Chapter 13 : Volume 2

...Chapter Thirteen: A New Dawn, Familiar Shadows...

The room was still and engulfed in darkness. Only the rhythmic whir of the ceiling fan disturbed the silence, slicing through the cold, tranquil night. It was the perfect ambiance for a peaceful slumber. Selene's silhouette emerged faintly from her bed, her figure sprawled out like a lifeless body resting in a coffin.

Ring… Ring…

The sharp chime of her alarm shattered the serenity, pulling Selene abruptly from her dreams. With a groggy groan, she groped for her phone on the bedside table. Her fingers found it, and she silenced the insistent sound. Stretching lazily, her body arched slightly, but she remained horizontal, savoring the fleeting comfort of her bed.

“Hmmm...”

She hummed softly, her gaze drifting to the pillow beside her. Her drowsy eyes begged for more rest, but she shook off the temptation. She couldn’t afford to laze around. A new day awaited—a new chapter in her life as school reopened.

A familiar setting, yet the journey promised to be anything but ordinary.

___

Selene trudged toward the school gate, her steps deliberate but heavy. Her mind buzzed with mixed emotions as she passed through the threshold, taking in the familiar structure of the campus.

This school seems so noisy, chaotic, and not my type.

She mused, her expression vacant as she observed the bustling grounds.

Her outfit didn’t help her mood. Senior high school students were allowed to dress as they pleased, yet her simple choice left her feeling out of place. She wore an oversized white shirt, her hair tied back messily, a pair of skinny pants, and old-fashioned shoes. In contrast, her peers flaunted trendy, aesthetic styles that made her feel painfully self-conscious.

Damn, I look like a bamboo walking here.

She joked bitterly, smirking to herself. The wind seemed to echo her insecurities, brushing against her with a cold, knowing touch.

“Hi, girl Selene!”

The familiar voice jolted her from her thoughts. She glanced up to see Peril standing on a raised platform with her group of friends, waving at her with a bright smile. Others in the group simply glanced her way, their expressions neutral.

“Oh...”

Selene’s lips curved into an awkward smile, and her feet moved toward them without much thought.

“Hey, Selene, you got big! You’ve got a chubby face now!”

The words struck her like a bolt.

“Eh?”

She responded, her expression almost cartoonish in its comedic shock. But inside, her confidence plummeted further.

Not only is my outfit a disaster, but now my face too?

She lamented silently, her thoughts drenched in negativity.

I want to disappear already...

Her heart felt like a fragile vase, shattered into countless pieces.

“Yeah, but that’s alright. She still looks pretty!”

Peril’s cheerful voice cut through her spiraling thoughts, pulling her back to the present.

Sniff… sniff...

Selene pretended to wipe away tears, pouting like a child in a mock display of hurt.

“Your words wound me, France.”

She said dramatically.

France laughed, his playful demeanor intact.

“Don’t take it to heart. You’re still cute.”

He leaned in and gave her a friendly hug, their platonic bond evident in his lighthearted gesture.

___

“Hey, guys!”

Jerly called out from her seat, her gaze fixed on someone in the distance. Her eyes shimmered with unmistakable infatuation.

“Is that Sir Damian over there?”

“Yasss, girl!”

Kathy practically squealed, her entire body animated with excitement. She nudged Jerly enthusiastically.

“Just look at him! He’s so handsome! Ack, I can’t handle it—I’m melting!”

Kathy’s rare burst of girlish excitement drew attention, but she didn’t care. Her eyes remained glued to Damian, her uncontrollable smile betraying her emotions.

“Hmmm?”

Selene hummed in mild curiosity, glancing at Kathy and Jerly, who behaved like typical high school girls in love. She turned around to see what—or who—had captivated them so thoroughly.

And then, she saw him.

“Oh...”

Her voice was barely a whisper, devoid of emotion, as her eyes locked onto Damian.

It’s Damian… once and for all.

She scrutinized him from afar, her gaze unwavering.

Why would the students go crazy over a man like him?

She wondered, her mind analyzing every detail of his walk, his smile, and his posture.

“Girl, do you like him too?”

A tap on her shoulder startled Selene. She turned to face Peril, whose playful smirk hinted at her curiosity.

“No. I’m not interested in him.”

Selene replied firmly, her voice calm but resolute. Her steady gaze left no room for doubt, and Peril, sensing her seriousness, dropped the subject.

But as Selene glanced back at Damian one last time, her heart betrayed her with a faint, unfamiliar flutter.