New Students

The night grew quieter as tired bodies and weary souls slowly sank into sleep, as if reluctant to wake again.

The day had felt long—filled with countless moments, both sad and happy—passing one after another without anyone able to stop them.

Time always moves forward. Never waiting. Never pausing.

Even when the eyes refuse to open, the body still has to rise, because another longer day is already waiting ahead. Sleep always feels too short, doesn’t it?

Last night’s rain didn’t disturb the brightness of the morning that now smiled gently over the world. The sun shone with a soft glow, as if everything had agreed to be peaceful. Even the birds seemed to sing in approval.

“Oh God… I’m late!”

Lien’s voice broke the calm morning as she stared at the clock—06:45 AM.

“I swear I just slept a moment ago… why is the sun already this high?!”

Without wasting another second, she rushed to get ready. A quick, careless shower, then she dashed out toward school as fast as she could.

Normally, Luhan would pick her up—but not today. He had left early for extra football training.

Sava? She was on duty today, so she had to leave earlier as well.

“Ugh… what do I do? The gate is already closed…”

“Late, miss? You should just go home,” the security guard said calmly.

“Sir… from the bottom of my heart, please open the gate! I’ll buy you two packs of cigarettes, I promise!”

The guard shot her a sharp look.

“You kids are already learning bribery? What will become of this nation like this?”

“N-no, sir… it’s not like that! My father will scold me if I skip school…”

In the end, after Lien almost cried using her famous puppy eyes, the guard finally gave in.

“But this is the last time. No more exceptions if you’re late again.”

“Thank you so much, Sir!”

Lien immediately ran inside.

“This trick again… and I still fall for it,” the guard muttered in defeat.

She hurried toward her classroom at the far end of the building. But because she was rushing, she lost focus—

THUD!

She bumped into someone and fell in a completely ungraceful way right in front of a classroom.

“Ouch… that hurts…”

“Are you okay?” a male voice said, offering his hand.

Lien took it and stood up.

Their eyes met.

Silence lingered for a moment.

Something about him felt… familiar.

“I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to,” Lien said quickly.

“Are you Lien Ariesty? Sava’s best friend?” the boy suddenly asked.

Lien blinked. “Yes… do you know me?”

“Don’t you recognize me?”

She studied his face a little longer.

“…Kay?” her eyes widened. “Sava’s cousin who moved to London?”

Kay smiled faintly. “So you still remember me.”

“Of course. You were the one who helped me when I was chased by dogs at the park, right?”

Kay laughed. “And you were crying under the mango tree.”

“Hey! I was traumatized!” Lien pouted.

“Still the same… a crybaby.”

“I’m not!”

Kay chuckled. “Alright, Miss Mature.”

Their conversation flowed easily, like pieces of childhood slipping back into place.

“By the way, do you know where Science Class 11-2 is?” Kay asked.

“That’s my class. Are you a transfer student?”

Kay nodded.

“Perfect! We’re classmates then!”

They walked together toward the classroom, and Lien completely forgot she was supposed to be rushing.

“Oh, I didn’t come alone,” Kay said. “My friend is with me. He’s handling administration at the office because he’s struggling with the local language.”

“A foreigner?” Lien’s eyes sparkled instantly.

Kay nodded.

“Oh wow… so we’ll have a foreign student! The half fish man in our school is going to lose its popularity,” she grinned mischievously.

“You mean Excel, ah Luhan?” Kay asked. "How's he going?"

“Worse. He’s getting more and more clueless as he grows. Acting cool, acting cute… but somehow his fangirls love him even more.”

Kay laughed softly. “Then he really is popular.”

“He is… but his math grades are embarrassing.”

“Still, maybe only he knows why he’s like that,” Kay said calmly.

Lien glanced at him. “You talk like Sava.”

“Maybe… we are cousins, after all.”

When they arrived in class, all eyes turned toward Kay as he introduced himself. The room quickly buzzed with excitement.

Soon, lessons began.

---

Meanwhile…

“Good thing I came early… or I’d be in trouble,” Sava muttered while walking.

She checked her phone.

“Lien still hasn’t arrived? That girl…”

“Excuse me…”

A voice suddenly called out.

Sava turned.

A tall boy with slightly blond-brown hair stood in front of her.

“Where is Science Class 11-2?”

“Oh… that’s my class. If you don’t mind, we can walk together.”

“Thanks a lot.”

Sava smiled lightly.

“Good thing he understands Country Z language… I was about to act cool in English,” she thought in relief.

“My name is Sava. And you?”

“Ohsen… Ohsen Smith.”

Before the conversation could continue—

Someone suddenly wrapped an arm around Sava from behind.

“Eh?!”

She turned around in shock.

Luhan.

He stood there casually, completely unaware of the situation he just interrupted.

“Ohsen?” Luhan said.

“Excel? You’re here.”

The two boys exchanged a familiar gesture—half greeting, half disbelief.

“You said you weren’t coming to Country Z,” Luhan said.

“Surprise,” Ohsen replied casually. “I was actually planning to visit your house tonight, brother...”

Sava just stood there, blinking.

“…Brother?” she asked softly, confused.

“Yeah. He’s my cousin,” Luhan answered casually.

Sava nodded slowly.

“Oh… so you’re classmates too?” Ohsen asked, glancing at Sava.

“Not just classmates,” Luhan said suddenly.

Sava turned.

Luhan smiled—too casually, too lightly.

“Sava is my girlfriend—”

He paused for a second.

Then added, in an almost playful tone…

“—mine.”

Silence fell.

And in that moment—

Sava didn’t know why…

but her chest suddenly felt slightly tight.