The school had finally reopened after the long summer break. Students streamed through the front gate, their voices overlapping as they eagerly shared vacation stories with friends.
Principal Harvey stood near the entrance, smiling as he listened to the chattering and laughter of his beloved students. The school, once quiet, was alive again.
Amidst the noise, the faint sound of an approaching car reached the gate. It slowed to a stop, and a kid with ginger hair stepped out, carefully closing the door behind him.
"Ronnie, have a nice day at school," his mom said warmly. "Make sure to make a lot of friends."
Ronnie looked up at the unfamiliar building, then nodded.
"Ah, yes, Mom. Thank you for driving me to school," he replied, waving with a bright smile.
As the car pulled away, Ronnie stood still for a moment before turning toward his new school.
He wandered through the campus, taking everything in. His eyes moved from students to classrooms, from trees to notice boards, as though he were searching for something he couldn't quite name. After a while, a quiet corner caught his attention a small garden tucked away from the main paths. At its center stood an old swing.
Drawn to it, Ronnie walked closer. He stood in front of the swing, his hand brushing lightly against the worn seat. For a moment, everything felt still. Just as he was about to sit down, the school bell rang loudly, breaking the silence.
He sighed softly and turned away, heading toward the auditorium.
"I'll come back later," he muttered to himself, a small smile forming on his face.
The auditorium was already filled with students by the time Ronnie arrived. The chatter slowly faded as Principal Harvey stepped forward and welcomed everyone with his usual warm smile. He spoke about the school, the teachers, and the year ahead.
Behind him stood several teachers. Among them was the English teacher, Mr. Harold. Though a capable and respected teacher, he had a short temper and was easily irritated.
Harold watched the ceremony with little interest. To him, it felt unnecessary a waste of time. He believed classes should have started already.
The ceremony ended without incident. Soon, students were guided to their classrooms, their excitement carrying into the hallways. Ronnie found a seat by the window and quietly settled in, gazing outside as the classroom slowly filled.
Not long after, the homeroom teacher entered, and with that, Ronnie's first morning at his new school began calmly.
It was lunchtime now. Everyone rushed to the cafeteria with their friends, their laughter and chatter echoing through the hallways. Ronnie also grabbed his lunch, but instead of heading there, he walked toward the garden. The warm sunlight brushed his face, and a gentle breeze rustled the leaves around him.
Once again, he found himself in front of the old swing. He gently sat down, feeling the worn wood beneath his hands, and looked up at the clear blue sky as he took a small bite of his sandwich. Completely at peace, he softly hummed his favorite song while swinging back and forth. And for that moment, he was unbothered by everything else around him.
Lunch break was almost over, and Mr. Harold was walking toward his next class. He didn't want to waste a single moment he planned to start his lecture as soon as the bell rang.
He walked down the hallway, glancing at the students around him.
School has barely started, and they're already so noisy, he thought, his lips pressing into a thin line. I hope no one bothers me during the lecture.
As he continued walking, his eyes caught a glimpse of Ronnie sitting alone on the swing, staring up at the sky, cut off from everything else around him.
Soon, the bell rang. Harold was already in the classroom, just about to begin his lecture.
A moment later, Ronnie entered the room. He was the last one.
Harold's forehead wrinkled, but he kept his composure.
"Make sure you're in your class before the bell next time," he said evenly. "I'll let it slide today since it's the first day. Don't make a habit of it."
"Thank you. It won't happen again," Ronnie replied, his head lowered.
He walked to his seat and sat down quietly.
Mr. Harold began his lecture, his voice firm but not loud.
"I expect all of you to focus and do nothing unnecessary during my class. Any questions you have, I'll answer after the lecture."
He paused for a brief moment,
"Alright, let's begin."