Chapter Three: The Beginning of Something Unseen
Lily and Seraphine entered the classroom, the morning light streaming through the tall windows, brushing against the polished wooden desks
and giving the room a warm golden hue.
Students were moving about, scattered laughter,quick words exchanged, everyone talking about something different—yet most of the whispers were about the same topic:
The new student.
Lily took her usual seat by the window, while Seraphine sat in front of her, pulling out a small comb and enthusiastically fixing her red hair with childlike excitement.
Lily turned to her and said with light sarcasm:
"Are you fixing yourself up for the new guy?"
Seraphine laughed:
"Why not?!
New day, new life, new opportunities!"
Lily shook her head:
"Good grief… you're a disaster.
Seraphine smirked mischievously:
"A beautiful disaster."
Lily couldn't help but laugh.
Three girls approached the cluster of desks around them:
"Good morning, Lily! Seraphine!"
Lily waved politely:
"Good morning."
One of the girls, a blonde, said excitedly:
"We heard you left the party early last night, Lily.
Did something happen?"
Lily quickly glanced at Seraphine—a very clear warning:
(Don't you dare say anything!)
But Seraphine smiled… far too widely…
Far too obviously…
And far too suspiciously.
"Oooh, something big happened."
One of the girls with black hair blinked:
"Ahem…? What?"
Lily put her hand on her head:
"No… don't listen to her—"
Seraphine lifted her finger dramatically:
"Short version…
Lily ended up holding onto the arms of a handsome young man,
in the cemetery,in a full waist embrace!
The girls screamed:
"Whaaaaat!!!"
Lily hid her face in her hands:
"Seraphine!! I told you not to—"
One of the girls stepped closer, eyes wide:
"L-i-l-y… is this real?
What's his name?
How did this happen?
And why didn't you tell us?!"
Seraphine:
"His name is Alex."
The girls:
"Aleeeeeex? The same name as the new student?!"
Lily sighed, giving up, then said shyly:
"I don't know… maybe… just a coincidence.
Seraphine let out a laugh:
"If it's a coincidence, then it's the most beautiful coincidence I've ever seen."
After the excitement died down, Lily sat quietly in her seat
and turned her gaze out the window.
The trees swayed gently, the light spilled in like soft threads,
but her mind was anything but calm.
She kept thinking about that moment… about his arms…
about the way he looked at her…
and the sound of his voice when he spoke her name.
A strange warmth passed through her chest:
Will… I see him today?
She didn't notice that Seraphine was watching her with a mischievous smile.
The teacher finally entered, and the class clapped lightly for everyone to settle down.
She stood in front of the board:
"Good morning, everyone…
Before we begin today's lesson…"
Seraphine whispered to Lily:
"This will be the announcement…"
Lily tapped her lightly:
"Be quiet for a bit!"
The teacher smiled and said:
"We have a test today after the third period.
I hope you're all prepared."
Silence fell over the class.
Well then, let's start the lesson now.
The lesson began.
And in the meantime…
Lily looked through the classroom window toward the football field, where she saw Alex—and her heart skipped for a moment.
Time passed quickly, and the bell rang signaling the end of the period.
The teacher left with a light smile, and the classroom sank into a wave of whispers and noise.
Seraphine slapped her hand on the desk:
"Ugh! Nooo! A test after the third period?
Why didn't they tell us yesterday?!"
Lily laughed:
"Because they know you wouldn't study even if they did."
Seraphine shouted:
"Aha! True… but don't say it out loud!"
Then she scribbled something random in her notebook, as if trying to convince herself she had started studying.
Students poured into the hallway, everyone complaining about the surprise test.
Lily gathered her books and walked out with Seraphine, while a few students behind them laughed and chatted.
Seraphine tied her red hair and said:
The new history teacher… I wonder what he'll be like.
Lily:
I just hope he won't be annoying.
Seraphine laughed:
"If he's handsome, I'll forgive him even if he gives us twenty tests!
Lily shook her head:
You're hopeless.
Second period
Everyone returned to their seats, and the classroom grew quieter.
The next teacher was somewhat strict—just her entering made everyone sit up immediately.
While she explained the lesson, Lily drifted off a little, her eyes instinctively turning toward the window again.
On the football field…
A keeper was moving the balls around, and students from another class were running playfully.
Nothing unusual.
But Lily kept looking, as if something inside her was waiting for something unknown.
The bell rang loudly, snapping the students out of their drowsiness, and everyone began opening their books, getting ready:
"A teeeest!!!"
Seraphine dropped her head onto the desk:
"Oh Lord… help me!"
Lily:
"Just focus… it'll be over quickly."
Seraphine:
"Can I copy your answers?"
Lily:
"Impossible."
