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I stormed across the campus walkway, my fists clenched and jaw tight. I couldn’t believe the audacity of that guy. Just thinking about it made my blood boil all over again.

“That pervert… how could he pull something so stupid?!” My voice was trapped inside my head, but my cheeks still burned like someone had stuck me under a heat lamp.

He had the nerve—the actual nerve—to grab me in front of everyone, and then announce it like it was breaking news. Girlfriend? What kind of twisted daytime drama nonsense was that?

I kicked a small rock along the pavement, watching it skitter before smacking into a bench with a metallic clink. The rock didn’t feel pain, but I was still irrationally satisfied that it had suffered on my behalf.

“That stupid guy! How dare he use me like that!” I muttered, my voice slipping out louder than I intended.

A few passing students gave me curious side glances. Great. Now I looked like the crazy new girl yelling at invisible ghosts. Perfect.

I wrapped my arms tighter around myself, burying my face into the hood of my sweatshirt as if that could erase the memory. I still felt everyone’s eyes from earlier, their whispers weaving together into a soundtrack of my humiliation.

“Gosh… this is the worst day ever,” I groaned aloud, dragging my feet. “I was just trying to find the dean’s office. How the hell did I end up in that situation?”

Stopping under the shade of a big tree near the main building, I tried the whole “deep breathing” thing I saw in a YouTube video once. Inhale slowly through the nose… hold for three… exhale through the mouth.

“Okay… calm down. It’s not a big deal,” I whispered to myself. “Just forget about that idiot. He’s not worth it.”

I repeated it over and over like a weird meditation chant, trying to trick my own brain into peace.

The universe, however, decided to interrupt my zen.

Thud!

“Oof!” I stumbled backward as someone crashed into me from the side. Papers exploded into the air like confetti at a parade.

“Ah! I’m so sorry!” the girl blurted, immediately crouching to scoop up the papers.

Blinking in surprise, I quickly dropped down to help. “No, it’s okay! Really.”

We both reached for the same sheet at the same time, and our fingers brushed. Cue awkward laugh number one.

“Thanks,” she said with a sheepish grin, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “I swear, I’m such a klutz sometimes.”

For some reason, her easy smile chipped away at the grumpy wall I’d built around myself. “It’s fine. Happens sometimes.”

We gathered the last of the papers and stood up together.

“Thanks again,” she said, this time studying me more closely. “Wait… I don’t think I’ve seen you before. Are you the new transfer student?”

“Yeah,” I admitted. “And… honestly, I’m pretty lost.”

Her eyes lit up like she’d just found a stray puppy.

“Oh! Well, welcome to our school! I’m Katelyn—most people just call me Kate. I’m the student council vice president.”

I blinked. “Wait… vice president?”

She grinned like she’d caught me off guard on purpose. “Don’t look so surprised. I’m not that scary… most of the time.”

Something about the playful tone made me relax a little. I laughed softly. “Sorry. It’s just… it’s been a rough first day. Full of… surprises.”

“Well, hopefully this one’s a good surprise,” she said warmly.

“It actually is,” I admitted. “Hey, could you maybe help me find the dean’s office? That’s where I was heading before… uh… yeah.”

Kate didn’t even hesitate. “Sure! Follow me.”

We started walking, her steps confident and mine… slightly awkward. “Thanks, by the way,” I said after a moment. “You’re really nice.”

“Hey, everyone’s first day is chaotic,” she shrugged. “Mine was a disaster too. But look at me now—running council meetings and bumping into strangers. Skills, you know?”

I laughed, and for the first time that day, it felt genuine.

The campus was busier than I expected, with clusters of students hanging out under trees, lounging on the grass, or rushing between buildings. Kate greeted almost everyone we passed, tossing out casual “hey”s and “how’s it going”s like she was the unofficial mayor of the place.

After a few minutes, we stopped in front of a tall oak door with a shiny plaque: Dean’s Office.

“And here we are,” she said with a little flourish.

I let out a long breath. “Oh, thank goodness. You’re a lifesaver.”

. “Btw if you need anything just go to the students council office I'm always there

.”

I nodded at her" thank you.”

“You’ll be fine, Wenalin,” she said with an encouraging smile. “It only gets easier from here.”

With a friendly wave, she headed back down the hall, leaving me

“She’s surprisingly nice,” I murmured, feeling the smallest spark of optimism for the first time all day.

Turning back to the dean’s office door, I straightened my shoulders. Time to see what awaited me inside.

I stood in front of the heavy wooden door with a tiny gold plate that read Dean’s Office, clutching my sling bag tightly.

I took a deep breath and knocked gently.

Knock. Knock.

No answer.

I knocked again, this time a little louder. “Excuse me, Dean?”

A sharp, irritated voice came from inside. “Come in, already! I’m not deaf.”

My eyebrows twitched, as I pushed the door open. The office smelled faintly of strong coffee and old books. A woman sat behind a large desk, tapping her pen impatiently. She wore a maroon blazer that matched her lipstick, but her expression was the complete opposite of warm.

“Yes?” she said, without looking up from the papers in front of her.

I stepped closer, standing awkwardly near the chair opposite her desk. “I’m sorry to bother you, ma’am. I’m Wenalin, the new transfer student. I—”

Before I could finish, she rolled her eyes dramatically, leaning back in her chair. “Transfer students,” she muttered under her breath as if the word itself was exhausting. “What now?”

I blinked. “Uh… I don’t know where my class is, and I haven’t received my belongings yet.”

