I know Kyle won’t come after me. I didn’t catch his reaction, but I’m sure he’s annoyed that his little sister managed to slip away. The thought makes me grin. He never leaves for school without eating Mom’s cooking, so he’ll definitely stick around.
Settling into my seat, I glance out the window. My emotions are all over the place—relief, amusement, and maybe a little bit of triumph.
Behind me, I overhear a conversation that grabs my attention.
“Hey, Raven, I played that mobile game you told me about last night. What’s it called again? ML? Man, I got so hooked I didn’t even finish compiling the stuff for the student clearance today.”
“I told you to play it when you had free time, dimwit. Don’t blame me, dogu.”
“Wait, what’s ‘dogu’?”
“It means, ‘dog, you.’”
“‘Dog, you?’ That sounds like you’re calling me dog poop or something about dog mating. Are you insulting me, my dear Raven?”
“It is an insult. And don’t call me ‘dear.’ I don’t know you.”
“I didn’t call you ‘deer.’ I called you my dear. Why are you so mean and cranky, Raven?”
“Well, you tried to blame me for your own mess. What do you expect?”
“Ohhh, I get it. Is it your red day? Come on, I was only—”
“Dogu,” I whispered to myself, smiling. Nice term. The students behind me are kinda cute. I bet they’d make a great couple. Are they childhood friends? Sweethearts? The guy clearly wants her attention.
I’m definitely adding “dogu” to my vocabulary. The word makes me chuckle. Honestly, the girl’s a genius for coming up with it.
I put on my earbuds and pulled my phone out of my bag. Classical music is my go-to when traveling—it’s calming and helps me relax.
As I leaned against the bus window, my thoughts drifted to the phrase I overheard earlier, “student clearance.” I closed my eyes for a moment, letting the music drown out the noise around me.
I’m honestly thankful to our subject teachers. Instead of having us submit bulky projects that would clutter their desks, they decided quizzes were a better option. At least I only have to focus on my test results today, no extra assignments to stress over.
It also means my bag is lighter than usual. Thanks to that, my tupperware containers actually fit inside. No books, notebooks, or awkward project boards weighing me down. All I packed were my pencil case, a fully charged phone, my volleyball team attire, and a change of clothes for after practice. I’d prepared everything last night before heading up to my room to study.
Good job, Aria, I thought, giving myself a little mental pat on the back. You deserve some self-appreciation. Thanks to your advance planning, you managed to dodge Kyle and catch the bus just in time.
Before I knew it, I’d dozed off. The next thing I realized, we were pulling up to the University’s entrance. The bus came to a stop in front of the entry hall, and the driver waited for us to file out.
The two students who had been chatting behind me—Raven and, I assume, her childhood friend—were the first ones off.
As I put my earbuds back into my backpack, the students are getting off the bus. I quickly checked my things before standing up.
Looking out the window, I saw three buses parked ahead of ours with students pouring out. That’s when I spotted Jared—my longtime crush. He stood out as usual with his long eyelashes, thick brows, curly brown hair, and those amazing brown eyes.
I swear, he must have a sixth sense because he suddenly turned in my direction. Maybe it was just a coincidence, or maybe he somehow felt my gaze burning through the glass.
Logically, I knew I was still inside the bus and not super noticeable, but when your crush looks your way, why does your body automatically freak out?
Just like, right now—my body went into full-on panic mode.
Sheet.
Without thinking, I dropped down, practically hugging the bus floor.
I know—terrible attempt to hide, but what else was I supposed to do? It’s like my body had a mind of its own. Seriously, Aria, what are you? A grade schooler?
“Uh, you okay back there?” the bus driver asked, sounding both amused and confused.
I glanced out the window to see if Jared was still there, but all I caught was his back as he headed toward the hall. I looked around the bus and realized I was the last student left.
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“No, nothing. Um, sorry, I’ll get off now,” I said, trying to brush off the awkwardness.
Why do I feel embarrassed? Why am I like this? Human emotions are so unnecessarily complicated. I got up and made my way to the exit door, still trying to shake off the shy, flustered feeling. No matter how much I try to rationalize my actions, I can’t stop feeling awkward.
“Hey,” the bus driver called out just as I was about to step down. I turned to look at her, and she was smiling.
“You don’t have to hide like that, girl. He probably doesn’t even know you. Just chin up and act chill, okay?”
Oh no. She knew. Of course, she knew. She must’ve seen me through the rearview mirror acting like a complete weirdo. My face heated up instantly. Her words hit the mark, but did she really have to say it out loud? I forced a small, awkward smile at her because, honestly, what else could I do?
She just shook her head, still smiling, as she closed the door and drove off.
Great. Just great. I want to vanish into thin air. Or run to some remote place—like a mountain, forest, or beach with loud waves. Somewhere I could scream at the top of my lungs until my throat hurts. I feel like throwing a full-on tantrum like a kid begging for a toy. This is so...ugh!
