Ian and Gabriel

MONTREAL SCHOOL OF ARTS

The noise of the high school students occupied the whole of Class 1-A. Conversations bounced off the walls, creating a cacophony that seemed impossible to control. At the center of it all, one student sat undisturbed, focused entirely on his Literature workbook. His pen scratched against the paper rhythmically, blocking out the surrounding chaos.

"Ian!" A voice cut through the noise. A boy with thick glasses hurried over to him, peering curiously at Ian's book. "Did you hear about the new student?"

Ian's hand paused mid-sentence, the tip of his pen hovering over the workbook. He raised his head, glancing at the boy with a calm expression. He nodded silently. As class president, Ian naturally knew about the new transfer student that would be joining their class today.

The boy with the glasses leaned in closer, his voice lowering as if sharing a secret. "Aren't you worried? I mean, what if he takes your spot as Top 1?"

Ian raised an eyebrow, his expression unchanged. "Why would I be?" His voice was steady, unaffected, as he returned to filling out his workbook.

Before the conversation could end, another student, this one with spiky hair, joined them. He had overheard the exchange, a smirk playing on his lips. "I heard the new guy passed both the midterms and finals at his last school with perfect scores."

"Did you finish your homework?" Ian asked without looking up this time, his voice as calm as ever.

"Uh..." The two boys exchanged awkward glances, clearly guilty of not doing their assignments. They scratched their heads, embarrassed by Ian's blunt question.

Before they could come up with an excuse, the bell rang, signaling the start of class. The chatter in the room died down as students hurriedly fixed their chairs and settled into their seats. Ian closed his Literature workbook with a quiet snap, sliding it neatly into the compartment under his desk. With the same practiced motion, he pulled out his Math workbook and flipped it open to the page he had marked earlier.

The door creaked open, and Ms. Sarah walked into the room. Her short hair framed her face, giving her a composed, professional air. Following closely behind her was a boy wearing glasses. His light tan skin and polished appearance immediately drew the attention of the students.

Ms. Sarah stopped in front of the class, her posture straight and authoritative. "Good morning, class," she began, her voice clear. "Today, we have a new student joining us."

She gestured to the boy beside her, who adjusted his glasses slightly before offering a polite smile to the class.

"Please introduce yourself."

The boy stepped forward, his eyes scanning the room briefly before he spoke. "Hello, my name is Gabriel Cruz. It's a pleasure to meet all of you." His voice was calm, each word deliberate.

A ripple of whispers spread through the room, mostly among the girls, who exchanged interested glances. Gabriel's bright brown eyes shone beneath his glasses, and when he smiled, a small dimple appeared on his cheek. Even with the stereotypical 'nerdy' glasses, his attractive features weren't lost on anyone. Ian noticed the mole under Gabriel's left eye, a subtle but distinctive mark that added to his charm.

Ms. Sarah, oblivious to the quiet chatter among the students, continued, "Gabriel, please take the seat behind Ian."

Gabriel nodded politely and walked down the aisle, passing by Ian's desk as he made his way to the back of the classroom. The lesson began soon after, though it was clear not everyone was fully focused. A few students sneaked glances at Gabriel, while others pretended to pay attention, their heads subtly lowered as they fiddled with their phones beneath their desks.

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C1-A: (No Teachers Allowed)

Classmate 1: "The new student seems cool, doesn't he?"

Classmate 2: "Yeah, but do you think he'll beat Ian for Top 1 this mid-term?"

Classmate 3: "Nah, no way. Ian's been top for three years straight. He's basically unbeatable."

Vice President: "I don't know... didn't you hear the rumors? The new kid's an academic tyrant! Straight A's in every subject at his old school."

Classmate 1: "Yeah, I heard that too. He got perfect scores on every exam. That's insane!"

Classmate 2: "Well, I still think Ian's got this. He's never slipped from the top spot before."

Classmate 3: "True. Ian's a monster when it comes to grades."

Vice President: "But... Gabriel might be different, y'know? He looks all nerdy, but what if he's secretly a genius? You guys didn't see the way he walked in. He's confident."

Classmate 1: "Do you think he's already studying for the midterms?"

Classmate 2: "I wouldn't be surprised. People like him always do."

Vice President: "Hey, you know, if he really is that good, it could be fun watching him and Ian compete."

Classmate 1: "Fun for you, maybe. I don't need any more pressure in my life, thanks."

Classmate 3: "Well, it's better than being in last place."

