Chapter 1: She was his first love
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[ 09:00 A.M., Brisden High School ]
The classroom buzzed with life.
Students chatted freely, laughter rising and falling in waves as they shared morning gossip, weekend stories, and whatever nonsense came to mind before the first bell. The smell of marker ink lingered faintly in the air, mixing with the spring breeze sneaking in through half-open windows.
Ding ding ding~
The school bell rang sharply, cutting through the noise like a knife.
"Everyone, to your seats!" one student shouted playfully, and like clockwork, the classroom shifted into order. Desks scraped against the floor, chairs creaked, and the chorus of voices faded into silence.
The door slid open.
In walked their homeroom teacher, Mr. Dalton — a middle-aged man with a square jaw, neatly combed hair, and a reputation for being strict but fair. The class rose together, voices blending into a respectful, if slightly sleepy, chorus.
"Good morning, Mr. Dalton."
"Good morning, class. Take your seats."
They did as told, the air settling into that familiar calm before the day's first lesson began. Mr. Dalton adjusted his glasses and glanced at the attendance sheet in his hand.
"Before we begin today's class," he said, tapping the corner of the sheet, "we have a new student joining us. He just moved to Brisden with his family, and starting today, he'll be a part of this class. Treat him well."
The room immediately lit up.
Murmurs spread across the desks like wildfire.
"Is it a guy or a girl?"
"Do they look cool?"
"I hope it's a girl... maybe someone cute!"
"Bet it's another nerd."
But when the door opened again, the room fell into stunned silence.
A tall, handsome young man stepped into the classroom. His golden-blonde hair shimmered in the soft sunlight pouring through the windows, almost glowing like it belonged in a shampoo commercial. His eyes were a striking golden hue, warm yet sharp, like they could see right through you.
He looked like someone who'd stepped out of a high-end fashion magazine.
Girls gasped quietly. Some giggled behind their hands. Even the guys looked impressed, exchanging glances that silently said, Damn, he's good-looking.
The boy gave a polite nod and introduced himself with a smooth, confident voice.
"My name is Shan Carter. My family just moved to Brisden last week, so I'll be in your care from today onward."
"Welcome to Brisden High, Shan!" a few girls said brightly, already leaning forward in their chairs.
"Pick any open seat," Mr. Dalton said, gesturing to the classroom.
Shan made his way toward the back, choosing the seat by the window — the most iconic and sought-after spot in any classroom. As he sat down, a beam of light streamed through the glass, highlighting the gold in his hair and making him look even more unreal.
Mr. Dalton cleared his throat, trying to bring the class back to focus.
"Alright, everyone, open your textbooks. Let's begin with Chapter 3."
[ 12:30 P.M., Brisden High School – Lunch Break ]
The bell rang again, signaling the end of the morning period.
Students stretched, yawned, and immediately dove back into their social chaos. Mr. Dalton gave a few quick homework instructions before heading out, leaving the class to their own devices.
And naturally, all attention turned to Shan.
"Shan, do you have a girlfriend?"
"Where do you live? Maybe nearby?"
"Do you use Insta or WeChat? Can I add you?"
"Do you model?"
Shan smiled calmly, replying politely but with practiced grace. He answered just enough to be charming, but not enough to be too open. The girls giggled at his every word, while some of the boys had already started crowding him too, eager to befriend the new star of the class.
In the corner of the room, a quiet figure stood up, unnoticed.
He pushed his chair in, grabbed his bag, and stepped out into the hallway.
[ Brisden High School – 3rd Floor, Class 9-A ]
A group of girls sat by the windows, chatting and laughing as they unpacked their lunches. One of them — a girl with soft blonde hair tied in a ponytail and bright blue eyes — suddenly stopped mid-laugh and looked toward the classroom door.
"Ah— Luke!" she called out.
The boy outside paused.
"Lily" he replied quietly.
She stood up, waved goodbye to her friends, and jogged toward him with a grin. Without hesitation, she threw her arms around him in a casual, affectionate hug. The boy stiffened for a second, his cheeks flushing faintly.
"Come on, let's go home," Lily said brightly. "You're always spacing out during lunch."
They walked together down the school steps, the noise of Brisden High fading behind them. Students milled around the gates, but Luke kept his head slightly down, walking beside Lily in silence.
The spring sky stretched above them, pale blue and cloudless.
Luke glanced up quietly, watching a bird soar by.
"Luke! Walk faster," Lily called out, already a few steps ahead. "We'll be late!"
Luke blinked and caught up. His thoughts drifted again as he followed her pace.
[ Luke's Inner Monologue ]
My name… is Luke Harris.
I'm 18 years old this year.
And unfortunately… I'm the protagonist of this story.
He gave a small smile at the thought. Not that anyone would believe it if he said it out loud.
Luke had always been different. Not just because of how quiet he was, or how distant he felt from people — but because of a truth buried deep within him.
Six years ago, he had woken up in this world with no memories, no family, and no name that felt like his own. Just an empty mind and the body of a 12-year-old boy lying hungry in an alley behind a supermarket.
He wasn't born in this world. He was… transferred here.
A soul with no past. A mind without a history.
Just when he thought he would die of hunger, curled up and forgotten — she appeared.
A beautiful woman. Kind eyes. A warm voice.
She took him in.
Gave him food. A bed. A name. A place.
She gave him a home.
Her name was Sarah Whitmore. A single mother with two daughters of her own. She adopted him without hesitation, raising him like one of her own. From that day forward, Luke's life began to change.
They lived in a cozy two-story house in the heart of Brisden Town, just outside Westbridge City. It wasn't fancy, but it was warm, filled with laughter, meals at the table, and moments that felt real.
And for the first time, Luke felt… human.
His gaze shifted to the girl beside him — Lily Whitmore, his lively younger stepsister. They were in the same school now, though in different classes. She talked a lot, laughed even more, and treated him like he'd always been her older brother.
He smiled faintly.
Family… huh?
They reached the small wooden gate of their home.
Before Lily could knock, the door opened.
Standing there, framed by the soft light of the hallway, was the woman who had changed everything.
Golden-blonde hair fell in waves around her shoulders, her blue eyes soft and full of affection. She wore a fitted cardigan and a casual blouse that hugged her graceful frame, looking both like a model and a mother at once.
Luke froze for a moment, his heartbeat skipping.
She smiled gently at them.
"Welcome home, kids."
Her name was Sarah.
And to Luke… she was more than just a guardian.
She was his first love.
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By Ecstasy Crown