Seraphine:
"You're heartless!"
Lily burst into genuine laughter.
The bell rang again.
The teacher stood in front of the board, looking as though she had suddenly remembered something important.
She spoke clearly:
"Before you leave… a small reminder."
Every eye in the classroom turned toward her.
"The new history teacher will be here tomorrow.
I hope you welcome him properly."
Some of the girls exchanged looks and immediately began whispering:
"He's definitely young!"
"Nooo, I hope he's older!"
"Please, just don't let him be scary.
The teacher raised her hand, asking for silence, then said:
"And I know some of you are waiting for the new student…
But I have a small surprise."
She paused for a moment, then continued with a smile:
"He will not be joining your class."
Several students shouted:
"What?!"
She continued:
"He will be placed in the neighboring section…
Section Number 1, Class A."
Some students sighed in disappointment.
Seraphine shouted:
Nooo! Not with us?!
The teacher laughed softly:
"Don't worry… you'll still see him in the courtyard or the hallways.
Then she added:
And now… recess.
The teacher left, and the students rushed out like a wave…
Lily and Seraphine headed toward the courtyard, and on the way…
Glances, conversations, laughter—an atmosphere completely normal.
The girls stood in a corner of the courtyard, the noise around them loud, yet their conversation was somehow louder than the entire school.
Seraphine leaned toward Lily with a mischievous glint, a playful smile tugging at her lips:
"Lily…
If Alex asked you out on a date…
Would you say yes?"
Then she looked at the two girls standing nearby—Alice with her golden hair, and Liz with her black hair—and said with unapologetic cunning:
"By the way…
It seems the rivalry between Alice and Liz over Aldric Nightbane
is still unresolved.
She turned toward them and continued boldly:
"Well, girls…
Has either of you become Aldric Nightbane's girlfriend?
Or… do I still have a chance with him?
I just want him to hug me at least once!"
Then she laughed:
"I'm kidding… kidding…
But honestly… I want him to be my boyfriend.
He's the most handsome guy I've ever seen, and it's not fair for you two to keep him all to yourselves.
Alice and Liz exchanged looks, then stared at Seraphine in confusion.
Alice said:
"We're not keeping him… and if you really want, we can tell him you'd like a date with him."
Liz added with a gentle coldness:
"And if we don't tell him… and he finds out you said that, he'll be mad at us.
So be prepared… he might actually hug you."
At that moment, the girls noticed Lily's hand clench tightly, and her eyes darkened suddenly.
They sighed together, then Liz said cautiously:
"Lily… you and Aldric Nightbane aren't right for each other."
Alice continued:
"You were with him for more than a year… yet you still couldn't handle his temperament.
If you can't deal with the things he does…
Forget him and live your life."
Then she smiled softly:
"Maybe Alex is your golden prince.
So… put in some effort with him."
Lily lowered her head a little, her voice coming out with a faint sadness:
"I don't know…
My heart still beats whenever I remember my moments with Aldric."
She lifted her eyes toward them:
"And yet…
I can't accept that he's with another girl.
I can't…
She let out a deep sigh:
"He's a strange person…
He always talked about being a unique person in this world,
and that he should have more than one girl…
That a single flower wasn't enough for him.
She shook her head in frustration:
"He always told me he wouldn't settle for just one flower… that there was an entire garden in front of him."
She lifted her shoulders, resigned:
"It makes me angry… and that's why I left him."
Seraphine placed a hand on Lily's shoulder and said sincerely:
"I… don't mind if he has another girl… as long as he doesn't leave me."
Then she added with a bitter smile:
"But you…
You can't handle that kind of man.
And you know it.
While Lily was talking with Seraphine, Alice, and Liz, the atmosphere in the courtyard shifted from calm to buzzing…
Scattered whispers… turning heads…
Footsteps gathering near the entrance.
Then—
The door of Class A swung open.
A tall young man stepped out, wearing the school uniform simply, his bag slung over his shoulder,and features so composed it was impossible to ignore.
It was Alex.
Everyone began to turn.
Some girls lowered their voices.
First-year students stood on their tiptoes to see him.
Even the supervising teacher paused for a moment to get a look.
As for Lily—
It felt as if the air around her vanished.
She hadn't expected to see him like this… so casually… in front of everyone.
And she wasn't prepared for how her heart reacted.
Seraphine immediately noticed the change in her expression and whispered:
"Lily…
It's him… isn't it?"
Lily didn't answer.
She couldn't.
Her eyes were fixed on him as if they were seeing something meant for her alone.
And in that same moment,Alex turned his head naturally in her direction—
And froze.
It was as if time stopped at that gaze.
He didn't look confused, nor surprised—
but something else…
Something that made Lily lower her eyes quickly.