Vice President: "You're not 'that' bad. I mean, at least you're not-" (He glances over at a classmate engrossed in their phone.)

Classmate 1: "Anyway, I'm kind of looking forward to it. A bit of competition never hurt anyone."

Classmate 2: "Yeah, but what if Gabriel's on a whole different level?"

Classmate 3: "If he is, then Ian's got his work cut out for him."

The lesson continued without any interruptions, but the whispers in the class persisted. Ian, however, remained focused on his Math workbook, his expression steady as ever. He flipped to the next page, seemingly unbothered by the soft murmurs behind him. If Gabriel was a challenge, it wasn't one Ian would acknowledge easily. The routine of his day had barely shifted with the arrival of the new student.

At the back of the class, Gabriel sat quietly, his expression composed. He had noticed the attention he was getting, but chose to ignore it. Instead, he turned his focus to the Math lesson in front of him, eyes scanning the equations written on the board.

Ian, as always, focused entirely on his work. His pen moved fluidly across the pages of his workbook, not once hesitating. But, behind him, Gabriel's presence was like a faint hum in the back of his mind-steady, quiet, but there.

Ian hadn't missed the quiet glances Gabriel gave him throughout the day. Every time Ms. Sarah wrote something on the board, or whenever Ian raised his hand to answer a question, he felt Gabriel's eyes on him. It was like the other boy was studying him-analyzing, taking note of his habits. Ian wasn't used to this kind of attention. Other students admired him or envied him, but no one ever watched him like Gabriel did.

After class, as students began to leave for lunch, Gabriel stayed behind. Ian, too, lingered at his desk, flipping through his notes with purpose. He didn't have time to entertain distractions. Midterms were coming, and he wasn't about to let a newcomer ruin his perfect record.

Just as he was about to leave, Gabriel finally spoke.

"You're the top student here, right?" Gabriel's voice was soft, but there was a confidence underneath it.

Ian looked up, meeting Gabriel's gaze directly. "Yes."

Gabriel smiled, adjusting his glasses slightly. "I heard a lot about you before I transferred. They said no one could come close to your scores."

Ian's eyes narrowed slightly. "They were right."

A small chuckle escaped Gabriel's lips, surprising Ian. "You're really confident, huh?"

"Is there a reason I shouldn't be?" Ian asked, his tone still calm but with a slight edge. Gabriel didn't reply right away. Instead, he just smiled-a smile that, for some reason, made Ian feel slightly off balance.

"I guess we'll see," Gabriel finally said, his voice dropping just enough to make Ian question the layers behind his words.

That evening, as Ian sat in his room, going over his notes, he couldn't stop thinking about that brief exchange with Gabriel. There was something about him that felt... different. Other students would avoid challenging Ian directly, or if they did, they'd do it with hostility. But Gabriel didn't seem interested in that kind of confrontation. He was quiet, observant, almost playful in the way he'd spoken to Ian, but there was no denying the challenge in his gaze.

The days passed, and the tension between Ian and Gabriel only grew. Their interactions were limited, but every time Gabriel spoke to Ian, there was a strange energy between them-one that the other students began to notice more and more. It wasn't just rivalry. Gabriel never said anything outright challenging, but his presence, his quiet confidence, was enough to unsettle Ian in a way that he hadn't experienced before.

One afternoon, after a particularly difficult Math class, Gabriel leaned closer to Ian's desk, his voice barely a whisper. "Do you always study this hard?" His tone was teasing, light.

Ian glanced at him, unfazed. "Why? Are you planning to slack off?"

Gabriel smirked. "No, but I don't think studying is everything. Sometimes you just need to relax."

"I don't have time to relax," Ian replied, his voice sharp. "Not with midterms coming up."

Gabriel's eyes softened, a small, almost tender smile crossing his lips. "I'll bet you don't. But if you keep pushing yourself this hard, you're going to burn out before the exam even gets here."

Ian's chest tightened at the unexpected warmth in Gabriel's voice. It was the first time someone had said something like that to him-genuinely concerned, not as a joke or a taunt. He looked at Gabriel for a moment, searching for any hint of insincerity. But there was none.

"I'm fine," Ian said, though his voice lacked its usual firmness.

Gabriel shrugged, standing up straight. "I'm just saying... don't be afraid to let someone help you."

Ian blinked, caught off guard by the sudden shift in Gabriel's tone. Before he could respond, Gabriel had already walked away, leaving Ian sitting at his desk, staring after him in confusion.