The courtyard of Chulalongkorn Secondary School buzzed with life. Students clustered in groups, laughing and chatting, while the smell of fried snacks lingered in the air. Somewhere, a locker slammed shut, cutting through the noise.
Tayo Anurak strode through the chaos, her bag hanging casually off one shoulder. Her steps were unhurried yet deliberate, exuding an air of confidence that made people instinctively move aside. Whispers followed her—some filled with admiration, others tinged with envy.
By her final year, Tayo had earned her reputation: top of the class, undefeated in Muay Thai, and an enigma to most. Her distance from others made her a subject of fascination and resentment.
Everyone noticed her presence—except Sukhum.
"Tayo!" Sukhum's voice rang out above the chatter. She kept walking, not bothering to turn. Sukhum, his tie crooked and his shirt untucked, jogged after her, undeterred. His energy was a stark contrast to her composed demeanor.
"Late-night training again?" he asked, easily matching her pace.
Tayo gave him a sidelong glance, her expression cold. "Why do you keep talking to me?"
Sukhum grinned, his easy humor unshaken. "Just hoping the ice queen might grace us peasants with her company at lunch."
"Don't hold your breath," Tayo said, her tone cutting.
Sukhum clutched his chest dramatically. "Ouch. One day, Tayo. You'll break character for me. One day."
His laugh echoed as they reached their classroom.
Inside, the familiar hum of conversation filled the air. At the back, Niran and his group sat laughing too loudly, their voices dominating the room. Tayo ignored them, but the weight of Niran's gaze followed her.
"Here comes her majesty," Niran said mockingly, his voice carrying as she passed by. His friends snickered on cue.
Tayo slowed just enough to glance over her shoulder, her voice sharp as a blade. "Still obsessed, Niran? Are you that desperate for my attention?"
The laughter died as Niran's smirk faltered. He opened his mouth, but no retort came. Tayo turned back, her steps as calm and controlled as ever. She slid into her seat by the window. Sukhum plopped down beside her, his grin as wide as ever.
"You're scary, you know that?" he said, amusement lacing his tone.
"Good," Tayo replied, not sparing him a glance.
---
"Good morning."
The voice was soft, almost hesitant. Tayo didn't look up immediately, but something in the tone made her pause. She turned to see Kanya Anong standing there, holding a neatly wrapped snack box.
Kanya was small and delicate, with pale skin and smooth, glossy hair that framed her timid expression. Despite her outward prettiness, she always seemed to fade into the background, her presence as quiet as her voice.
"What do you want?" Tayo asked, her voice colder than intended.
Kanya looked down, clutching the box. "I—I made this for you. You didn't eat much yesterday." She placed the box on Tayo's desk, her hands trembling slightly.
Tayo glanced at the box, her expression unreadable. "You don't have to do this. I'm not starving."
"I just thought…" Kanya trailed off before forcing a small smile. "It's okay. I just wanted to help."
Without a word, Tayo nudged the box aside and turned to look out the window. "Don't waste your time."
Kanya's smile faltered, but she nodded and quietly returned to her seat. The air between them felt heavy with unspoken words, but Tayo refused to look back. As Kanya walked away, a pang of guilt gnawed at Tayo's chest. She clenched her jaw, shoving the feeling aside.
---
At lunch, Tayo sat beneath the banyan tree at the edge of the courtyard, away from the cafeteria's noise. She opened the snack box, revealing neatly arranged rice, grilled chicken, and vegetables. Her lips twitched, almost imperceptibly.
For a moment, she hesitated, the guilt creeping back. Kanya's timid smile flashed in her mind, and Tayo exhaled sharply.
She didn't deserve that.
Footsteps approached, hesitant but deliberate.
"Tayo?" Kanya stood there, holding her own lunchbox. Her voice wavered slightly. "Can I sit here?"
Tayo didn't look up. "Do whatever you want."
Kanya sat down, the silence between them thick. After a moment, she spoke again, her tone more tentative. "Do you remember when you helped me? With Niran and his friends?"
Tayo's jaw tightened. The memory surfaced instantly.
---
It had been after school, near the library. Niran and his group had cornered Kanya, their grins too wide to be friendly.
"Come on, Kanya," Niran had said, his voice oozing mockery. "We're just being nice."
"I—I need to go. Please," Kanya had stammered, clutching her books like a shield.
One of the boys blocked her path. "Don't be boring. It's just one afternoon."
"Is there a problem?"
Tayo's voice had sliced through the air, sharp and unyielding. Niran turned quickly, putting distance between them, his smirk faltering as he met her cold gaze.
"Just a friendly chat," he'd said, recovering quickly.
"Doesn't look friendly to me," Tayo replied, moving closer, her eyes not leaving his. "Move."
Niran hesitated, his confidence wavering. "Relax, Tayo. No need to make a scene."
"Move," she repeated, her tone like steel.
After a tense moment, Niran motioned for his friends to step aside. His smirk was gone, replaced by a tight frown.
Releasing her fist, Tayo had turned to Kanya, her expression stern. "Don't let them corner you again."
"Th-thank you," Kanya had whispered.
Tayo hadn't responded, just looked at her before walking away.
---
Now, under the banyan tree, Kanya's voice pulled her back. "You didn't have to help me, but you did. Thank you."
Tayo's gaze remained fixed on the horizon. "They were annoying me. That's all."
Kanya's small smile faltered, but she didn't press further. The silence lingered, and Tayo felt the flicker of guilt again, heavier this time. She glanced at Kanya out of the corner of her eye.
"That food," Tayo said abruptly. "It's good."
Kanya blinked in surprise. "Oh—thank you."
Tayo turned back to the horizon, her expression unreadable. "You didn't waste your time."
The soft smile returned to Kanya's face, brighter than before.
---
After school, Tayo walked through the hallway, Sukhum trailing behind her.
Before they could leave, Niran's voice rang out. "Look who decided to grace us with her presence."
Tayo stopped and turned slowly, her gaze sharp. "What do you want, Niran?"
Niran leaned against a locker, his smirk firmly in place. "Just wondering if you ever get tired of pretending you're better than everyone else."
Tayo's lips curled into a faint, dangerous smile. "At least I don't waste my time picking on people smaller than me. Is that the only way you feel important?" Her voice carried a genuine edge of curiosity.
The smirk slipped from Niran's face, replaced by a flicker of anger.
"You think you're untouchable," he said, his voice low.
"I don't think it," Tayo replied, stepping closer. "I just don't have to worry about people less than me touching me because you could never reach me."
The hallway fell silent. Sukhum let out a low whistle, breaking the tension.
Before Niran could respond, Tayo turned and walked away, her steps steady.
Niran burned with anger, the veins on his head becoming visible. "One day, I will bring down that bitch," he whispered as he stood there watching her silhouette vanish from view.
"You really know how to push his buttons," Sukhum said, grinning.
Tayo didn't respond. She just walked steadily as Sukhum followed closely behind.