Elara stepped into the class.
This time, the silence wasn't natural.
Sir Alvin was already inside.
Everyone sat straight. No shouting. No chaos. Just eyes—too many of them—quietly watching her.
Aries wasn't here anymore. Which meant no warnings, no explanations. Just curiosity hanging in the air.
Elara stood near the door, hoodie still up, hands relaxed. She didn't rush. Didn't look for approval.
Ci-En leaned toward David and whispered, "She looks like she could survive Section E."
David smacked his head lightly. "Shut up. Sir's right there."
Sir Alvin cleared his throat. "Alright, class. We have a new student joining us."
He turned to Elara. "Your name is… uh…"
A pause.
Even Elara blinked.
Sir Alvin frowned at the file. "Elena? Ellana?"
Felix whispered, "Sir, pick one before she graduates."
A few suppressed laughs.
"Elara," she said calmly. "Elara Solen."
Sir Alvin nodded like he totally knew that already. "Yes. Elara. Welcome."
She bowed her head slightly and walked in.
She looked around once, then chose the last corner seat near the Window.
As she passed the middle row, Mayo stretched his leg out, pretending to adjust his bag.
"Oi," Kit muttered, then smacked Mayo's head. "You want to die?"
Mayo hissed, "I was just joking!"
Elara's foot brushed his leg.
She lost balance—just a little.
Not enough to fall.
Enough for the whole class to freeze.
She steadied herself, didn't look down, didn't glare, didn't react.
Just continued walking.
I stared at Mayo.
He swallowed and pulled his leg back immediately.
She chose the last corner window seat.
Felix whispered, "Of course. The 'don't talk to me' seat."
Calix replied, "Or the 'I'll survive alone' seat."
Sir Alvin began teaching.
Nobody listened.
Yuri was the only one actually focused—head down, pen moving, fully in his notes. Every few seconds, his eyes lifted—not toward Elara—but toward Kiefer.
Kiefer, on the other hand, acted like Elara didn't exist.
King behavior.
Except… every now and then, his eyes flicked to me.
And then he smiled.
That annoying, knowing smile.
I rolled my eyes.
He mouthed, Office date?
I mouthed back, Shut up.
He leaned back, satisfied.
Time passed.
Some students ignored Elara completely. Some whispered. Some stared too long.
Lunch bell rang.
The class exploded back to life.
Ci-En stood up immediately. "Alright, new girl test."
David groaned. "Don't."
Too late.
Ci-En walked toward her desk. "Hey, so what should we call you?"
Before she could answer, Rory leaned in from the side. "Yeah. Name? Nickname? Something cool?"
I stood up halfway. "Rory—"
"Elara's fine," she said calmly.
Then she added, "Or… Ate."
The nearby students burst out laughing.
Felix laughed. "Bro got promoted to little brother."
Rory scratched his head. "Ate? As in—"
"Yes," she said simply.
He nodded awkwardly and walked away. "Okay. Ate."
Ci-En tried again, smiling. "So, Ate Elara, lunch together?"
" No , it's alright"
Cn walked towards his seat but in midway he realised that he
wasn't done.
He walked back to Elara's desk like this was his personal mission.
"So… Ate Elara," he said, smiling too confidently, "are you sure you don't want to have lunch with us?"
She looked at him calmly.
"No, thank you," she said. Then added gently,
"Little brother."
The class froze.
Then—
Laughter.
Felix nearly fell off his chair. "Little brother?!"
Calix slapped his desk. "That's worse than rejection."
Ci-En blinked. "I—what?"
She nodded once, kind and polite, then turned back to her notebook.
Ignored.
Edrix grinned. "Bro just got adopted."
Mayo whispered, "Moment of silence."
Ci-En walked back to his seat, completely defeated.
"I don't like her," he muttered. "She's rude."
I leaned back, watching her.
She wasn't rude.
Wasn't loud.
Wasn't trying to be funny.
And yet—
Section E is this much entertained after a long time.
Kiefer glanced at me from across the room, smiling like he was enjoying the show.
I rolled my eyes.
New girl. First day.
Already causing damage.
And she didn't even try.