The morning sunlight peeked through the curtains, pulling me out of sleep. I sat on my bed for a moment, rubbing my eyes, the remnants of last night’s message lingering in my mind.
Hi.
Just one word, simple and confusing. I couldn’t help but replay it over and over.
I stretched and got out of bed, my bare feet touching the cold floor. Quickly grabbing my uniform, I got ready, tying my hair into a loose ponytail. As I was slipping on my shoes, I heard the familiar voices of my parents in the background.
“Honey, don’t waste time. Focus on your studies!” my dad called out.
“And don’t get too caught up with your friends,” my mom added.
I grabbed my bag and slung it over my shoulder, muttering a quick “Bye” before stepping out of the house.
---
As I walked to school, I thought about my response to the message.
Yes? Who is this?
The reply came faster than I expected:
I’m Cora. We didn’t get a chance to talk yesterday, but I think you dropped something when you bumped into Davin. Meet me at lunch?
The name Cora didn’t sound familiar, and Davin? I had no idea who he was. The more I thought about it, the more puzzled I became.
---
The school day dragged on. I couldn’t focus on anything; my mind kept circling back to the message. By the time lunch rolled around, my curiosity had won.
I told Sara and Somi I’d be back soon and made my way to the far end of the cafeteria, where Cora had mentioned meeting.
A girl was standing there, tall and confident, her dark hair framing a warm, approachable face.
“You must be Ayla,” she said as I approached.
I nodded, clutching my bag nervously. “And you’re Cora?”
She smiled and pulled a small notebook from her bag. “This is yours. You dropped it yesterday when you bumped into Davin.”
My eyes widened as I recognized it. “Oh my God, thank you! I didn’t even realize it was missing.”
“No problem,” she said casually. “Davin noticed it first, but he’s not great with follow-ups, so I thought I’d help.”
“Wait,” I said, frowning. “How do you even know my name? And my number?”
Cora chuckled. “Your name is on the first page, and your number is written on the back.”
“Oh,” I said, feeling a mix of embarrassment and relief. “And who’s Davin?”
She raised an eyebrow, as if surprised I didn’t remember. “The guy you bumped into in the corridor yesterday. Tall, dark hair, kind of brooding?”
I vaguely remembered the incident but shook my head. “I didn’t really notice. I was rushing to class.”
“That makes sense,” she said with a smile. “Davin’s my friend. He’s in his final year.”
I glanced at the notebook in her hand. “Thanks again. This means a lot to me.”
“No problem,” she replied. Then, as if remembering something, she asked, “Have you thought about joining any societies?”
“I’m considering Finesa and Apex,” I said, brightening at the thought.
“Good choices,” she said. “But what about the drama society?”
“Drama?” I repeated, caught off guard.
“Yeah, it’s fun and a great way to meet people.”
I shook my head. “No way. I’ve never acted in my life. I’d be terrible at it.”
“That’s fair,” she said lightly. “But societies are about trying new things, you know.”
“I don’t think drama is for me,” I replied firmly.
She nodded, her smile easy. “Fair enough. Well, I’ll see you around.”
---
The rest of the day passed uneventfully. After school, I found myself at the volleyball court again. I didn’t have the energy to play, so I sat on the bleachers, watching the players.
The thud of the ball hitting the court brought back memories of when volleyball was my escape. A pang of longing hit me, but I quickly brushed it aside.
---
Dinner that evening was surprisingly pleasant.
“I’m thinking of applying for Finesa and Apex,” I said cautiously, expecting my parents to dismiss the idea.
“That’s great,” my dad said, nodding approvingly.
“Just make sure you balance everything,” my mom added.
Their unexpected support filled me with determination.
---
Later that night, I changed into my pajamas, tied my hair back, and crawled into bed. The soft glow of my bedside lamp illuminated the room as I reached for my phone.
As my eyes grew heavy, my phone buzzed, startling me. I picked it up to see a message:
Recruitment for societies begins tomorrow. Don’t forget to fill out the forms if you’re interested!
I placed my phone on the side table and stared at the ceiling. Tomorrow was the start of something new—a chance to finally prove myself.
Pulling the blanket up to my chin, I closed my eyes, my heart filled with cautious excitement.
---
***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***
Download
Like this story? Download the app to keep your reading history.
Comments