—
Amelie. The girl before me radiated authority and grace. A natural leader, her performance during the election had been a clear display of her capability.
“I remember you,” I said with a polite nod. “You were impressive during the election.”
She offered a subtle bow. “It’s an honour to have my efforts recognised.”
I leaned forward, curious. “So, what brings you here?”
“I’m here to formally invite you to an outing this Saturday,” she said.
Her statement caught me off guard, and my thoughts stumbled over themselves. An outing? With me? That was the last thing I expected. “Wait,” I said, holding up a hand. “You’re inviting me... out?”
“Correct.”
“Thanks for the offer,” I said, “but I have to admit I’m a little confused.”
“That’s understandable,” she said with a nod. “Don’t worry; I’ll explain and answer any questions you have.”
“Alright then,” I replied. “What’s the reason for the invite?”
She shifted slightly. “Simple. My goal is to foster peace. Perhaps I should’ve mentioned that it’s a group outing.”
Ah. That made more sense. “You didn’t, so I may have misunderstood,” I admitted, relaxing a little.
“Apologies for the confusion,” she said with a slight bow.
I noticed she’d been standing the whole time. “Why not take a seat?” I offered, gesturing to the couch.
“Thank you,” she said, moving gracefully across the room and sitting down.
She nodded. “Of course. The recent incidents… Cohen, the election… have strained inter-class relationships. While it’s not urgent yet, those tensions will only grow if ignored. That’s something none of us can afford.”
I straightened, her words holding my full attention.
“This outing,” she continued, gesturing lightly with one hand, “is a step toward mending that divide. Members of Class 3 will be there, and having you present is a step toward bridging the gap. It’s also a chance to shift their perception of you. A friendly gathering can do a lot to ease tension.”
I was impressed. Her ability to plan and address such a sensitive matter with strategy and tact was remarkable. I’d noticed the friction between classes too, but hadn’t yet formed a plan to address it, at least not until after the inaugural dinner.
“You’ve given this a lot of thought,” I said, nodding. “And I agree—the reasoning’s solid.”
Her lips curved into a satisfied smile. “I’m glad to hear that. Also, feel free to bring other council members. It might make things more comfortable for you, since most attendees will be from my class.”
“That’s thoughtful of you,” I replied, though the suggestion surprised me. Still, it made sense. “Could I also invite Yoko?”
“Yoko?” she echoed, raising an eyebrow.
“Yeah. She played a big role in our campaign. Not officially part of the council, but I think she deserves to be included.”
Amelie regarded me with a curious look as she appeared to consider my words carefully before letting out a quiet sigh.
“Do you trust her?”
“I do,” I said, looking for any change in her reaction once more.
She held my gaze, then finally nodded. “Alright. If you trust her, that’s enough for me. With that settled,” she said, rising gracefully, “I’ll take my leave. I’ll see you on Saturday. For the time and location, could you share your number?”
“Of course,” I replied, pulling out my phone. We exchanged numbers, and she smiled at me.
As she turned to go, she paused, glancing over her shoulder. “One more thing,” she added, her voice softer. “Surround yourself with people you truly trust. It would hurt to be betrayed by someone close.”
Was she hinting at Yoko or someone else entirely? Either way, she’d given me something to consider.
—
—
I watched as the girl across from me lifted the steaming cup of tea to her lips, blowing gently before taking a sip. She set the cup down and looked at me.
“Sure you don’t want some?” she asked, brow arched playfully. “I swear you’ll like the flavour. It’s sweeter than you think.”
“I’m not the biggest fan of bitter things, Diya,” I replied, rejecting her offer once again.
She pouted dramatically, her lips twisting into a playful sulk, before laughing lightly. “You're no fun, you know that?”
“Sure, sure,” I said, waving her off.
She leaned forward. “So, Amelie, right?”
“Yep. Anything you can tell me about her would be useful.”
Diya’s eyes narrowed as she thought, then she groaned and slumped forward, her forehead hitting the table with a soft thud.
“If only I could come with you guys tomorrow,” she mumbled. “But I’ll be packing all day.”
I reached out impulsively, resting my hand on her head and gently ruffling her hair. She turned her head slightly, still resting on the table, and gave me a pout.
“Don’t like it?” I teased.
Her voice was soft. “I don’t mind.”
I chuckled, gently running my fingers through her hair. She relaxed under my touch.
“I get that I can’t come, but Hazel declining still bugs me,” she said, her tone tinged with frustration. “She says she wants to help me tomorrow, but… I think her priorities are off.”
