Morning sunlight spilled across the narrow streets of Budiriro as Ramba Vhimi walked the familiar 1.5 km from his apartment to school.
It was the beginning of the year but nothing seemed to feel different. He was now in 10th Grade .
His backpack hung loose over one shoulder, swinging with each lazy step.
Another ordinary day, he thought.
Ordinary… that word haunted him more than any spirit ever did.
He wasn't athletic
He wasn't smart.
He wasn't good looking
If Ramba disappeared for a day, maybe two people would notice.
One of them would definitely be Farai. The other… probably his landlord.
Ramba sighed and entered Budiriro High.
---
A Classroom That Wasn't Made For Him
Farai was already in the classroom, laughing with a few other students.
Ramba hovered by the doorway, then retreated to his seat quietly.
Farai noticed and waved him over.
"Ramba! Come join us!"
Before Ramba could even stand, Farai's friends suddenly found all kinds of excuses.
"Ah— I gotta go ask someone something."
"Right, uh— bathroom break."
"Oh shoot, I left my book in my locker!"
One by one they slipped away like smoke.
"Guys—? Hello? You can't all disappear at once!" Farai shouted, but they were gone.
He sighed, shook his head, and dragged a chair next to Ramba.
"Don't worry, dude. They're just… not used to you yet."
Ramba only nodded. He wasn't surprised. He wasn't used to him either.
Before Farai could say more, someone whispered sharply:
"Teacher's coming!"
The room snapped into order.
---
The New Transfer
Their homeroom teacher walked in, clapping her hands.
"Good morning, class. Before we begin, we have a new student."
A hush fell over the room.
She stepped inside.
A girl with glossy onyx hair tied in a loose ribbon.
Her fawn eyes were dull yet strangely sharp, like they were looking through the walls, through the students… through him.
The entire class stared in awe of her beauty.
Everyone… except Ramba.
Because the moment she entered, he felt it.
A pressure.
Heavy.
Cold.
Wrong.
His heart hammered against his ribs.
Sometimes he sensed strange things around people — shadows, traces, echoes.
But the aura coming off this girl wasn't normal.
It was overwhelming.
Terrifying.
Ancient.
She stood at the front of the room and bowed slightly.
"My name is Chippo Vhimi," she said calmly.
"And I like ghosts."
Silence fell like a dropped coffin.
Even the fluorescent lights seemed to flicker.
Farai leaned toward Ramba, whispering, "You guys share the same surname… are you, like, related or something?"
Ramba didn't even hear him. His eyes were locked on Chippo, every instinct screaming danger.
And then—
Ramba's thoughts spilled open.
The truth is… I'm not ordinary.
There is one thing about me that isn't normal.
I can sense spirits.
He swallowed.
I told Farai once. He thought I needed therapy.
---
The First Encounter
Chippo's gaze swept over the class… then stopped.
On him.
She walked straight toward Ramba's desk. His breath caught as she passed each row. Every step tightened the heaviness in the air.
Then she sat at the empty seat next to him.
Everyone else stared.
Ramba couldn't even blink.
Her aura was crawling, pulsing, wrapping around her like invisible smoke.
She noticed his stare, tilted her head, and said:
"I'm still digesting."
Ramba blinked.
"Digesting???" he wondered
She didn't respond.
And for the rest of the morning, Ramba heard nothing but his own heartbeat.
---
Lunch Time Trouble
When the lunch bell rang, Farai punched Ramba on the shoulder.
"Dude, the new girl? Lowkey cute. Think I'm gonna shoot my shot."
Ramba grabbed his arm.
"No. Farai, stay away from her. She's dangerous."
Farai groaned. "Bro, don't tell me you're back to your paranormal nonsense just because she said she likes ghosts."
"I'm not! Just—trust me."
Farai squinted. "Also, are you two related? Same surname, same vibe— and she seems into supernatural stuff too."
"I've never seen her in my life!" Ramba snapped, louder than he meant to.
The entire cafeteria turned to stare.
"…Right," Farai muttered, pushing his food around. "Real smooth."
---
The End of the School Day
Chippo slept through every afternoon class, her head resting on her desk, breathing steady.
But even in sleep, that aura clung to her, shifting like waves.
Ramba couldn't focus on anything. Not math. Not history. Not even the final bell.
Once school ended, he walked toward home, exhausted.
---
A Lost Girl With a Map
Halfway down the street, he heard footsteps behind him.
He turned — Chippo stood there holding a large folded map upside-down, her expression blank.
She looked… very lost.
Ramba hesitated. His grandfather's voice echoed in his mind:
Always help those in need. The World remembers kindness.
He sighed and walked back.
"Uh… want help?" he asked.
Chippo blinked at him.
"Why would you help me?"
"You should always help those in need. The World we reward you ."
Chippo paused.
"That sounds familiar," she thought
He led her through the streets, following her map. After a few turns, his stomach dropped.
She was walking the same direction he was .
She lived in the same complex.
"Do you know your room number" asked Ramba with concern
"Yh" she confirmed
"Well then here is where we part ways" he said with a smile
Surprisingly she kept on going in the same direction as him.
She stopped right in front of the same door.
Chippo sat down next to the door.
"Apparently," she said softly, "my long-lost cousin hasn't arrived yet."
Ramba stared at her.
".. But this is my room."
They both froze.
An eerie silence pressed in.
The stared at each other a wave of realization slowly washing over them.