She sighed loudly—the kind of sigh meant to tell you you’re wasting someone’s precious time. “Do you think I’m your personal guide? This is a school, not a tourist attraction.”

I bit the inside of my cheek. Wow. Customer service? Zero stars.

“I understand, ma’am,” I said, keeping my voice even. “I was told to come here for assistance.”

The dean finally looked up at me, her gaze sweeping from my hair to my shoes like she was judging my entire existence. “You’re in Section 2-F,” she said curtly, scribbling something on a small yellow slip. She shoved it across the desk. “Give this to your adviser. As for your things, that’s the janitor’s problem, not mine.”

I hesitated before taking the slip. “Thank you, ma’am.”

She waved her hand dismissively, already looking back at her paperwork. “Close the door on your way out. And try not to get lost again. We don’t have time to babysit.”

My jaw tightened, but I forced a polite smile anyway. “Of course.”

As I walked out, I muttered under my breath, “Great start to my first day. Truly welcoming.”

The hallway suddenly felt colder, but I shook my head. Fine. If that’s how it is, I’ll just find my way on my own.

Author’s POV

Chelsea was humming while spinning in her chair, Yuno was crouched in the corner like a socially-exhausted statue, and Mairo sat behind the president’s desk flipping through documents with a seriousness that made it look like he was solving a murder case instead of approving club budgets.

The door creaked open.

Kate stepped inside, carrying a thick pile of papers that looked heavy enough to double as a medieval weapon.

Mairo immediately looked up, his eyes narrowing. “Finally, you’re here.”

Kate, who had barely taken two steps into the room, froze mid-breath. “Excuse me?”

“You were supposed to bring those thirty minutes ago,” Mairo said flatly, leaning back in his chair with that annoyingly calm, leader-like tone he always used when he was about to start an argument.

Kate raised an eyebrow, setting the paperwork on the nearest table with a loud thud. “Oh, I’m sorry, Mr. President—do you want me to teleport next time? Or should I borrow your ego since it’s already big enough to cover the whole hallway?”

Chelsea immediately gasped and spun her chair toward them, hands covering her mouth like a spectator at a wrestling match. “Ooooh, she went there.”

The air thickened instantly.

Mairo’s smirk twitched. “At least my ego gets things done on time.”

Kate crossed her arms. “Oh, you mean like how you ‘got things done’ last week when you accidentally approved the wrong budget and funded the Drama Club’s cat adoption project instead of the Science Fair?”

“That was an… experimental investment,” Mairo countered, pointing his pen at her like a sword.

“Experimental?!” Kate snapped, leaning forward across the table. “Half the school was chasing stray cats for three days!”

Chelsea clapped like she was watching the season finale of her favorite drama. “That was actually kind of fun though.”

Meanwhile, Yuno—still in his corner—was staring at the floor with an expression that could only be described as “existential dread.” He hadn’t moved since Kate entered.

Yuno’s thoughts:

Why am I even here? I could have just gone home… I could be gaming right now… I could be anywhere but here… Why did I agree to join the student council… Oh right, I didn’t agree. They just dragged me in.I don't want to think about what happened earlier

Kate finally noticed him. “What’s wrong with him?”

Chelsea leaned over and whispered loudly, “He’s been like that since earlier. I think he’s still recovering from what he did this morning.”

Kate crossed her arms. “And that would be…?”

Chelsea didn’t hesitate.

Chelsea: “He dragged a girl he didn’t even know and loudly announced in front of Ivory that she’s his girlfriend.”

Kate blinked twice. “…What.”

Chelsea nodded, dead serious now.

Chelsea: “ Yeah, apparently he thought this would… what? Make her jealous? Prove something? Anyway—”

Yuno groaned from the corner. “Can we NOT narrate my humiliation out loud, please?”

Chelsea only smiled wider. “Oh, I’m just providing context. For educational purposes.”

Yuno’s ears twitched at the word “educational,” but before he could protest, Kate smirked.

Kate: “Wow, Yuno. That’s… impressively stupid, even for you.”

Yuno shot her a glare from under his messy hair. “I said shut up.”

Kate leaned closer, tilting her head like she was examining a rare, tragic creature. “So… what’s her name, this mysterious girlfriend you just magically conjured out of thin air?”

Chelsea answered without missing a beat.

Chelsea: “I don’t know. She’s a transfer student. Never seen her before today.”

Kate’s brow rose. “Oh, really? That’s interesting. Because, funny enough…” She straightened up, letting the dramatic pause hang just a little too long, “…I bumped into a transfer student earlier too. Even guided her to the dean’s office.”

Chelsea’s eyes sparkled. “Ooooh, plot twist!”

Yuno froze mid-slouch. “…Wait.”

Kate grinned like a cat about to ruin someone’s life. “Wouldn’t it be hilarious if your ‘girlfriend’ and my transfer student were the same person?”

Yuno muttered something under his breath that sounded suspiciously like, “Kill me now.”

Yuno finally raised his head, glaring weakly. “Shut. Up.”

Chelsea, clearly unable to resist, started giggling. “It was sooo romantically though! Except for the part where he get slap from the girl.”

Kate slapped her forehead. “Of course.”

Mairo sighed, clearly done with the bickering but too proud to admit it. “Alright, enough distractions. We still have to sort through these papers and—”

“Oh, we’re not done,” Kate cut in, moving closer to his desk. “Because I know you left your section of the paperwork for me to finish again.”

“That’s called delegation,” Mairo said, without a shred of guilt.

“That’s called laziness,” Kate shot back.

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