Who is he?

Silence enveloped the classroom, tense and heavy as though the air thickened with unsaid words and unyielding glances. Giselle slumped back in her seat, her frustration swirling into a whirlpool of thoughts. “Who does he think he is, acting like he owns the place?” she hissed to Ethan under her breath, her eyes darting toward the front where Damien sat obliviously. The surprise painted on Ethan's face seemed to echo Giselle's incredulity. Ethan merely shrugged, his tone laced with resignation. “ His name is Damien Stone. He doesn’t own it. His father does. He and his father have the biggest stake in the school—though it’s just one of many shares his father owns.”

Giselle’s expression went blank, the revelation morphing her earlier irritation. The layers of privilege and entitlement peeled away to reveal something she hadn’t anticipated.

Giselle and I exchanged glances, and disappointment seeped into our thoughts as the reality settled in. “So, he’s just another rich kid,” they thought almost in unison, the spark of curiosity and interest they had felt moments before extinguished. The muted chatter of other students drifted around them, but their focus remained solely on Damien, whose nonchalance now felt suffocating.

***A few minutes earlier, when Maya and Giselle walked into the classroom…***

Damien leaned back in his seat, a tide of boredom washing over him like an unwanted wave. Just as restlessness threatened to consume him entirely, he spotted Maya entering. His heart began to race, excitement bubbling fiercely within him. She held a captivating presence—there was something magnetic about her. I am drawn to how her eyes sparkled and a mole under her left eye when she interacted with her friend, but I also sensed a flicker of nerves dancing behind that bright facade. The thought of holding her attention, of her gaze settling exclusively on me, sent a rush of adrenaline coursing through my veins. I imagined what it would be like to hear her whisper my name, the warmth of her long hair brushing against my fingers as they talked.

She walked gracefully, but her body language betrayed her anxiety. As she passed me, I inhaled deeply, taking in the faint trace of her unique scent—a blend of fresh notes and something sweet that seemed to ignite a fire within me. “Just being near her makes my heart race. What’s next, my dear? I can’t wait,” a thought came to me as a shiver of anticipation coursing down my spine.

**In that fleeting moment Maya felt an unexpected chill wash over her, too, as if some unseen link tied them in that crowded space**

“No, I can’t let her think I’m a creep. Stay cool,” as I reminded myself, fighting against the pull of my growing infatuation. I didn’t want to overwhelm her or make her feel uncomfortable. During a break, I noticed the guy sitting right in front of Maya firing off question after question, the urgency in his voice making her visibly uneasy. Without a second thought, some kind of instincts surged within me, and as I stood up, I commanded the class to settle down in a cold tone.

***Present time***

The bell rang with the freedom sound as lunch approached. Yet for me, the very thought of going to the cafeteria felt daunting, a complex maze filled with unfamiliar faces swirling around like a tempest. l clutched my lunch tightly, a mix of excitement and anxiety pooling in my stomach. The noise of students chatting and laughing outside reminded me of the daunting challenge ahead.

Ethan approached with a friendly and eager smile. “I can show you the way,” he offered. “No, we don’t need your help,” I firmly rejected his kindness, feeling defeated, heart racing with uncertainty. It was a battle between my desire for independence and the weight of insecurity pressing heavily on my chest. While I wanted to prove I could handle this, the very thought of stepping into the cafeteria unleashed a wave of hesitance.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***