No. That's impossible. He's looking at me like it's his first time seeing me — but the hair, brown with blonde highlights, the color of the eyes, brown...
"Hey!" the guy said.
The one gripping my arm let go and faced him... and then, just walked away?
"Told you, bro. People in this school don't wanna fight you. Sucks for you," the guy beside him said, then turned his attention to me.
"Hi." He smiled. Blonde hair with red streaks. Obviously dyed.
"Hello..." I replied.
"I'm Twan," he said, offering a handshake.
"I'm Elise."
"And this is Minho."
"Hello, Minho." I greeted him with a slight bow.
Then, just like that — Minho started walking away.
I didn't really care, I was in a rush trying to find my classroom. But something in me told me to follow him. So... I did.
"Ah—wait!"
Minho turned his head. Twan raised an eyebrow.
"Twan, let's go," Minho muttered, clearly ignoring me.
"Dude, be nice. She's new, don't ruin school morale, yeah?" Twan turned to me. "So, what is it, Elise?"
"I'm new here and... I don't know where my room is. Do you guys know where the class list is?"
"Ohhh, you're that girl that they were talking about. Go straight ahead, then turn right. The administrator's office is there. He can help you."
"Thank you"
"Anytime Elise"
"Dude, let's go." Minho budged.
"Bye Elise!"
"Bye...?"
But before leaving, Minho walked up to me. "Just because you're a girl doesn't mean I'm gonna be nice to you." He smirked, then walked off.
"What'd you say to her, bro?" I heard Twan ask.
"None of your business," Minho replied, putting on his headphones.
Ugh. Rude.
Anyways, I headed to the office Twan mentioned and was about to knock when the door flung open. A tall man, probably late 30s, stood there.
"Uhh... hello?" I said while giving an awkward smile.
"New girl. Come in." He said.
"Oh—okay."
"Sit down."
He gestured to the seat in front of his desk. I sat, unsure what to say.
"I'm Mr. Saejima Monroe. You've been assigned to Fourth Year, Section Three. I'll walk you to class since I'm the moderator. But first, paperwork."
"Okay, sir."
Once everything was filled out, he led me through the hallways. People stared. Was it my sweat suit? Yeah... probably. I didn't have my uniform yet.
So while me and Mr. Saejima were walking, he manage to talk to me while heading to the classroom.
"I know it's a lot to take in," Mr. Saejima said while walking, "but do your best."
"Yes, sir. It's gonna be my first year here, after all." I replied
"So youre going to be one of us from now on huh? "I heard your last school in the Philippines was pretty good.""
"It was nice."
"Did you consider staying home and commuting?"
"I did... but dorm life seemed safer."
He chuckled. "Safer, huh? Hmm... Would you call this school safe?" He says while gesturing around him.
Huh? What's that supposed to mean?
"Anyway, why are you in a sweat suit?" He continued.
"Didn't get my uniform yet, Sir." I replied as I looked at him.
"What about your old one?"
"I got it dirty on my last day-"
As I spoke, we were interrupted on some commotion that broke out ahead of us. So I peeked into one of the first floor classrooms.
All boys. Like, literally... all boys.
"Good grief, they're at it again," Mr. Saejima muttered.
"This might be my imagination but... This school sure has a lot of boys doesn't it?"
"Huh?" He gave me a confused look.
"It feels I've seen nothing but boys here..."
"You haven't heard? Until last year, this was an—"
"WATCH OUT!" I heard a guy shout from behind me.
Instinctively I turned my head towards the voice. And then...
BANG!
"Ouch!" I yelled. Wh- What the... Did something hit my head?
"Jung!" I hear Mr. Saejima call out my last name. "Hey, Jung..." He called out one more time.
Before I'm able to tell him I'm fine, my consciousness slips away.
...
Hours must have passed since then.
"Ughhh..." I groaned, slowly waking up as I take in on my surroundings. I'm in a hospital bed...?
"Good morning!"
A voice greeted me. A guy stood nearby with slightly messy silvery-ash definitely dyed wolf-cut hair and brown eyes. He looked kinda like... Mr. Saejima.
"Your eyes are cute," he said out of nowhere.
"Who are y—"
Faster than I could ask the question, he closes the curtain that surrounds the bed.
"I'm James Monroe." ...Monroe?
"Wait—are you related to Mr. Saejima?".
"Maaaybe." He grinned. "What's your name?"
"Elise Jung..."
"Elise. I like that." He smiled, but... something about him seemed off. Too smooth. Too close. Too fast. "I'm so glad I finally met the girl everyone's been talking about," he said.
"Who's been talking about me?"
"Anyway..." he leaned in closer. "Wanna do something naughty with me?"
"Uhh—WHAT?"
"Of course," he smirked. "What I mean is this—"
He whispered suggestively as he climbs on top of me!
"Hey! What are you doing?!"
"What do you think I'm doing?" He smirked.
"No! Stop! You can't—!"
"Be quiet!" A voice came outside the curtain.
A voice interrupted from beyond the curtain. The curtain opened. A guy with black hair and dark brown eyes stood there.
"You're giving me a headache, James. If you want to fool around, go somewhere else." The guy added.
"What? No way. I'm gonna need a bed for this, you know. If you don't like it, why don't you get lost, Travis?" James replied.
Travis then turned and walked out.
"Wait! Don't leave me alone with him!" I cried out.
"He's gone," James smirked. "Now, where were we—?"
"KNOCK IT OFF!"
BASH!
"Ouch, Dad!"
Mr. Saejima stormed in.
