Chapter 1

"Will everything remain changed? I hope it does because I don't want to go back. Not again"

This first thought circled in my head, as I walk up the steps leading towards the campus plaza, with my dark bag over my shoulder and my ears covered by soft beats of modern music. The cold morning breeze greeted me through my thick jacket and jeans; along with gloves that restrained the shivering air from my hands with boots offering warmth around my feet. It made the morning seem like I was near a fireplace. As I reach the top of the stairs, the vast plaza of the campus lay before me. A sight to see despite its normality. My eyes began to hover over the tall grass and the décor my classmates and I made back in late November.

"Come on! I hope I'm not late!" I looked over the large decorations of snowmen and elves, hoping to see something other than just winter décor. Besides the large mascot of Santa Clause parked a white bus with blue detailing, with the school logo painted in the middle. I found it. I hurriedly ran towards it, gripping my bag tightly to make sure it won't fall out of my shoulder. I arrived beside the van, instantly placing my right hand on the vehicle with my left hand on my knee; catching my breath and wiping off my sweat. My back stood straight after, looking through the van's windows to see if anyone was there. Luckily for me, there were only a few.

A breath of relief escaped my lips, resting for another minute before I dragged my legs over towards the bus door, placing my foot on its first step. I entered the bus. The old scent of a car freshener slipped into my nose while I stood beside the driver's seat. I face my head towards the rest of the bus, my eyes quickly skimming through the seats occupied by my classmates; making my hands take off my earphones.

"Are we going there yet?" one of my classmates says, his feet hanging over the seat in front of him.

"This trip is a waste of time…" another one of my classmates complains. Her hoodie covered her face and her hands were deep in her pockets.

"You won't believe what I heard about Amber, girl!"

"Did you know that Mt. Hope was once a skiing resort?!"

"I'm getting tired of waiting for the snow to come! I want to build a snowman!"

As more of my classmates kept complaining and bickering, the more I start to regret ever paying the money for this trip. I continue to walk toward the back of the bus, ignoring my classmates while I walk past. Metal clapping on the floor as I passed through, and the rippling noise of the seats' leather eased my annoyance, but I had yet to find a seat so secluded and clean unlike most. Until I finally reach the back. One seat stayed cleaner than the others, with its leather not as dark and brown — but it was not empty. A girl was sitting on its clean leather cushion beside the window, looking out towards the plaza. She was wearing a brown polyester sweater with black pants, and a black beanie on top of her head, and her short hair was dyed with red strands mixed under its original black.

I want to sit alone, but the bus will be full soon; I might as well sit on a clean seat. I took a step beside it, grabbing its head and the pole that connected it to the bus. Moving my head closer toward the girl, before letting out a word.

"Excuse me, Is this seat tak- "

The girl turns her head suddenly; her eyes staring back into mine. My head began to rumble, wanting my eyes to look away. But I didn't. I should've never got on the bus. I wish I chose another seat — because it was her that sat comfortably, forcing my heart to voice drum beats, with those dark round eyes gazing into mine.

"Oh, hi there Mika hehe," her voice — that damn soft voice got inside my ears once again, "The seat's not taken if you're wondering; you can come seat with me!" she exclaims joyfully, a small smile appearing on her face; but unlike with her eyes, I did not smile back into hers. Her joy almost made me forget; almost made me give in. I could not — not anymore.

I still remember the day I first met her. On the first week of school, on the first day of spring. I sat in my family's car with my parents waiting for me to go to my class.

"Are you going to be okay, dear?" my mother asked worryingly, looking back at me from the front seat.

"I'm going to be fine, Mother; actually, I'm excited!" I exclaimed with a wide smile, opening the car door before stepping out of my seat.

"Have fun, Mikhael!" my father shouted right before the door closed.

After I watched my parents drive away, I turned around to face the pathway that led to the classrooms. I was in a hurry. My parents and I were caught up in traffic for twenty minutes, leaving me late for my first class. I hurriedly walked on the smooth stone pathway, keeping just the right pace so I do not slip and fall. I turned my head towards the classrooms while I strolled, hoping to find any one of my classmates. But I found no luck. All I found so far were empty seats inside the classrooms and janitors cleaning the hallway.