Seraphine gasped in a tiny whisper:
"Oh… he saw you!"
Alice placed her hand over her mouth:
"Oh my… that look… that's not the look of a new student."
Liz said quietly:
"This… isn't normal."
But Lily heard nothing.
All she could feel was:
Her heartbeat.
Alex began walking toward them with steady steps—
not rushed, but not slow either.
He walked as if the entire place held only one girl:
Lily.
He came closer…
And closer…
Until he was just one step away from them.
Seraphine gave Lily a light push from behind:
"Talk! Say something!"
But Lily didn't know what to say,or how to begin,or how to act.
Alex stood before them, looking at all of them first…
Then returning to Lily with those calm eyes.
He spoke softly… yet completely clearly:
"Hello… Lily.
It seems we were meant to be together.
Her fingers trembled, and the words tangled in her throat:
"Ah… uh… hello… Alex."
Seraphine covered her mouth to keep from screaming.
Alice and Liz exchanged stunned looks.
Alex gave a small smile—
clear…
gentle…
calm in a way that was deeply unsettling.
"I'm glad I found you."
Lily's eyes widened.
"F–found me?"
Alex nodded softly:
"Yes. I've been looking for you since I arrived."
Seraphine whispered:
"Oooh… w-wow… what is happening right now?"
Lily felt heat rising to her cheeks:
"Why… were you looking for me?
Alex leaned forward slightly, his voice becoming softer, as if his words were meant for her alone:
"I just wanted… to see you again."
And while the girls stared as if they were watching a romantic scene from a drama,
Lily stood there—her heart pounding, her body tense, her mind scrambling for words.
But all she managed to say was:
"I… me too."
Alex smiled lightly, a smile that held something gentle and confident at the same time, then said:
"Well then… Lily, could you show me around the school?
I mean… take me on a little tour of the hallways."
Before Lily could respond, Alex turned toward the three girls with a polite smile:
"Hello, girls… I hope you don't mind if I borrow Lily for a bit."
Seraphine placed her hand on her hip, giving him a half-smirk, half-mocking look:
"Handsome? Yes, kind of…
But I still think my Aldric is more handsome than you. And prettier."
Then she lifted her chin proudly and looked toward Alice and Liz:
"Right, girls?"
Alice and Liz nodded together, with a soft coldness as if they had agreed on it long ago:
"Yes… that's right."
It was a strange moment—too blunt, too direct—enough to make Lily stifle a small laugh.
As for Alex…
His expression froze for the briefest instant—just one second—
then he smiled as if nothing happened.
He said calmly:
"It seems I really should meet Aldric…
If he's that important to all of you."
Then he gently extended his hand, taking Lily's lightly, his voice warming:
"Shall… we go?"
Lily felt her hand tremble in his—not out of fear…
But from a soft tension that hadn't touched her heart in a long time.
She answered quietly:
"Yes… let's go."
The two of them began walking together through the school halls, their steps unconsciously falling into rhythm.
The walls were decorated with photos of school activities, and the students' voices blended in the background, yet Lily felt as though everything had grown a little more distant…
And a little closer to him.
Lily walked ahead and pointed toward the first section:
"Here… is the science hall.
And here… the chemistry lab. But be careful… don't go near the last table. The students call it the 'cursed table.'"
Alex laughed:
"The cursed table?
Now I want to see it even more."
Lily:
"No! Don't… trust me, everyone who sat there during exams failed.
He shook his head with a small smile:
"Then I'll sit far away."
They walked toward the inner courtyard, where students sat on wooden benches beneath the shade of trees.
Alex suddenly asked:
"Does Aldric come to this place often?"
Lily stopped walking.
She looked at him, slightly surprised:
"Why… are you asking about him?"
Alex smiled, though he didn't look directly at her:
"Because the girls were talking about him a lot…
And he seems to be someone important to them…
And to you as well."
Lily lowered her eyes:
"He… used to be important.
But not anymore."
Alex finally turned to her:
"Then… that's good."
Lily:
"Good? Why?
Alex took a small step closer—
not a frightening one,
but just close enough to make her heart pound harder.
"Because I…
want our friendship to begin without any shadow standing between us."
Lily slowly lifted her head, and their eyes met for the second time since yesterday…
And for the second time, she felt the world around her slow down.
"Friendship…?"
Alex smiled:
"Yes…
Until you decide…
whether you want it to become more than that or not."
Lily's face instantly turned red, her voice catching slightly:
"I… I don't know what to say…"
Alex:
"Don't say anything now.
Let's just walk."
And the two of them continued on, their steps growing closer without meaning to, while some students began turning their heads toward them—no one knew what was happening,
but it was clear to everyone that Lily…
was no longer the same girl she had been yesterday.