Imaginara: Beyond the Known — Chapter 1
The morning bell rang, but the hallways were already buzzing. Students crowded the corridors, backpacks swinging, some racing to class, others dawdling. Lockers slammed, laughter bounced off the walls, and the scent of toast from the cafeteria drifted in.
Inside Class 2-B, the teacher had begun attendance.
"Alright, boys first," she said, flipping through her list. "Fang?"
"Here!" Fang raised his hand casually, eyes already scanning the room. Top student, confident, the kind of guy who didn't need to try to stand out.
While the teacher continued down the list, Shael leaned toward Amzar. "Dude, lift your face from the table or you're gonna miss it."
Amzar groaned without moving. "I don't care… not feeling it today."
The teacher's pen moved steadily, names being called one by one. The chatter between Shael and Amzar floated in the background, unnoticed.
Suddenly, the door slid open. A late arrival.
"Present!" Asher's voice echoed in the classroom.
The teacher froze, then burst out laughing. "Woah… our king has arrived!" she called, mockingly. "Class, give him a round of applause!"
Hands clapped and some snickered as Asher sauntered in, hands raised as if greeting fans, making his way to his seat with all the exaggerated flair of a celebrity.
"Seriously, Asher," the teacher said, still smirking. "Why do you keep coming late? This time, no attendance for you!"
Asher blinked. "Wait… but I came exactly when my name was about to be called."
"Mister!" she snapped. "That was the girls' attendance! The boys' list ended a while ago."
Laughter rippled through the classroom.
One girl near the window muttered loud enough for Asher to hear, "Clown." Her name was Lina, rolling her eyes at his theatrics.
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Lunch Break — Rumors and Friends
The cafeteria was buzzing with chatter. Groups of girls laughed and whispered in corners, some casually watching the boys.
"You heard the rumor?" one whispered.
"What rumor?" another asked.
"That Asher and Lina are dating," said a girl near the window.
"Me? Dating this clown?" Lina scoffed, crossing her arms. "Not in a million years!"
Meanwhile, Asher sat with his friends at their usual table.
"I should just bunk school and go home," he muttered, poking at his food. "There's no proof I was even here."
"Then start waking up earlier," Tazen teased.
"I tried! Didn't hear my alarm," Asher replied. "Even my mom slapped me, still didn't wake up."
Tazen grinned. "Hmm… I also heard some rumors going around… between you and her."
Asher waved a hand dismissively. "Bro, I don't like her. And this isn't the first time people have been simping over me. There've been tons of girls saying I like them. I don't know what I do or say that makes them think that."
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