"Mikhael?" A nearby voice called my name, and I immediately ran towards it, gripping my bag tightly. I reached a room to my left; a teacher was holding a piece of paper as he stood in front of the blackboard; I saw a bunch of students grouped in six.

"Hmm," the teacher hummed, his eyes scanning the document in his hand, "Are all the senior high students present today? It seems one of your classmates is miss- "

"Present!" I shouted as I barge through the door, panting tirelessly while I took my bag off my shoulder. I noticed my classmates staring at me with perplexed eyes, with some I could see silently judging me while I stood, tired and out of breath.

"First day and you're already running late, Mr. Mikhael; make sure it doesn't happen again."

"It won't, sir!" I said confidently, trying my best to straighten my body.

"Good, Now I could ask you to take your seat, but as you can see, your classmates have grouped themselves for your first activity in this class," said the teacher, placing his paper down on the table in front, "So, let's just continue; does anyone want to take Mr. Mikhael for their group?"

I could hear the sounds of their silence when they heard the teacher's words, even if it was just a mere moment. The noise of their eyes fleeting away to avert my gaze, I swear I heard them in my head. It was clear to me, so I too, held my words. Seconds passed by and still not one of my classmates let out even a sigh; it made my head go down, and my eyes stare at the ground. Until one spoke up.

"We'll take him!" A sweet soft voice said gently, yet its sound echoed in my ear.

Slowly I moved my head to see who it was, and the first thing I saw was a hand raised from one of the six groups. I followed the hand downwards towards its owner, gazing up and down its silky skin. There she was, sitting straight with her hand up and a smile that would've befallen anyone into its deep pit of a façade. Yet when anyone sees it, they are drowned in happiness. Her hair was a little shorter back then, but it had the same dyed strands of red hair beneath the black, and her eyes still held the same flair they always emit when she stares.

"We'll take him, sir! Come here, you can sit next to me hehe." She tapped her hand on an empty chair beside her while her eyes told me to come.

For a second, my legs forgot how to work; as my eyes stayed still in a trance while I stared. But I quickly snap back into reality. I grabbed my bag and quickly walk towards the group, sitting next to the girl that took me.

"I… thank you, I owe you one," I said almost stumbling upon my words, with my eyes deciding whether to stare or to look at something else.

"Oh, don't mention it! Besides, who doesn't want a cute guy to sit next to them? Hehe." She showed a wide smile and a chuckle that echoed in my ear.

Suddenly I chuckled back, but I quickly looked away; trying to talk to one of my group mates. But it was not because of the activity, the teacher didn't even give us the activity yet. I was blushing, so I tried to hide my cheeks; hoping she did not notice.

"You will be discussing various social issues that are present in our society today; each of you will be given an issue, and your group will discuss and choose a reporter to present your findings to the whole class," explained the teacher, grabbing the piece of paper on the table before holding it in front of him.

"Mikhael, your group will be discussing the issue of divorce in our country; you may start immediately."

After hearing our assigned issue, many of my groupmates began to bicker and argue; with their voices muffling down the other groups. One complained about being the reporter, saying he does not have the confidence to not stumble over their words when they do. Another complained about the issue, saying that it's too broad and complex to fully explain it. The girl, however, moved her head close to me.

"How about you? Do you have any ideas about it?" she asks, her head tilted while her eyes looked at me.

"I have!" I said confidently, with a smile just like hers, "I did a paper about this, it's a piece of cake for me."

"Really?! You're not only cute but also smart; you're proving to be quite a catch — lucky me!" she said, making me blush again, and I was inevitably chosen as the group's reporter.

After a few minutes, the teacher called the reporters of each group and told us to present our discussions. I was the last one to report, and I did my best. Speaking fluently and giving ideas and facts about the issue from the position paper I made back in junior high. After the class, I grabbed my bag and went outside the classroom. But I was not alone.

"Wow! You're amazing! I didn't know anyone could use words like that!" the girl exclaimed, jumping excitingly in front of me.

"Oh, come on, it was nothing; thank you still, for taking me in your group."

"No, thank you! We had a great report, and I got to meet you hehe," she said with a suggestive smile, her eyes squinting cutely at me.

"Me too hehe, but I didn't catch your name by the way." I stopped walking after I asked, while she walked a step further before turning around. Her hair waved around as she turned, her head facing towards me; and with a small grin, she spoke.

"Ingrid… my name's Ingrid."