In one corner of the bustling canteen, Meilyn sat with her group of friends, a mix of girls and guys, the most prominent among them being her boyfriend, Richard.
They chatted and laughed, their voices harmonizing with the lively atmosphere around them.
But Meilyn's attention was elsewhere; it was fixated on Xin, who was seated a few tables away, surrounded by a growing crowd of admirers.
Richard, noticing Meilyn's distraction, frowned slightly. "I still can't believe Seraphina's into that guy," he remarked, his tone laced with disdain. "I mean, look at him. How could she downgrade her prestige like that?"
Meilyn tried to focus on Richard's words, but her ears caught the soft whispers from a group of girls nearby.
"Have you seen him?"
"That guy, right?"
"Yep. Xin. I thought that he's plain looking and lethargic, but don't you think that he's kind of cute?"