Hazel. Despite being my vice president, she remained an enigma to me. There were things about her that never quite fit. However, during our time together, I’d seen glimpses of someone who worked tirelessly, pushing herself harder than anyone else.
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Like when she almost left the team, or how she couldn’t attend the Valentine’s Day movie night. There was also that peculiar moment on the way back from our outing and, of course, the day we first met. I’d always wanted to ask her about it all, but something held me back. It felt like crossing a line she hadn’t invited me to.
“Diya,” I said softly, “tell me about Hazel.”
The playful spark in her eyes faded, replaced by something more serious. She gave me a small, wistful smile.
“Don’t you have your priorities backwards, Marcus?” she asked.
I held her gaze, as we both knew it wasn’t a question that needed answering.
She sighed. “I know you’re worried about her. I am too. But Hazel can be... stubborn.” Her fingers traced the rim of her cup absentmindedly. “She’s always pushing herself, always chasing perfection. That’s why I was surprised when she accepted the vice president role after hesitating so much. I didn’t think she’d go through with it.”
“Is it really that bad?” I asked.
Diya’s expression darkened, her lips pressing into a thin line as she straightened her posture. “There’s a saying: ‘’ That’s how Hazel lives her life, and sometimes... that can be painful to watch.”
She took a breath. “Let’s stop there for today,” she said gently. “If you want to know more, you’ll have to ask Hazel yourself.”
I noted the tension in her shoulders, the way her fists clenched slightly. She was holding something back, but I didn’t push.
“Alright,” I said with a sigh. “Let’s go back to Amelie.”
Diya perked up a bit as she stirred her tea. “Amelie, huh?” She spun the spoon, then glanced at me. “I trust her. Her judgements are usually solid.”
“As for her warning,” I asked, watching her reaction, “do you think she was talking about Yoko?”
Diya paused mid-stir. “Maybe. But the real question is—why? What reason would Yoko have to do anything against you or the class?”
Her thoughts echoed my own. Understanding someone’s actions always comes down to motivation. The only plausible reason Yoko might undermine me was bitterness over losing the class vote, but was she really the type to act out of petty revenge?
“What if she was out for revenge?” Diya offered, leaning back with crossed arms. “Losing the vote could sting... but Yoko doesn’t seem like that kind of person.”
I shook my head. “Either way, I’ll ask Amelie directly when I see her.”
“Oh, one more thing,” Diya said, tapping her spoon against her cup. “Amelie can be... a little different sometimes. It might be a bit jarring the next time you meet her.”
Her cryptic comment piqued my interest, and I turned back to her with a curious look. “What do you mean by ?”
Diya grinned, finishing her tea and setting the cup down. “Don’t overthink it. You’ll see tomorrow,” she said with a wink.
She stifled a yawn and slumped forward, resting her head on the table with a soft sigh.
“Tired?” I asked.
“Yeah,” she replied, her voice muffled against her arms. “I’ve had a lot going on lately.”
I reached out, ruffling her hair gently once more, eliciting a soft hum from her.
“Despite that, you still came to help me think,” I said with a small smile. “You and Hazel really do love overworking yourselves.”
Diya peeked up at me, cheek still pressed to the table. “Marcus,” she whispered, “can you walk me to my room?”
I blinked in surprise. “Uh?”
Her face reddened, and she sat up quickly, flailing her hands. “I… I didn’t mean it like that! I just... wanted some company, that’s all.”
I chuckled, shaking my head. “No need to explain. I was just surprised.” I stood and nodded toward the door. “Come on, let’s go.”
Her playful smile returned. “Such a gentleman,” she teased as we headed out.
“I really need sleep tonight,” Diya said, stretching her arms above her head as we walked back towards the dorms, greeted by the cool evening air. “I’ll have to inform my clubs.”
“Diya,” I asked, glancing at her, “how many clubs are you in?”
“Oh, let’s see…” She tapped her chin. “About seven right now.”
“Did you just say seven?” I echoed, stunned.
“Yep,” she answered nonchalantly, as if it were the most normal thing in the world.
“How do you even manage that?”
She grinned. “I’ve got great time management skills. And a lot of energy.”
“That’s… actually impressive,” I admitted. “Balancing all that with schoolwork? You’re like a superhuman.”
Diya clasped her hands behind her head, smiling. “I just like staying busy. Boredom’s my mortal enemy, you know?”
“What’s your favourite club out of all of them?” I asked, glancing at her curiously and wanting to know more about this energetic ball of a person.
She slowed her pace to ponder. “Hmm, tough one. I’ve been in so many.”
“You can’t be serious.”
“Dead serious,” she said with a smirk. “I rotate clubs every year. Keeps things fresh.”
