Seven Years Later
It was supposed to be a normal morning.
Ashley adjusted the strap of her bag and walked toward Jefferson High, already mentally preparing herself for another long school day.
Then she saw them.
A group of boys standing near the sidewalk, laughing too loudly. The kind that clearly had too much free time.
Ashley's expression immediately changed to one that clearly said: I don't have the energy for this.
She tried to walk past them.
"Wow…" one of them called out. "You're really beautiful. Can I get your phone number?"
Ashley kept walking.
"Um… no. Thanks. Less. Bye."
She didn't stop.
They followed.
"Come on… we just want your number."
"You're really my type."
"Please… just give it to us."
Her walk turned faster.
So did theirs.
She clenched her jaw.
Suddenly—
A hand grabbed her wrist.
"Now you can't run!" one of them said with a crooked smile.
Her heart skipped.
Before she could react—
Another hand grabbed the boy's arm.
Hard.
The grip twisted sharply, forcing him to let go.
"She said no," a calm, deep voice said. "What part of that is confusing?"
The boys went silent.
Ashley turned slowly.
A tall boy stood there in the same school uniform. Dark wavy hair slightly messy. Sharp green eyes.
For a second, she forgot to breathe.
The boys backed away almost immediately.
"Whatever," one muttered before they walked off.
Silence filled the space.
The stranger turned toward her.
Those green eyes met hers for just a second.
Something about them the intensity, the calm made her feel like the world had paused.
"Thank you…" she said softly.
He looked at her.
No smile. No dramatic speech.
Then he turned and walked away.
Ashley blinked.
"What is wrong with him?" she muttered under her breath. "Suddenly he can't talk?"
Half an hour later,
Ashley reached the school gate where Emily was waiting.
"Hello to the most perfect girl in the world!" Emily announced dramatically before jumping on her in a hug.
Ashley laughed. "Hi, Emily!"
Emily pulled back slightly. "You look like something happened."
Ashley felt her cheeks warm a little.
"Are you sure you didn't meet someone new?" Emily asked suspiciously.
"What? No! Why would you think that?" Ashley said quickly.
"Are you sure…?"
"Yes. But I'll tell you what happened this morning anyway."
A few minutes later, after Ashley explained everything—
"WHAT?!" Emily nearly shouted. "He's in our school?!"
Ashley immediately shushed her. "Yes! But quiet!"
They started walking through the hallway.
"I mean…" Ashley said more quietly, "he's definitely my type. I don't even know why. There was just something about him… and his eyes. When he looked at me this morning for a second… I don't know. It felt different."
Emily nodded casually. "Okay… mysterious hallway hero. Interesting."
They continued talking normally after that about theater rehearsal, homework, random gossip. The moment slowly blended into the rest of their day.
On the second floor, they passed by the long hallway windows without thinking about it. Ashley was mid-sentence, explaining something dramatically with her hands while Emily laughed.
She didn't look up.
She didn't notice anything unusual.
Meanwhile—
On the third floor balcony outside, the tall stranger (Jonathan)stood near the railing.
He hadn't come out for anyone specific. Just air.
His gaze moved lazily across the school grounds… until it reached the second-floor windows.
That's when he saw her.
The girl he met this morning , walking side by side with her friend . Laughing. Talking.
His eyes settled on her .
He watched quietly for almost a full minute." Mmm…" he say take of his glasses.
No expression. No movement.
Just observing.
Then, as if nothing had happened, he looked away.
To be continued