Hold On Tight!

Narrator:The room gasps in awe with Aarden's smooth delivery and cute but somehow cold smile.

Sir "Baldie"🧑‍🦲:Class,settle down😒...Mr Li you can now go to your seat.

Aarden❄️:Thank you sir-

Narrator:The students' eyes follow his direction until he settles at the back of the class.

Helio☀️:Hey! 👋 ☺️

Narrator:A warm voice like a cup of chocolate in a cold morning greets him.

Helio☀️:Nice to finally have a seatmate.The name's Helio,at your service.😊

Narrator:Aarden turns his head at Helio at sharply 2 seconds before 1:05 p.m.At 0.5 microseconds,he studies Helio's messy blonde curls,his radiant smile too wide for his taste,and a bandage on his nose.Then his brain gears clicked,he calmly adjusted his faltering smile then nodded then turned away to face the teacher....Narrator:Helio expected a nice to meet you,like any normal person will logically say,but nope,Aarden basically emotionally ghosted him.He turns his head to the front.

Helio☀️:😀...okay...?🙂

---***

Narrator:Finally after grueling hours of boring lectures and snooze fests,the classroom finally releases the students like caged animals getting a taste of freedom.Like chickens on a farm,they all swarmed in the cafeteria.

Katniss💖(sipping a juice box):Anch 'he chast nodsh acho layk dat??🤨

Helio☀️:Uh yeah,well,I tried talking to him but everytime...he answers me with a hum,even if it's not an appropriate answer!!! 😑

Katniss💖:Huh,so mysterious...(gasps✨)speaking of mysterious...LOOK!!!✨✨

Narrator:Helio turns around and sees Ace and his gang.

Katniss💖(sighs dreamily):Isn't he just amazing~🤭✨✨

Helio☀️:Katniss,he's literally only...breathing.

Katniss💖:I know right,tehee~✨

Narrator:While Katniss,squirming with her own thoughts while eyes closed..Helio looks at her 😑😐 silently judging her while sipping juice.

---***

Narrator(snaps finger):Fast forward after lunch,the students of Class 11-Courage,dressed in P.E uniforms gathered at the school gym about to partake in a P.E activity....Narrator:Aarden,the new kid in town,with all his graceful figure and glistening sweat under the gym's gigantic bulbs is tossing a dodgeball on his hand.He gracefully swerves left to right,avoiding the dodgeballs flying towards him.He planted his right foot then flung the ball to the other side, eliminating 3 students at....once?!!!!😲Wait,how is that even possible?!!...Narrator:Wa-WAIT,WAIT?!BURGOS IS DOWN,ZAMORA IS ALSO OUT,AND SANTIAGO OUT AS WELL!!🤯ONLY AARDEN from his side remains standing like the lone star HE IS!!Will he triumph against all odds or will he fall just like his comrades?!🫨

[CUE Eye of the tiger!!!]

Narrator:OOOooh~Aarden is dodging the balls like bullets!He steps LEFT THEN RIGHT!!💃HE MOVES JUST LIKE HOW I AVOID SOCIAL INTERACTIONS! 😭He ducked when 3 BALLS ARE FLYING RIGHT AT HIS DIRECTION!💀Meanwhile on the other side, they're growing restless!! Absolutely frustrated why this new kid won't just lose but he's no ordinary kiddo..HE'S AARDEN LI!!👏👏✨✨He catches a ball midair then flings it back to the other side..IT HIT 2 KIDS!🫢😲PUTEK,how is this even possible?!😩

[Eye of the tiger intensifies]

Narrator:Aarden throws the ball,he misses the kid but little did the poor kid knows..the ball swerves like a boomerang and hits him on the back!ANOTHER SCORE FOR AARDEN!👏🎉THE CROWD GOES WILD!!🎊Only 2 students remain on the other side,a girl and Helio...will Aarden win this 2 vs 1!!!!🥁

*smack.........*thud.........*the crowd collectively gasps.........Narrator: The flying ball smacked the girl's poor face. She fell to the ground. The marks on the ball imprinted on her face, and blood started to drip from her nose. Some students rushed to help the poor girl.Aarden was getting ready to throw another ball but stopped when he saw other students on the field. Some side eyed him. When he just stood there—they started to whisper.

Helio☀️: Uy!

Narrator: Helio's tone was still friendly but firm.

Helio☀️: You better apologize to her.

Narrator: Aarden adjusted his expression into an innocent smile.

Aarden❄️: She didn’t dodge.☺️

Narrator: Hearing this, the hushed whispers turned into louder mutterings. Some students started to speak up, and Aarden reluctantly walked over to the girl. She and the others beside her looked up at Aarden’s icy, towering figure.

Aarden❄️: 🙂 Hey, I’m sorry I hit you hard.

Narrator: Aarden leaned a little toward the girl.

Aarden❄️: But you should be more careful next time.What’s the point of dodgeball if you don’t dodge?Don’t want to break your pretty face, amirite~ 🙂☺️✨

Narrator: He smiled coldly while the girl held back tears. She didn’t want to look more pathetic in front of Aarden, even though she was already a blushing mess.

Helio☀️: What in the holy guacamole was that apology!?👹

Aarden❄️: What? ☺️ I said sorry. That should’ve counted, right?✨

Helio☀️:Apologize to her properly. Now.

Narrator: Helio’s voice cracked like thunder — a rare sound from him. The students collectively gasped.

Narrator: Aarden’s eyes flickered intrigue. His calm smile turned into a smirk. He confidently went over to Helio—his back straight and a ☺️ face—then leaned close to his shoulder then whispered on his ear.Helio took an involuntary step back.

Aarden❄️: Or~What are you gonna do?Report me to the principal's office?Or do you want to settle the score right here, right now?

Narrator: Aarden backed away and gracefully walked off.

Aarden❄️:I already apologized, Helio~

Narrator: Helio just stood there, processing what just happened.Then he sharply turned to glare in Aarden’s direction.His usual friendly face now twisted in scorn.

Helio☀️ (internally): WTFFF!!?? 👹👺👺

Narrator: If you squint your eyes and look a lil~ closer…you can see Helio’s ears stained pink.Huh. 👁️👄👁️

---***

Narrator:Aarden—No.2 as the most popular kid in Guenerva High roams around the hallways.Girls gush over him and he gives them a mechanically polite smile.Boys salute him and he gives a rehearsed wave back.Then he stops......Narrator:Katniss is ranting about Ace,her arms waving animatedly,and Helio just watches her with a polite smile and gentle eyes....Narrator:Aarden quickly hides behind a pillar and waits for the pair to pass by.He touches his chin then he smiles mischievously..

Aarden❄️:Huh.

---***

Narrator:The next day,Katniss is humming Bini's Na na na when a smooth cool voice calls out to her..

Aarden❄️:Excuse me?

Narrator:Katniss immediately turned in Aarden's direction.

Katniss💖:OH MAH GAD!🤯It's AARDEN the LI!?IN THE FLESH???😱

Narrator:Aarden politely smiles at her reaction.He walks a little closer to Katniss.

Aarden❄️:Hmmm,you must know your way really well around this school,right?☺️

Katniss 💖:OF COURSE!!I know this school like it's the back of my hand!!✨

Aarden❄️:Figures,you look like you do...

Narrator:Katniss felt honored and insulted at the same time.

Katniss💖(mumbles):What does that mean...

Aarden❄️:Now..(he slowly puts his palm on the locker door,pinning Katniss)..will you be my tour guide,pretty please~✨

Narrator:👀👀👀👀👀