"Mr. Saejima!" I yelled.
"James, go back to the dorm. School's over."
"Tsk. See you again, Elise!" He winked as he left which earned him another bash on his head from Mr. Saejima.
"I hope not," I muttered.
"Geez.. There's nothing you can do with that kid. Anyway, how are you? You okay? Any pain?" Mr. Saejima asked.
"Not really... Wait, what happened?"
"You took a soccer ball to the face. Got knocked out cold."
"Oh. That explains the headache. Uhh well, I seem fine now. I feel rather good actually."
"I bet. You slept like a log. Well I'm glad nothing's wrong. Classes are all over and you've been out for a while. It's already 4:30 PM"
"WHAT?!"
"Want me to show you to class?" Mr. Saejima says as he ignores my reaction.
"Could you?" I asked.
"You already spent enough of your first day in the nurse's office. C'mon"
...
"Here we are," Mr. Saejima said as we entered.
Sunlight streamed through the windows. I looked around the empty room.
"Wait here. I'll grab a few things."
"Okay, sir." I replied.
I stood by the window, breathing in the air.
Thud.
I turned around.
"You again?" said a familiar voice.
It was Travis.
"Strutting around once more?" He added.
"Strutting? It's just that it's my first day here"
He glances at me as he picks up his bag and puts it over his shoulder. "Why the track suit?" He asked.
"Long story. And don't get the wrong idea earlier in—"
"You talk too much," he cut in. He cuts me off, and then added "Sorry, I don't have any interest in speaking with you"
He slung his bag over his shoulder and walked away.
"You're still here, Park?" Mr. Saejima said as he returned.
"Sup." Travis greeted.
"Go to your dorm."
Then he turned to me. "Sorry for making you wait."
"No worries, sir."
"Let's get you to the dorm. I'll introduce you to the class tomorrow."
"Okay." I replied
Let's get it together and try again tomorrow. I said to myself.
After ten minutes of walking, we reached a massive gate: Heiran Dormitories. Inside, it looked like a small subdivision. All the houses looked the same, like model homes.
Omg I can't wait to meet my other girl roomies and have some Pajama Parties.
"Here's your dorm," Mr. Saejima said.
"Oh—wow." I stared wide eyed.
"Hi~!" a cheerful voice greeted.
Who is she? Or he? What a beauty! The person was slender, graceful, and glowing. But... their voice was deep.... It's so deep!
"So this is the girl?" they asked.
"Yup. Elise Jung. Elise, meet Naoto Nakamura."
"Nice to meet you..."
"Oh, Elise. Nice to meet you! I'm the Resident Director, but just call me Nana~" Wink. After that She/ He Winked. I really don't understand why people keep winking.
"O-Okay..." Naoto... I knew it! He's a man.
"He may look like a man, but he has the heart of a woman" Then Mr. Saejima also added "If there's anything you need, be sure to let him know, he'll be staying for just one week"
"Well, I'm leaving her in your hands, Nana."
"Okie dokie, Saejima~!"
Then Mr. Saejima left, while Nana turned to me. "Let's get you settled, sweetie!"
As we entered the house, it's like I wanna go scream and hug my girl roomies but I have to sustain it. But the dorm's interior though? Huge. And beautiful.
"I'll give you a rulebook later, let's start with the common area!"
I was giddy
Until...
Wait wait wait.. Uhh?
"AHHH!" I screamed.
H-He's nude! A naked guy walked in.
"What's with the girl?" he asked. Asked the naked guy.
"Ryan! What are you doing walking around like that!?"
"I thought I'd be fine as long as my bottoms covered"
Wait he's not naked? I opened my eyes and saw that he was just topless, wearing a bath towel and he has this light brown hair that's slicked back, and slender brown eyes.
"Oh no, honey. You gotta understand, girls can be really sensitive about that! Besides, you gotta be careful when it's wrapped so it doesn't-"
Before Nana can finish his sentence, the towel drops off the guy's waist!
"AHHH!" Now he's naked. No my virgin eyes (cap)!
"RYAN!" Nana also shouted.
I didn't see anything! I almost did, but didn't! That was really close!
"Sorry. It's fixed now"
"Are you sure?" I asked not bothered enough to open my eyes.
"Yeah"
Timidly, I open my eyes. He's still standing there, looking at me.
"My bad. I didn't mean to show off like that"
Show off?
"It's ok, I didn't see anything"
He just smiled and said "That's good then" and he laughed.
"Youre both in the same year, Elise"
"Huh?" The same year? I could've sworn this guy was a Teacher.
"Ryan, this is Elise Jung. She'll be living here from now on. Tell everyone to come to the lounge so that I can introduce her-"
"Er, forget that, Nana," Ryan replied casually. "Tell everyone to come to the dining room instead. It's almost dinner anyway, so that would be a better idea."
"Ryan! You should be the one telling them!"
"Got it, Nana."
"All right, Elise. Let's go to your room, shall we? After that, we'll head toward the dining room."
"Sure," I nodded, still trying to process everything.
Whew... what a day. I started wondering if the dorm wasn't separated into boys and girls after all. But no, this had to be the common area. Just a fluke. Right?
Thankfully, when Nana showed me my room, I realized we had our own separate spaces. One girl per room. Huge relief.
"Okay! We'll drop off your things first. Next up, we introduce you to everyone."
I was sweating bullets. What if the girls hate me? What if I never get to have a pajama party ever again? The horror.
"There's no need to be scared, honey. So this is the dining room-"
I turned to look around and...
...
WHAAA-!?