Thank God it's a free period. Everyone is off doing their own thing, forming little cliques of their own.
There are the athletes, all brawn, maybe a little brain. The fashion models, every compliment feeds their egos. The nerds, unless it's about Einstein or Newton, you don't exist. And then the otakus, where interrupting a fan debate is practically a death sentence.
And then there's me. The nobody.
The only one with my nose buried in a book. Not a textbook, not a study guide. Just a plain, old book.
I turned my head, and as fate would have it, my eyes met those of a fellow comrade. Not one in arms, but in dusty tomes.
A grin flickered between us, an unspoken understanding passing in that brief exchange. Two souls lost in worlds not our own, unwilling to break free from the illusion. With a quiet nod, we both dipped our heads back under the tables.
Half an hour later, the bell rang, clear and sonorous, marking the end of the day's academic grind.
I stood, stretching. My height wasn't much to boast about compared to Ben's; I was barely 5'11", and he had me beat by a full head.
"Padi, how long is it gonna take before you finally read Chrysalis?" he asked, his tone half-accusing, half-pleading. "I'm telling you, the book is incredible!"
I sighed, exasperated. "I've told you already. I'll think about it."
"Think about it? At this rate, the world'll end before you even start Chapter One."
I stuffed the novel into my grey satchel, slung it over my shoulder, and headed for the door.
Ben followed, three thick books stacked neatly in his backpack, each one more intimidating than the last. He was clearly a step ahead of me on this scholarly path.
We left the classroom side by side, our footsteps echoing against the terracotta tiles. The corridor exhaled a soft breeze that brushed against our dark faces, as if sighing at our presence.
Lady Luck must have had a grudge against us from birth since neither of us had the luxury of luscious, flowing hair to flaunt in the wind.
No siree.
Just short, curly black hair. I'd always been fascinated by other people's hair. The closest I'd ever come to it was a wig. I could hardly believe there were actual people whose hair looked that good.
Back to the matter at hand, we made our way toward the dorms, still walking in step. My gaze drifted over the crowd, a procession of faces in every shade and tone, some with especially small eyes.
Even though I knew this was an international school, the scene still struck me as surreal. My eyes lingered on those with striking hair, and I felt jealousy simmer beneath my calm exterior.
I turned and met Ben's glare, the same mix of envy and silent understanding.
"Lucky bastards…" we muttered in unison, almost as if we shared one mind. Part of me wished they could hear the bitterness behind our words.
Damn. So this is how baldies must feel, I thought, joining the steady stream of students.
Stepping out of the academic building, a wave of heat crashed over me. The golden sentinel hung high in the sky, glaring down with the malevolent eye of a watchful god.
I squinted and raised a hand to shield my eyes. Ahead, four towering buildings stood, each marked by a distinct symbol.
One bore the schema of the night sky. Infinite and boundless.
Another depicted a mountain so high its peak pierced the heavens.
A third displayed a golden coin tossed into the sky, its light fading beyond the horizon as darkness reclaimed its reign.
And finally, a crescent moon shimmered in a sea of stars. The symbol of mystery and change.
We headed toward Astra Hall. As I stepped inside, a familiar voice rang out from somewhere ahead.
"Yo, Padi! What's up, man?"