Chương 10: An Unexpected Encounter and Hidden Glances

Adam and Eric made their way into the bustling school grounds together, blending into the crowd of students around them.

Laughter and chatter filled the air as friends greeted each other, and the familiar, comforting chaos of school life surrounded them.

Adam was relaxed, earbuds in, letting the faint beat of his favorite song drown out the noise. Beside him, Eric nudged him now and then, cracking jokes about their classes for the day.

But then, a voice called out sharply from behind, slicing through the chatter like a blade. "Adam! Wait right there!"

Adam froze mid-step, turning to see who had called his name. Standing a few steps behind them was a boy with a unique look—his shoulder-length, neatly brushed black hair framed his face, falling softly around intense, narrow eyes. He wore a pink shirt with a small silver pin clipped to the pocket, paired with an unusual green jacket and pants, adding a sharpness to his otherwise lean build.

His gaze was direct, piercing through Adam with a cold precision.

Adam's friend, Eric, squinted at the boy, a look of distaste flickering across his face. "Oh, great," he muttered under his breath. "It's Yuta Nakahara, the self-appointed hall monitor."

Adam looked between them, unsure of what was going on, but Yuta's eyes remained fixed on him, ignoring Eric entirely. "You," Yuta said in a low, authoritative voice. "Did you not read the rules? Earbuds are not allowed inside the school premises."

Caught off guard, Adam looked at Eric, who shrugged helplessly, then removed his earbuds, slipping them into his bag.

Satisfied, Yuta nodded sharply and strode off, clearly uninterested in any further interaction. Adam watched him go, puzzled.

Once Yuta was out of earshot, Eric scoffed, rolling his eyes dramatically. "What's his deal? Just because he's on the discipline committee doesn't mean he gets to play dictator. I mean, come on."

Adam chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Don't worry about it. Let's just head to class. Homeroom is about to start anyway." He knew Yuta's rigid adherence to rules was frustrating, but arguing with him wasn't worth the trouble.

Eric sighed but nodded, reluctantly agreeing. Together, they resumed their path to class, trying to brush off the strange encounter.

As they approached their classroom, Adam noticed the usual stream of students filing in, talking in hushed voices or laughing in small clusters.

But the moment he walked in, his gaze drifted naturally to the familiar figure standing across the room—Ani. She was animatedly chatting with a few friends, her laughter brightening the space around her.

Her silver hair cascaded down her shoulders in gentle waves, framing her fair face, and she wore a simple, elegant cardigan over a crisp shirt that hinted at her graceful, understated style.

Adam watched her for a moment, lost in thought, until Ani's eyes happened to land on him. Their gazes locked, and for a fleeting moment, everything around him faded, the world narrowing to just the two of them. But just as quickly, they both looked away, each feeling a sudden shyness neither would admit to.

Eric nudged him playfully as they moved to their seats at the back of the room. "So," he teased, "why didn't you bring your buddy Leo with you today?"

Adam grinned, trying to keep his tone casual. "Oh, Leo? He's with his girlfriend. I'd just be the third wheel if I tagged along with them."

Eric snickered. "Ah, classic. It's always weird being the extra in a couple's hangout."

Just then, another familiar face appeared at the door—Cole, one of their classmates, who shared a bit of a complicated history with Eric.

Cole's short, tousled hair was paired with a sharp expression, but he softened when he saw Adam, ignoring Eric entirely as he approached.

"Hey, buddy," Cole greeted Adam with a friendly grin. "How's it going today?"

Adam returned the smile, giving him a thumbs-up. "Pretty good, actually!"

Eric, however, turned his head away, clearly irritated by Cole's presence. Adam noticed the tension and sighed, leaning forward to address both of them. "Come on, guys. Stop fighting already. Why not call a truce?"

Eric rolled his eyes and looked back at Adam, feigning innocence. "Hey, I didn't start it—he did."

Cole raised an eyebrow, shaking his head with a wry smile. "Please, you were the one who started it, and now you're trying to make me look like the bad guy."

Before the argument could escalate, another friend, Leo, strolled into the classroom, slinging an arm around both Cole and Eric's shoulders with a hearty laugh. "What's this? You two going at it again?"

Adam chuckled, shaking his head. "Trust me, it's practically their daily routine."

Leo flashed a grin, turning to Adam. "You're here early for a change. What's the occasion?"

Adam was about to respond when the homeroom teacher entered, his no-nonsense expression silencing the room immediately.

He gestured for everyone to settle down, and the class fell into a respectful quiet.

Ani was the first to stand, prompting the class to rise as a show of respect. They all rose from their seats briefly before settling back down, each turning their attention forward. Leo took a seat behind Adam, leaning forward with a whisper.

"Something's up with you today. Why are you acting so strange?"

Adam internally rolled his eyes, knowing Leo could see right through him. 'Maybe he's onto me', he thought, ready to respond, but the teacher's voice interrupted.

"Adam, if you have something to discuss, feel free to do it outside the classroom." The teacher's voice cut through the room, sharp and direct. Adam felt all eyes on him, heat creeping up his cheeks.

He bowed his head apologetically, muttering a quick "sorry" as he settled back into silence. "Well, there goes the start of my day," he thought, slumping slightly in his seat.

Despite himself, Adam found his attention drifting toward Ani as the teacher continued the lesson.

She was seated ahead, but even from behind, he could see her gently focused on the lesson, occasionally nodding in response to a point made by the teacher.

The period soon ended, and the homeroom teacher began packing up. Just as he was about to leave, he turned to Ani. "Ani, come with me. I have something to discuss."

Ani stood, gathering her things to follow him. Adam watched her as she rose, only to be caught off guard when she glanced back over her shoulder, meeting his eyes briefly before leaving the room.

It was a small gesture, but it filled him with a sense of warmth and hope.

Just then, Leo leaned forward, poking Adam's shoulder. "Did she just look at you?" he asked, raising his eyebrows with a smirk.

Adam shrugged, trying to downplay the moment. "I don't know. Maybe it was by accident."

"Nope," Leo replied, grinning knowingly. "Trust me, that was no accident."

Before Adam could reply, Eric intervened, eager to change the subject. "Hey, don't forget we've got plans later. Both of you better be there."

Adam mentally thanked Eric for the distraction. "Of course, I remember," he replied, smiling.

As the day passed, the lunch bell rang, signaling a break. Adam had barely begun gathering his things when his friends surrounded him, playfully blocking his way.

"Adam!" Eric said, extending his arms dramatically. "Today, we're not letting you eat lunch alone. Enough of that solitary nonsense!"

Adam chuckled, shaking his head. "Come on, you know I prefer eating by myself. I'm not a fan of eating in front of everyone. Let me go this time."

Eric was about to protest, but Leo stepped in, a gentle smile on his face. "If he wants to be alone, let him be. No need to force him."

"Not funny, Leo," Eric grumbled. But he relented, allowing Adam to head off.

Meanwhile, across the classroom, Ani was approached by her friends, who were eager to head to the cafeteria. But as they chatted, Ani's gaze drifted, watching as Adam slipped quietly out of the room with his lunch.

A slight frown creased her brow. 'I've never seen him eat with others, ' she thought. 'Where does he even go during lunch? While most people socialized in the cafeteria or clubs, Adam always seemed to vanish during break.'

Her friends eventually nudged her out of her thoughts, reminding her it was time to go, and she followed them out, her mind lingering on Adam's mysterious routine.

To be connected.....