Chapter 1

January 1, 2025

My life was ordinary, peaceful, and predictable. That was until I enrolled in the prestigious Academy for Heirs. As the sole heir to the powerful Rodriguez family, I, Zyra Elinor Rodriguez, had been groomed to inherit the throne.

At 18, I had already learned the intricacies of ruling, diplomacy, and strategy. But there was one thing I knew nothing about: love. My family had forbidden it, vowing to never show weakness after my grandmother's passing and my mother's tragic accident.

As I walked through the academy's hallway on that fateful Monday morning, I stumbled upon a boy who would change everything. Literally.

I fell, and he rushed to help me up, apologizing profusely. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bump into you," he said, his voice sincere.

"Ok, just help me get up at least," I replied.

He helped me up, and I brushed myself off. "I'm so sorry, I really didn't mean that," he said again.

I rolled my eyes. "I know, so stop apologizing!! Gosh!!"

He chuckled. "Haha, okay,so-."

"Again?!" I teased.

He grinned. "That was close, okay? Now we're clear, can I go now? I'm late... ."

I smiled, feeling a spark of connection. "Owh, I'm sorry, haha."

And with that, our awkward encounter came to an end. But I couldn't shake off the feeling that our lives had just intersected in a way that would alter my destiny forever.

Little did I know, this chance encounter would set off a chain reaction of events that would challenge everything I thought I knew about love, family, and myself.

I arrived at the perfect time and quickly scanned the classroom. The room was filled with unfamiliar faces, all chatting and laughing with each other. I spotted an empty seat, but to my surprise, the boy who bumped into me earlier was sitting right next to it. This is going to be awkward.

The teacher arrived, and I swiftly took the available seat. I didn't have a choice, considering I arrived late. The boy, on the other hand, had the luxury of choosing his seat. He glanced at me with a hint of a smile, and I quickly looked away.

As the class began, the teacher asked if we were happy about our first day. Honestly, I hadn't given it much thought. My father always taught me to focus on learning and not get distracted. I nodded politely along with the other students.

The teacher then asked for our first impressions of the academy. I thought to myself, "What a silly question." I expected something more challenging, like a question about politics. To my surprise, the teacher called on me.

"Zyra, would you like to share your thoughts?" I stood up, wondering why I was always the one being asked. The boy next to me leaned back in his chair, watching me with interest.

"I didn't really give it much thought," I replied. "But if you'd like my honest opinion, I'd be happy to share. My first impression was that it felt like every other academy I've attended. I'm here to learn and represent the Rodriguez Royal family. I didn't come here to share my thoughts or socialize."

The teacher responded, "You're not just here to learn, Zyra. You're here to interact with others and build relationships that will benefit you in the future." I thought to myself, "I never thought of it that way."

The teacher thanked me and proceeded with the lesson. As the class continued, I couldn't help but think, "I hope I didn't mess up." The boy next to me caught my eye and whispered, "You did fine." I smiled slightly, feeling a bit more at ease.

The rest of the lesson passed quickly, and before I knew it, the teacher was dismissing us. As I packed up my things, the boy turned to me and said, "I'm Neo, the man who accidentally bumped into you early."

I smiled and replied, "I'm Zyra. Nice to meet you. Still, I can't forget that you're the reason I'm a bit late, and I didn't get to choose my own seat, but instead, I had no choice but to sit with you."

He smiled and said, "I know, that's why I'm here to make it up to you. Would you mind coming with me to buy you lunch?"

I replied, "No, I have my own lunch. Anyway, it's already past lunchtime, so I don't care anymore."

After our brief talk, I walked away, leaving him behind. As I left the classroom, I felt something strange - a longing and a sense of satisfaction. I couldn't explain why, but I couldn't help but think about Neo.

Maybe this academy wouldn't be so bad after all.

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