Chapter 9

The world seemed so bright and beautiful as I laid my eyes on him.

He had tan skin, dark brown hair, a gentle-looking set of almond-shaped hazel eyes, a tall nose, rosy pink lips, and a slightly chiseled jawline.

He was laughing softly along with the other people talking to him, radiating a friendly aura around him.

"Hey, Paris! Are you joining or not?" The student who dragged me, whom I assume to be my senior, asked as he looked at the man who could literally make the world stop.

"I just did," the guy called Paris said as he looked in our way with a smile. "Oh? A new forced student? Hello there!" he chuckled as he looked at me.

"Hey, kid. Quit assuming things. I didn't force him to come here," the senior said, trying to prove that he didn't do anything wrong. "Right?" he continued.

I looked at him and saw that he was looking at me. I looked at Paris and the senior once again and said, "I came here to join."

"That's great, then!" Paris stood up from his chair and started walking towards us.

In every step that he took, I could feel my heart pounding loudly in my chest as if it was trying to break out of my ribs.

"I don't think I've seen you around before. Are you new here?" he asked as he smiled at me. I couldn't seem to come up with an answer to his simple question. It was like it was the most difficult question in the world.

Yuri, you're smart. Why can't you answer it? You can simply answer him with either a yes or a no.

He tilted his head a bit as he raised his brows, waiting for an answer. "Uh... yes," I said as I gave a little nod.

"You must not know me yet, then. Most students know me already since most of them have been here since forever. I'm Paris Clarke, and you are?" he said as he smiled and offered his hand for a handshake.

I looked at his hand, hesitant to take it because I can already feel my palms getting sweaty from my palpitating heart.

"Uriel Delavin," I smiled and shook his hand by only touching his fingers with mine. I was almost shocked by how soft his fingers were.

Judging from the texture of his hand, it definitely seemed like he's never done any difficult tasks that require using your bare hands. He probably never even washed a plate in his entire life.

"Nice name, but can I call you mine instead?" he winked.

I was left dumbfounded by what he said that my mouth couldn't help but gape open. A soft chuckle left his mouth, and I felt my heart skip a beat as he threw his head back as he laughed.

His laugh looked and sounded so pleasant, that I was late to realize that I was already smiling due to his contagious brightness.

"Just kidding," he smiled. "Anyway, I gotta go meet up with a friend. I hope you'd find the club fun, Uriel," he continued.

Waving his hand, he jogged away from us. I watched him disappear from my sight and as soon as I wasn't able to see him anymore, that's when I realized that I told him I'd join the club.

What should I do...?

We're only allowed to join one club. I wanted to join the Drama Club, but it seems like I'm going to end up joining the... Outdoors Club. Haha... I've literally had enough of all that nature back in my hometown.

"Uriel, right? Come, let's get you signed up! Trust me, this is gonna be so fun," the senior laughed and dragged me towards the stall.

The girl sitting behind it handed me a form and a pen. I stared at it for a while, wondering if I should really join this club.

If I leave now, I can still join the Drama Club but...

Paris' smiling face suddenly popped inside my head, making my second thoughts disappear. I took the pen and filled up the form that was given to me.

"BWAHAHAHAHAHA!" The senior laughed so loudly that I took a step away from him to protect my precious ears.

Honestly, his loud voice and deafening laugh are starting to get annoying. I'm barely stopping myself from showing annoyance on my face.

"By the way, senior... What's your name? I haven't heard it at all since you dragged me here," I said, curious as to what his name is.

If we're going to be in the same club, I'd have to at least know his name, right? Especially since he's a senior...

"Oh, did I forget to introduce myself? I'm July Clarke, Paris' older brother," he beamed.

Suddenly, it felt as if my mind turned blank. My thoughts disappeared upon hearing that he's THAT Paris' older brother.

They look nothing alike at all.

Maybe one of them is adopted...

"Fun fact about me, my name is July but I was born in March," he laughed once again. "It's really funny when people hear about that. It was my grandpa who named me. He probably wanted me to get laughed at," he said as he wiped a tear that formed in his eye from laughing too much.

Uh... yeah, sure. I didn't really ask and I don't really care, but whatever.

"That's a really funny name," I said and chuckled. "Anyway, kid! We'll be conducting a meeting next week on Friday, just like most of the other clubs. Be there so you'll get to know more friends. I gotta go pick up some students to join the club," he said with a bright smile and jogged away from me.

Haha... Pick up, huh? They're probably gonna get dragged here just like what he did to me. But I didn't really regret allowing myself to get dragged around like that because I'm in the same club as him...

I'm in the same club as Paris Clarke.

Paris Clarke... The guy whom I want to be my first boyfriend.