Is this what people mean by "butterflies in your stomach"? Because I don’t like it.
I glanced at my watch. Looks like it’s almost time for the school bell.
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After class
Hey, Aria, how'd the exam go?" Beth walked up and dropped her bag next to mine.
Beth’s my closest friend, and honestly, she’s got that natural glow. Her skin’s darker and way healthier than mine, and her long legs and arms make her look like she was built to play volleyball—or be a model. At 5’9”, she’s definitely taller than me, with her curly long hair tied back by her signature pink hairband that somehow makes her even prettier. We’ve been tight since elementary school. What I love most about her? She always speaks her mind—no filter, just pure Beth.
"Good! Oh, wait—skin’s the largest organ in the body, right? Please tell me I got that one right."
Some volleyball members were warming up nearby, and we were hanging out on the court bench by the sideline.
"Yeah, you got that right, little one." She laughed.
"Hey~" I grinned at her. She wasn’t wrong, though—I’m definitely the smallest on the team.
"What? You might not have the height, but you're the fastest and our go-to spiker. Be proud of that!" She smiled and gave me a light elbow to the arm.
"Yeah, but I’d trade it to be a stunning blocker. Speaking of stunning, how do you still not have a boyfriend with that face and body, Beth?" I gave her a half-serious, half-joking look.
Beth grinned. "Oh, so you’re coming at me like that now, huh? Well, for your information, boys know better than to mess with me. One slap from these hands and they’ll be sent flying."
We both burst out laughing. Honestly, she wasn’t exaggerating. People don’t realize how strong volleyball players are. With all the daily practice, you better believe the strength is real. Definitely not something you’d recover from quickly.
Beth nudged me again with her elbow, and I followed her gaze. Across the court, the coach was chatting with our math teacher. They looked so natural together that I couldn’t help but giggle.
"You know what? I don’t get why they’re still not a couple. I mean, look—it’s so obvious," Beth said, rolling her eyes dramatically.
"Beth, don’t get jealous or bitter," I teased. "The right man, at the right place, at the right time, for the right reasons, will come to you. Just be patient." I grinned and gave her a quick hug, which she returned with a small laugh.
"You’re sweet, Aria, but I’m not jealous or bitter. And FYI, I am actively searching for my man."
She glanced back at the coach and teacher, and I raised an eyebrow and smirk. "Wait, no. Don’t tell me—you and the coach?"
"What?! Ew, Aria! Absolutely not. I know my limits, and I would never set sail on that kind of ship. What were you even thinking?"
Her over-the-top reaction was so funny I couldn’t help but laugh. Before we could continue joking around, the coach blew the whistle, signaling practice to start.
Beth and I split up, and Daisy came up to me with a shy smile.
"Hi, Aria. Um, I invited the team to celebrate my birthday today at karaoke after practice. Will you and Beth come? It’s on me, of course. And... um... since it’s the last day of the school year, I was hoping this time, you know... if you could…"
Daisy is a bright and lovely girl with blond hair, blue eyes, and soft pink lips. She’s the kind of person you’d think only exists in fairy tales—polite, humble, and generous despite her family’s wealth.
Sometimes I wonder, Is she even real? Are all the girls at this school this stunning? Or is it just me who seems so ordinary?
I’ll admit it—Daisy makes me feel a little insecure, even though it’s not her fault. I don’t want to be rude to her, but I can see why some people might be envious. She’s like a real-life Disney princess: kind, sweet, and effortlessly charming.
In another world, we might’ve been best friends. We have a similar vibe, and I genuinely think she’s a good person. But there’s one big, uncomfortable detail that keeps me from getting close to her—my dad’s company is tied to her grandfather’s business. It makes every interaction feel weird, like I’m walking on eggshells.
I don’t want to feel like I’m befriending her for the wrong reasons, and I definitely don’t want her to think that either. It just doesn’t sit right with me. So, even though she’s nice and bubbly, I can’t fully relax around her. It’s complicated.
Not all amazing and positive people are meant to be part of your life, right?
I know Daisy has put in so much effort to build a connection with me.
Honestly, I think the problem is me. Maybe in another life, we’d be good buddies, but in this one? It just doesn’t seem like it’s meant to happen.
I believe she’s sincere, and I respect her courage for always trying to reach out. She looked so shy, even blushing when she asked earlier. I let out a small sigh and said, “I’ll see. If I don’t have anything else going on, sure, I’ll come.” I smiled, trying to look casual but feeling a little drained.
“Really? Thank you!” she said, her face lighting up with excitement.
It’s impossible to see her as anything but the heroine in a story. She’s so sweet and optimistic, it’s like she’s straight out of a fairytale. I don't want to appear like a villain, but that's impossible with her.
“Hey, girls, focus!” our coach called out, snapping us back to reality.
BETH
JARED