Chapter -1 A New Arrival

The beginning of a new academic year always brought a different kind of energy to the school.

The elite girls' high school was one of the most prestigious schools in the area. Only girls studied there, and the students came from families who could afford to send their daughters away from home for a better education.

Just thirteen minutes away from the school stood a large student dormitory, almost like a condominium. Many students lived there because studying at such a prestigious school meant leaving their homes and staying close to campus.

The new Grade 10 session had finally begun.

It was a bright morning.

The school bell rang loudly through the building.

Ring! Ring!

Students rushed through the corridors, talking excitedly about the new session. Some were looking for their classrooms, while others were catching up with their friends.

But then, something strange happened.

The noise slowly faded.

A girl was walking through the corridor.

She walked with confidence, her long ponytail moving gently behind her. Her uniform was perfectly neat, and a student-council badge was attached to her chest.

There was a warm smile on her face.

Her name was May.

As she walked past the other students, several girls began whispering.

"That's May."

"She's from the student council."

"She always looks so perfect."

Although many girls talked about her, very few dared to approach her directly.

May continued walking until she noticed someone ahead.

"Siri! Wait for me!"

The girl turned around.

It was Siri, May's close friend and roommate at the dorm.

May hurried toward her.

"Why are you walking so fast?" May asked.

Siri laughed.

"We're going to be late."

May glanced at her and then remembered something.

"Did you lock our room properly?"

"Of course I did," Siri replied. "Don't worry."

The two girls continued toward their classroom.

After a moment, Siri suddenly remembered some news.

"Oh, by the way, did you hear?"

"Hear what?"

"A new student is joining our school."

May's eyes showed a little curiosity.

"A new student?"

"Yes. I heard she's special admission."

"Special admission?"

Siri nodded.

"I don't know much about her. I only heard that she's here because of photography."

May smiled slightly.

"Photography?"

Before Siri could explain more, they reached the classroom.

May entered and waited while the other students gradually made their way inside.

She had no idea that the new student they were talking about was about to become the person who would turn her school life upside down.

The First Encounter

May stood in the corridor, waiting for the remaining students to enter the classroom.

She wasn't in any particular hurry.

Then—

Someone came rushing down the corridor.

The girl was moving so quickly that she didn't notice May standing in front of her.

Thud!

She stumbled into May.

May looked down.

Her shoes were dirty.

For a moment, she simply stared at them.

Then she slowly raised her eyes toward the girl.

The girl looked surprised too.

"I'm sorry," she said.

May frowned.

"Sorry?"

The girl nodded.

"I didn't see you."

But May was already irritated.

"Look at my shoes!"

The girl looked down again.

"I know. I'm sorry."

But instead of accepting the apology, May began criticizing her.

"You should watch where you're going! What kind of person runs through the corridor without looking?"

The girl didn't seem frightened.

She simply stared at May.

"I already apologized."

May's eyebrows furrowed.

"And you think saying sorry fixes everything?"

The girl's expression changed.

She clearly wasn't going to stand there and listen to May insult her.

"Why are you making such a big deal out of it?"

That sentence was enough.

The argument became louder.

Neither girl wanted to back down.

Students began gathering around them.

Then, before anyone could stop them, the argument turned into a fight.

They grabbed each other's hair.

"Hey!"

"Look!"

"They're fighting!"

The students began cheering and shouting around them.

May's reputation was quickly going downhill.

And among the crowd, one girl seemed especially happy.

Lamp.

Lamp had always disliked May.

She couldn't stand seeing May receive attention, respect, and praise from everyone.

So watching May lose her temper in front of everyone was almost entertaining for her.

She smiled as the fight continued.

"Go on, May," Lamp muttered under her breath.

But the fight didn't last long.

A stern voice suddenly echoed through the corridor.

"STOP!"

Everyone went silent.

The vice head of the school had arrived.

Both May and the other girl immediately stopped.

The vice head looked at them with disbelief.

"What exactly are you two doing?"

Neither girl answered.

"Both of you. Come with me."

The Office

The two girls stood silently in front of the vice head.

The vice head looked directly at May.

"May, what were you thinking?"

May lowered her head.

"You are a student-council member. Is this how you are supposed to behave?"

May felt embarrassed.

"I'm sorry."

The vice head sighed.

"Why are you behaving like a child?"

May didn't answer.

"I'm giving you a warning," the vice head continued. "If you don't behave properly from now on, I will take this badge away from you."

May immediately looked at the badge attached to her uniform.

Her expression fell.

She had worked hard for that position.

She didn't want to lose it.

Then the vice head turned toward the other girl.

Her expression suddenly became different.

"Oh..."

She looked at the girl's information.

"You're the special new student."

The girl nodded.

"Yes."

The vice head smiled.

"Your name is June, right?"

"Yes."

"I heard you were specially admitted because of your photography skills."

June nodded again.

"That's right."

"We're very happy to have you here. I hope you'll do well."

May looked at June.

So this was the new student Siri had been talking about.

June.

The girl who had ruined her shoes.

The girl who had argued with her.

And the girl who had just gotten her into trouble on her very first day.

May looked away.

June did the same.

Neither of them knew that this would not be their last argument.

It was only the beginning.

Same Classroom

After leaving the office, May and June returned to their classroom.

The teacher was already standing at the front.

"Everyone, settle down."

The class became quiet.

The teacher smiled.

"Before we begin today's lesson, I'd like to introduce someone."

June stood beside her.

"This is June. She is our new student. Please make her feel welcome."

The students looked at her curiously.

Some whispered among themselves.

May sat beside Siri and watched silently.

Siri leaned toward her.

"That's her."

May gave her a look.

"I know."

The teacher continued introducing June before pointing toward the empty seats.

"You can choose a place for now."

June looked around the classroom.

Then she walked toward the back.

She sat down on the last bench.

May watched her for a moment.

She couldn't explain why, but something about June irritated her already.

Perhaps it was the argument.

Perhaps it was the way June hadn't been intimidated by her.

Or perhaps it was simply because their first meeting had gone completely wrong.

May turned toward the front of the classroom.

She had no idea that the girl sitting quietly at the last bench would soon become one of the most important people in her life.

And June?

She had no idea that the confident girl she had just fought with would become impossible to ignore.

By Midnight_Bloom

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