I woke up feeling drained, my eyelids heavy with dark circles. Groggily, I glanced around, disoriented, unsure of the time. My phone read 7:30 AM—later than usual, but there was no point in rushing. The events of yesterday weighed heavily on my mind, making sleep elusive.
I got up and went through the motions of getting ready, brushing off the emptiness that clung to me. There was no anxiety, no particular emotion—just a hollow feeling that lingered. As I stood outside the door to my classroom, a sudden sense of foreboding washed over me. I hesitated but pushed forward, trying to shake off the unease.
Inside, I looked around and noticed my new desk mate. I quickly averted my gaze, not wanting to create any unnecessary tension. But then, it struck me—she's a girl? That was unexpected. Still, I shrugged it off and approached my desk, taking a seat beside her.
"Good morning, you're the new student, right?" I asked, even though I already knew the answer. It felt awkward, almost shameful, to ask such an obvious question. She turned to me, her eyes narrowing slightly as if trying to place me.
"Yeah—wait, you're... no, I must be mistaken," she muttered under her breath. As her gaze met mine, my heart skipped a beat, an unfamiliar warmth spreading through my chest. Why? I stared into her deep blue eyes like a fool, trying to understand the sudden rush of emotion, but quickly snapped out of it, looking away before she noticed.
Still, it was strange—my heart shouldn't be reacting like this. She was beautiful, no doubt about it—blonde hair, striking eyes, a smile that could light up a room. But there was something else, something familiar that I couldn't quite place.
"I'm Kofi, nice to meet you," I said, trying to keep my voice steady.
"I'm Alice, nice to meet you too," she replied. Alice. The name echoed in my mind, stirring something deep within, yet I couldn't put my finger on it. As I pondered, the bell rang, and the teacher formally introduced Alice to the class.
After the brief introduction, Alice returned to her seat beside me. This time, she looked at me expectantly, as if waiting for something. I met her gaze but felt a wave of awkwardness wash over me, unsure of how to respond. I offered a weak smile, but it only seemed to disappoint her. She turned away, and the air between us grew thick with unspoken words. I could feel the tension, suffocating and heavy.
Desperate to break the silence, I blurted out, "So, why did you transfer schools?"
Her reaction was sharp, her eyes narrowing as she replied, "None of your business."
I was taken aback by her response, the coldness in her tone. After that, we didn't speak for the rest of the day. The silence was deafening, and the unease I felt earlier only deepened. Who is she really, and why does she feel so familiar?