The classroom was filled with a mixture of curiosity and disbelief as Clerisa finished her tale. The students stared at her, wide-eyed, trying to process the shocking revelation about the Academy's past. The room was heavy with an eerie silence that hung in the air like a mist. Rex, who sat near the back, felt his heart race. He had always sensed there was more to the Academy than the official history books let on, but he never imagined it would be something like this.

Clerisa continued, her voice dropping to a whisper, as if sharing a forbidden secret. "I wanted to explain more about what happened afterward, but—"

Suddenly, the shrill sound of the school bell cut her off, slicing through the tension like a knife.

“Ding dong! Ding dong!”

Clerisa sighed dramatically, a mix of annoyance and playfulness on her face. “Aw, man! I guess that’s all for today. I’ll tell you the rest tomorrow morning. See you all then!” She waved, a mischievous smile tugging at her lips as she exited the room, leaving the students buzzing with speculation.

As the students began to gather their things, Rex remained in his seat, deep in thought. *"That was an interesting story,"* he mused aloud, his brow furrowed. *"I’ve never heard my mother mention anything like that. I wonder why she kept it from me... I’ll have to ask her when I get home."* His mind drifted to memories of his mother, her guarded expressions whenever the Academy’s history came up. It now seemed deliberate.

Around him, his classmates chatted animatedly, their voices rising and falling like a chaotic chorus, each theory more outlandish than the last. Rex stood up and started packing his bag, his movements slow as if weighed down by his thoughts. Just as he was about to leave, he noticed a girl across the room—a girl who had stood out during the tests. She was staring directly at him, her gaze unyielding and intense.

Rex's instincts sharpened, a chill running down his spine. He had learned to trust his gut, and right now, it told him to move. He slipped out of the classroom, quickening his pace down the corridor, his footsteps echoing against the polished floors. His destination: the school gate. *If she’s following me, I’ll find out there,* he thought, his eyes scanning his surroundings for any sign of danger.

Sure enough, he heard the rapid tapping of footsteps behind him. The girl had indeed followed him, but as she reached the gate, she skidded to a stop, her breath coming in short bursts. "Damn it," she muttered under her breath, scanning the area, "he’s fast… maybe he’s trained for this."

Unbeknownst to her, Rex stood right behind her. “So,” he said coolly, “who are you?”

Startled, she whipped around, her eyes widening before narrowing into suspicion. “Who are you?” she shot back, her stance shifting into a defensive position.

“That’s what I asked first,” Rex replied, his tone steady but firm, a slight smirk playing on his lips.

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Their voices were starting to rise, drawing curious glances from students passing by. Rex, sensing they were causing a scene, grabbed her wrist and pulled her into a nearby alleyway, away from prying eyes. The alley was dimly lit, the walls damp and lined with posters that had long since faded. The air was thick with the smell of wet concrete and something unidentifiable.

“Sorry about that,” Rex said, releasing her hand. “I was just a bit impatient. Let’s start again. My name is Rex. I’m from a low-ranking aristocratic family.”

The girl took a moment to steady herself. “Nova Mei,” she finally said, her voice softer but still guarded. “I come from a commoner’s family.”

Rex studied her carefully. There was something off about her story—something she wasn’t saying. He could feel it in the way her eyes darted away for a moment, the subtle tension in her stance. He noticed the calluses on her hands, the scars that seemed too deliberate to be accidental. She wasn’t just a commoner. But he decided not to press her… not yet.

"Hey," Rex said suddenly, breaking the silence. "Do you want to come over to my place for dinner? My mother’s cooking is amazing."

Nova hesitated, her uncertainty evident. “I… I don’t know…” She seemed to weigh the invitation, her eyes searching his face for any signs of deceit.

Before she could finish, Rex grabbed her hand once more. “Come on, let’s go!” he said with a grin, taking off at a brisk pace. Nova barely had time to react as he pulled her along through the winding streets. Her protests were lost in the wind rushing past them, and she found herself oddly exhilarated by the spontaneity of it all.

By the time they reached Rex’s house, Nova was panting, her face flushed—not just from exertion, but from the whirlwind of events. She looked up at the modest yet welcoming home before her, trying to catch her breath. The house, with its small garden and ivy-covered walls, had a comforting charm.

“This is my home,” Rex said proudly, not giving her much time to process as he led her up the steps. Without missing a beat, he flung the front door open and announced loudly, “I’m back!”

From inside, a warm voice called out, “Welcome back, Rex!” His mother, a woman with kind eyes and a gentle smile, appeared from the kitchen. She spotted Nova standing beside Rex and, without missing a beat, said, “Oh, look at that! It seems you’ve already made a girlfriend on your first day of school! Honey, come see this!”

From down the hall, a heavy, hurried stomping approached. Rex’s father emerged, his eyes wide with a mix of surprise and concern. “What did you just say? Rex has made a what?” He stared at Nova, then at Rex, as if trying to comprehend what he was seeing.

Rex’s mother chuckled, clearly enjoying the situation. “Dear, it looks like we’ll be grandparents sooner than we thought!”

“M-Mom, stop it!” Rex exclaimed, his face heating up. “She’s just a friend!”

He glanced over at Nova, who was uncharacteristically silent. Her cheeks were a deep shade of red, and she seemed to be struggling to find her voice. Rex frowned. “I’m sorry, Nova. Don’t take it seriously.”

To his surprise, she mumbled softly, “I don’t mind it…”

“What did you just say?” Rex asked, his eyebrows shooting up.

Nova quickly corrected herself, her voice louder and more controlled this time. “I said I won’t take it seriously!”

“But your face is still red,” Rex pointed out.

Nova turned away, her face still flustered. “I’m fine.”

Rex chuckled. “Well, if you say so.”

His mother clapped her hands, breaking the tension. “Alright, enough talking! Rex, go wash up. We’re having dinner soon.”

“Okay, Mom,” Rex agreed.

“And I’ll take Nova for a bath too,” his mother added with a playful grin, grabbing Nova’s hand. “Come along, dear.”

Nova’s eyes widened as she was whisked away. Rex could only laugh, shaking his head as he headed to his room.

After some time, Rex emerged from his bath, feeling refreshed. He noticed his mother in her room, gently drying Nova's hair with a towel, chatting away like they were old friends. Nova, on the other hand, looked bewildered but relaxed, her guard somewhat lowered.

At the dining table, the food was laid out in a colorful array, each dish more inviting than the last. The atmosphere was warm and filled with laughter. As they began to eat, Rex’s father told stories of his own school days, and Rex’s mother chimed in with embarrassing anecdotes about Rex as a child. Nova, initially reserved, found herself laughing more than she expected, the tension from earlier slowly melting away.

Rex couldn’t help but feel that this was just the beginning of something intriguing—a new friendship, a new mystery to unravel, and perhaps a new chapter in his life. He watched Nova as she listened intently to his father’s stories, her face now softened with genuine smiles. He was certain of one thing: whatever secrets she held, he was determined to uncover them. And somehow, he felt that they were meant to cross paths.

____ TO BE CONTINUED _______