Chapter 3 : The Morning That Change Everything

The alarm shrieked.

Scarlett groaned, slapping it off before burying her face into the pillow. Another day…

But it wasn’t just another day. Something in her chest felt different, almost restless. She pulled herself out of bed, dragged her uniform out of the cupboard, and stood in front of the mirror.

For a second, she just looked at herself. The girl staring back wasn’t the same Scarlett who used to drag through mornings without caring. Her hair looked shinier today, her eyes softer, her skin glowing like it had caught the hint of sunrise.

She brushed her hair more carefully, letting it fall perfectly. A dab of lip balm. A mist of perfume, faint but sweet. Then she whispered to her reflection—

“Stop. He won’t even notice…”

But her heart whispered louder—what if he does?

---

The school gates were buzzing when Scarlett arrived. Students poured in, laughing, shouting, rushing with books tucked under their arms. Scarlett walked in slower, her bag slung across her shoulder, her steps oddly graceful today.

And that’s when it happened.

Eyes turned.

“Scarlett! You look so different today!”

“Pretty pretty… where’s the glow coming from?”

“Girl, you look GOOD.”

Her friends circled her, showering her with comments, teasing her nonstop. Scarlett rolled her eyes, her cheeks warming.

“Shut up, I’m literally the same,” she muttered.

But deep inside… her heart skipped. She did look different. And maybe, just maybe, it wasn’t only her friends who would notice.

---

Classes dragged on as usual. Teachers spoke, chalk screeched, pens scribbled. Scarlett’s notes turned into doodles as her mind drifted. Every now and then she caught herself imagining what would happen if she saw him in the hallway. What if he smiled? What if he walked past without even noticing?

By break time, her nerves were buzzing. She walked into the canteen with her friends, tray in hand. The room was alive with voices, laughter, clinking dishes.

And then—her steps froze.

He was there.

Andrian.

The senior everyone seemed to admire, yet somehow he always stood apart. His group of friends filled the corner table, their voices echoing with jokes. Andrian leaned back in his chair, sunlight slanting across his hair, a smile tugging at his lips as he laughed.

Scarlett swallowed. Her heartbeat turned uneven. She tried to act normal, sitting at a table nearby, but her eyes betrayed her—pulling toward him again and again.

And that’s when she saw her.

A senior girl. Tall. Confident. Perfect hair. Perfect smile. She walked straight up to Andrian, leaning just a little too close, her laugh loud and effortless.

Scarlett’s stomach twisted.

Really? Does she have to laugh like that? And stand so close?

Andrian tilted his head, listening to whatever she was saying, chuckling softly.

Scarlett stabbed her food with her fork. She told herself she wasn’t bothered. She told herself she didn’t care. But her chest burned.

Her friend leaned closer, whispering with a sly grin, “Scarlett… don’t stare too hard, or everyone will notice you’re jealous.”

“I’m NOT jealous,” Scarlett hissed, cheeks flaming. She tore her gaze away, looking down at her tray. “I’m just… watching. That’s all.”

But her hands gave her away—the fork trembling between her fingers.

Her friends giggled, covering their mouths.

---

And then it happened.

Across the noise of the canteen, Andrian’s gaze shifted.

And landed on her.

Scarlett froze, her chest tightening. His eyes lingered for a moment longer than casual, like he’d caught her watching.

Her heart raced. Her throat went dry. She quickly looked away, pretending to listen to her friends. But the warmth of his gaze stayed, making her pulse thunder in her ears.

When she dared to glance back—he was still watching.

And then… he smiled.

Not the wide laugh he gave his friends. Not the polite smile he gave teachers. Something smaller. Softer. Almost secret.

Scarlett’s fork clattered against her tray.

“Scarlett, you’re blushing,” her friend whispered, barely containing her laughter.

“I—no I’m not!” Scarlett snapped, covering her face with her hands.

But she was. Her cheeks burned, her chest felt like it was on fire, and her entire body was trembling with one thought—

He noticed me.

---

The rest of the break blurred by. Scarlett barely ate. Barely spoke. Her mind replayed that smile over and over, trying to decode it. Did it mean anything? Was it just casual? Did he… actually notice her?

When the bell rang, she rushed out with her friends, hoping to lose the flutter in her chest. The hallway buzzed with students returning to classes, footsteps echoing against the walls.

And then—

Scarlett’s breath caught.

He was there. Walking down the opposite corridor, his bag slung casually, his hands in his pockets. The crowd seemed to fade around him.

Scarlett’s friends nudged her. “He’s coming this way…”

Her heart threatened to stop. She tried to look away, to act normal. But when she passed him—

“Scarlett.”

Her name. From his lips.

She froze. Turned.

Andrian had slowed down, glancing at her with that same subtle smile, like he knew something she didn’t.

Scarlett’s voice barely worked. “Y-Yeah?”

“Nice perfume,” he said simply, then walked past, disappearing into the crowd.

Scarlett stood rooted in place, her friends gasping around her.

Her knees felt weak. Her pulse out of control.

He noticed. He actually noticed.

And for the first time, she realized—this wasn’t just a silly crush. It was the beginning of something bigger. Something scarier. Something that could change everything.

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