at me and offered another warm smile.

Our eyes met for the first time.

For a brief moment...

Everything around me seemed to disappear.

She smiled.

"Is this seat taken?"

I blinked.

"N-No... you can sit here."

"Thank you."

She placed her bag on the chair and sat beside me, and i smelled her perfume same as my favorite scent.

Then she looked at me with a warm smile.

"I'm Sunny."

I smiled back without realizing it.

"Chelsea."

Before we could say anything else, Jake tapped my shoulder.

"Hey, I'm still here. Can I have your attention, please?" he said dramatically.

I rolled my eyes.

"You're so noisy."

Sunny let out a small laugh.

Then she leaned closer and whispered,

"Is that your boyfriend?"

I almost choked.

"What? No way!" I whispered back. "I don't even know why he's so attached to me."

Sunny giggled.

"You two actually look good together."

I looked at her and shook my head.

"Trust me... there's nothing going on."

She smiled.

"I'll believe you... for now."

I couldn't help but laugh.

It was strange.

We had only met a few minutes ago, yet talking to Sunny felt surprisingly easy. There was no awkwardness, and our conversation flowed naturally, as if we'd known each other for a long time.

I stole a quick glance at her.

We just met... so why does it feel like I've known her for years?

Maybe I should ask her to be my friend.

I immediately shook my head.

Ugh, Chelsa. Stop thinking nonsense.

You just met her.

Or maybe...

We just clicked.

The class continued as our professor discussed the lesson.

Out of nowhere, I felt something heavy on my shoulder.

I turned my head.

Jake was asleep.

Some of Jake's friends kept glancing in our direction before one of them smirked.

"Look at Jake," one of them teased, loud enough for us to hear.

The rest immediately burst into laughter.

I frowned slightly, pretending not to notice.

Out of the corner of my eye, I caught several girls staring at us. Some were whispering to one another, while others shot me jealous looks as if I had done something wrong.

Seriously?

What was their problem?

I don't even like him.

Not even a little.

No way.

Without hesitation, I pushed his head away.

"Ow!" Jake complained, rubbing his forehead.

The whole row burst into laughter.

Sunny laughed the hardest.

" you two look good together" she said.

I couldn't stop myself from laughing too.

At that moment, I thought she was just another classmate.

Just another transfer student who happened to sit beside me.

Neither of us knew...

That this simple meeting would slowly change our lives.

That the conversations we were about to share, the laughter we didn't know we needed, and the memories we had yet to create would become more meaningful than either of us could have imagined.

It all began with a simple "hello."

And neither of us was ready for the story that was about to unfold.

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