Was it love at first sight?

As my friend Semi introduced herself, I could feel a distinct, piercing gaze fixed on me. I glanced around the classroom, my heart skipping a beat. There he was, staring at me with an intensity that made me uncomfortable, as if he could see right through me. When Semi finally finished, it was my turn to step forward. I always aimed to look confident, but inside, I was a whirlwind of nerves. As I walked to the center of the room, every pair of eyes felt like they were boring into me. I took a deep breath, lifted my chin, and launched into my introduction.

With a tense look on her face, Missy attempted to smile despite her nerves as she introduced herself. "Pleasure to meet you, I am Missy M.g.r. I have a friend who is from the same high school as me, Semi, and doesn't need more. Thanks for having me." An uneasy silence blanketed the classroom. Each student seemed to marvel at her elegance and beauty, yet there was an undeniable edge, similar to a rose with its sharp thorns.

As I stepped down from the center, my mind raced. "Oh my gosh, did I mess up? Was I too cold toward my classmates on the first day? Why is it so silent? Did I come off as arrogant? Just like that, my peaceful school life seems shattered."

Semi, beaming with pride, turned to her friend and applauded enthusiastically, giving me a thumbs up. Slowly, the rest of the class followed suit, breaking the spell of silence. The teacher raised his hand, gesturing toward an empty desk in the back corner. "You can sit there."

I felt a rush of gratitude toward the teacher as we walked gracefully to our seats, the weight of a hundred gazes pressing down on me, especially the one boy whose stare felt like a branding iron. I finally sat down, and just like that, my first day of school had begun.

After what felt like an eternity, the first period ended, and the bell signaled the interval. A boy sitting in front of us turned around, his curiosity evident in his bright eyes. "Hey, did you say you were from E.L.V.T high school? Is that an all-girls high school?" he inquired, his voice bright yet overly eager. Why was he so interested in us?

"Oh! By the way, I'm Diden. Nice meeting you! I hope we’re friends in the future," he said, extending a hand with a cheerful grin. Semi, sitting beside me, shook his hand warmly. "Hi, Diden. I’m Semi, and this is Missy," she said, gesturing toward me. "Yes, we are from an all-girls high school. She’s a bit introverted, so you might want to talk to me," she added, her smile reassuring.

With a bright smile, Diden asked, "So, is this your first time in a co-ed school?"

"Yes, it is," Semi replied, her tone light.

"Why does your friend look so cold? Does she not like me?" Diden whispered, concern creeping into his voice. Semi shrugged, "I don’t think that’s it. She’s just like that with everyone, even back at her old school."

Hearing them speak about me made my heart sink, and I frowned, feeling misunderstood and awkward. Just then, the boy who had been staring at me earlier stood up and commanded, "No talking; the teacher is coming. Silence!" His words sliced through the chatter like a knife, and the classroom instantly fell silent, leaving me feeling even more out of place.

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