Chapter Three: The New Boy From the City
The school buzzed with curiosity the next morning.
"There's a new student."
"He's from the city."
"I heard he transferred suddenly."
Feifei listened without looking up.
New students came and went. They always caused a stir at first. Then people moved on.
During first period, the door opened.
The principal walked in, followed by a tall boy in a neatly pressed uniform. He had sharp features and calm eyes that didn't scan the room nervously like most new students did.
"This is Kael Stone," the principal said. "Please make him feel welcome."
Kael nodded once, hands in his pockets.
"Good morning."
His voice was low. Steady.
Feifei felt it before she understood it — the subtle shift in the room. Girls straightened in their seats. Whispers spread like wildfire.
The teacher pointed to an empty seat near the middle. Kael walked down the aisle slowly.
As he passed Feifei's desk, his gaze flickered toward her.
Just for a second.
But it felt longer.
Feifei's fingers tightened around her pen.
Why did he look at me?
She told herself it meant nothing. People looked at each other all the time. Still, she couldn't bring herself to look up again until he had already sat down.
Throughout the lesson, she caught herself glancing in his direction. Kael didn't talk much. Didn't laugh. Didn't try to impress anyone.
He simply listened.
At the end of the day, as students poured out of the classroom, Feifei packed her bag carefully.
She felt watched.
When she finally looked up, Kael was standing a few steps away, waiting for the crowd to clear.
Their eyes met.
He didn't smile.
Neither did she.
But something passed between them — recognition, maybe. Or curiosity.
Feifei looked away first.
Her heart beat faster for reasons she couldn't explain.