It was ten minutes to 9 a.m., and the corridor buzzed with sleepy footsteps and murmured gossip. The boys' and girls' classrooms stood opposite each other, separated only by a stretch of polished floor—and a battlefield of side-eyes and unspoken rivalries.
Elena stood near her classroom door, flipping through her notes. She liked arriving early. Fewer people. Less noise.
From across the corridor, laughter echoed. She didn't look up. She didn't need to.
"Morning, topper." Joel's voice drifted over like a breeze that insisted on being noticed.
She sighed, not bothering to glance his way. "No classes to skip today?"
He leaned casually against the doorframe of his class, arms crossed. "Tempting. But your fanboys might miss me."
She turned to face him, calm but sharp. "They're not my fanboys. They just have good taste."
Joel chuckled, pushing off the wall and taking a step closer—still keeping his distance. "So do I. I like quiet girls with too much attitude."
Elena didn't flinch. "And I like boys who know when to shut up."
For a second, he looked almost impressed. "Touché."
Just then, the bell rang. Doors began opening. Students spilled into the corridor, separating them.
Elena turned and walked into her class without another word.
Joel watched her go, the usual smirk lingering—except this time, something behind it felt...curious.