I froze in my tracks, staring at her in bewilderment. “Diya… are you even human?”
She laughed and, without warning, she playfully smacked my back. “Of course I am!” she said, winking as she walked ahead.
I rolled my eyes, but a smile crept across my face.
As we reached the fountain at the centre of campus, the soft glow from the water lit up her face, and she trailed her fingers along the cool stone edge.
“I’m just built differently,” she said with a grin, spinning on her heel to walk backwards with effortless ease.
“Very funny,” I replied, chuckling.
She paused. “Out of all the clubs, the orchestra’s my favourite.” Her smile was soft. “No contest.”
“Because of the violin? I’ve seen a few of your performances.”
Diya beamed. “I’m honoured! By the way, next time I perform, I want you to loudly cheer for me.”
“That would draw unnecessary attention,” I protested.
“Pretty, please?” she said, stepping closer, hands clasped, her face shifting into exaggerated puppy-dog eyes.
I sighed, knowing exactly where this was going. “My will is unbreakable, and I shall not falter,” I said, hoping she would back down, but it seems I underestimated the determination of this playful ball of energy.
“Stare,” she whispered dramatically, inching even closer, cheeks puffed and eyes watery.
“How long are you going to keep this up?” I asked, regretting the question the moment it left my mouth. Her persistence only intensified.
Finally, I gave in with a groan. “Fine. I’ll cheer for you.”
“Loudly?” she pressed, noticing that I intentionally left that part out.
“Yes,” I muttered. “Loudly.”
“Yatta!” Diya exclaimed, punching her fist in the air, returning to her normal self.
“The switch-up you have is crazy,” I said, shaking my head.
“I know, right?” she said, spinning on her toes. “This is the kind of skill you develop after a year in the drama club.”
“That means you must know Ryo,” I remarked.
“Yep,” she replied with a shrug. “But if you're asking to figure out who he might be working under, my info’s three years outdated.”
“Better than nothing. You can tell me when you get back or over the phone,” I said as we reached the dorm tower.
We stepped into the elevator, and Diya leaned against the wall, hands tucked in her jacket pockets. She glanced at me. “Oh, I just remembered; you owe me dinner.”
“Doesn’t this count?” I asked, referring to the café we had just left.
“Not even close,” she said, closing her eyes. “I want a proper dinner.”
“You mean... a date?” I asked, turning to look at her.
Her cheeks immediately flushed, and she struggled to respond. “W-wait a second; I didn't ask for that, did I?”
“Sorry for assuming,” I said.
“I... I don’t mind,” she quickly added, avoiding my gaze. “I’ll take you up on the offer.”
She began humming, rocking her head side to side as the elevator doors opened onto her floor. As we walked down the hall, I found myself watching her, captivated by her energy. She must have noticed, because she paused and turned back to me.
“What’s up?” she asked, leaning in with her hands behind her back.
“You’re such a ball of energy,” I said.
“Of course I am! Just think of me as your personal ray of sunshine,” Diya said with a laugh, spinning in place before extending her arms outward dramatically.
I smiled as we reached her dorm room. She fished out her key, unlocked the door, and pushed it open. I stopped just outside.
“You’re busy, huh?” Diya asked, leaning casually against the doorframe. “I’m not going to pressure you into staying or anything.”
Her tone was light, but her eyes lingered on me.
“Thanks. Safe travels on your journey back home,” I replied before turning to leave.
“Wait,” Diya said suddenly, causing me to pause mid-step.
I looked back. “Yeah?”
She fidgeted with the hem of her jacket, her usual confidence faltering for a moment as she bit her lip and appeared to consider her words. She opened her mouth, then closed it again, clearly struggling to say what was on her mind. After a moment, she exhaled and met my gaze.
“How about a hug?” she asked softly, arms slightly extended. “You know, since I won’t see you for a while.”
I blinked, taken aback for a second, but smiled. “Sure,” I said, stepping closer.
She approached me shyly, wrapping her arms around me, and I returned the embrace, feeling the beat of her heart as we stood there in the quiet hallway. The soft scent of her lavender shampoo filled the air as she rested her face against my shoulder.
After what felt like minutes, Diya pulled away slightly, and she looked up at me with a bright smile. “Thank you very much.”
“You’re welcome,” I said softly, stepping back. “Anyway, I’m off. I’ll see you when you get back.”
I turned to leave, giving her a small wave over my shoulder.
“I’ll make sure to regale you with tales from my travels when I return!” she called after me, her voice carrying down the hallway.
I chuckled, shaking my head as I stepped into the elevator. The doors slid closed, cutting off my view of her.