INT. CLASSROOM – 8:00 AM
"We don't have the first subject?!" I gasped, turning to Oriel in disbelief.
All my effort… wasted! Well, technically, I was late and sprinting, but still!
"Turns out the professor has a meeting today," she replied casually.
Oriel wasn't wearing her beaded headband today—her soft bob swayed slightly as she moved. Behind her, a boy stood, glancing at me in a way that felt… awkward. Like he wanted to say something but wasn't sure how.
"Hi?" I greeted.
"Oh, DJ, stop being creepy!" Oriel elbowed him—not gently.
"Ah!" he yelped, stumbling a little. "My Ori, that hurt!" he whined, rubbing his side dramatically.
They looked cute together—but a different kind of cute. Unlike Ice's cold, sharp presence, DJ was bright and expressive. His features were round, a bit like Oriel's. His slanted eyes nearly vanished when he smiled, which only added to his bubbly charm.
Why am I analyzing people's auras again? This is Ice's fault… that iceberg.
"Say hi to Fyre!" Oriel said, like a mom nudging her shy kid to be polite. The whole thing was kind of hilarious.
"I was about to," DJ grumbled, standing up straight like he was about to give a speech. He cleared his throat and changed his tone completely.
"Hello. My name is Dhylan Jazh Wayne. Nice to meet you, Miss Ashfault," he said, sounding like a dramatic actor reciting a line.
I snorted. "You sound ridiculous, DJ."
Oriel rolled her eyes. "He does this all the time. It's so stupid."
Her annoyed expression was oddly adorable, especially next to DJ's smug grin.
"Just call me Fire," I said, smiling. "Is it okay if I call you Dhylan?"
"Of course!" he beamed, back to his usual cheerful voice.
"Sorry about him," Oriel said with a small sigh. "He's always like this. But he's harmless, I promise."
I tried not to laugh too hard. The two of them were like a comedy duo.
Changing the subject, I said, "Since the teacher's still not here, I think I'll walk around the school for a bit. Get familiar with the place."
"That's a great idea! Let me come with you," Oriel offered eagerly.
But Dhylan spoke up, "Wait, we're supposed to go to the faculty office, remember?"
Oriel's face fell. "Oh… right."
"It's fine, really. No worries," I said with a wave. "I'll be back before you know it."
And with that, I slipped out of the classroom.
I didn't want to trouble them. I just wanted to get to know this school a little better on my own.
***
EXT. UNIVERSITY GARDEN – BACK CORNER
"You need to let go, Sia. We're just friends."
The voice was sharp, laced with barely restrained frustration. Every word cracked like dry ice in the air.
They were standing in the far corner of the university garden—quiet, secluded. The kind of place no one usually passed through. Perfect for something... awkward.
I crouched behind a giant potted plant, trying not to breathe too loudly as I peeked out.
I could only see his back—tall, slim, with jet-black hair that looked like it had never been touched by humidity. Standing in front of him was a girl with long, wavy blonde hair and teary eyes. She looked like a porcelain doll, just one crack away from breaking.
"But I like you," she said, her voice trembling. I ducked lower, paranoid she might spot me.
"I like you, Ice!" she called out louder, as if the first time hadn't counted.
My curiosity twisted into shock. Ice?! That Iceberg is being confessed to? What?! Did I miss an entire chapter of this drama?
I peeked again, too curious for my own good.
This time, the girl had thrown her arms around him. I slapped a hand over my mouth. Ice just stood there—stiff as a statue, arms raised awkwardly, his entire aura brimming with discomfort.
"I'm not interested in any relationship," he said coldly, each word like a slap. "You're on the student council. I've only ever tried to be professional with you."
His voice held zero warmth. If anything, it felt like being hit by a snowstorm.
"But... am I not special to you?" she asked, her eyes wide and wet. "You always talk to me kindly."
"No," he said flatly. He pushed her away, his tone hardening. "Get off me. Now. Before you regret it."
She opened her mouth, but he cut her off with one word:
"Off."
It dropped like a hammer in the air.
I stared, holding my breath.
The girl froze. The sharpness of his tone must have snapped her back to reality. Her face turned crimson with embarrassment, her eyes glossy. And then, without another word, she turned and ran.
Ice remained motionless, the sound of her footsteps fading behind him. Finally, he exhaled, like the entire interaction had been exhausting.
The garden sat at the end of an old hallway—mostly abandoned classrooms now turned into storage, lined with oversized potted plants. It felt like another world, hidden in the shadow of the school.
"You can come out now," Ice's voice echoed, calm and cutting.
I flinched and ducked again behind the plant like an idiot.
"I already saw you, Transferee," he added with a slight hiss, voice dripping with sarcasm. "Didn't your mother teach you that eavesdropping is rude?"
The flowers around us swayed gently in the breeze. So peaceful. Unlike him.
Slowly, I stood, offering a sheepish grin. "I was just... walking around."
"I didn't hear anything," I added quickly.
I wanted the ground to swallow me whole.
"Sure," he replied with a shrug, clearly not buying it. He walked over and sat on a nearby bench like nothing had happened.
Heartless Iceberg.
But the silence dragged on. I couldn't help it—annoyance flared in my chest. That poor girl… Rejected like that?
After a deep breath, I blurted, "Poor girl. She's really pretty. She should have better standards."
I plopped down on the opposite end of the bench, arms crossed, eyes fixed on him, a teasing smirk tugging at my lips.
Ice didn't respond right away. Then he gave me a faint, mocking grin.
Rude.
"Hey," I said, shifting tones, "I thought we were friends?"
"No thanks. I'm not into having girl friends," he said, without even looking at me.
Ouch.
I stared at him, trying to process what he meant. So… he thinks I'd fall for him too? The ego on this guy.
Okay, fine—he's cute, but seriously?
"Well don't worry. I won't fall for you," I declared proudly, arms now folded like I'd just won a debate.
You wish, Iceberg. You wish!
"Oh yeah?" he said, a smirk curling on his lips.
"A thousand percent sure." I nodded, dead serious. "Friends?" I held out a hand.
No way I'm making the SSC president my enemy. Not today, maybe.
He glanced at my hand, then at my face. After a pause, he stood.
"Sure," he said coolly. "But no handshake. I don't want to melt."
He walked off, leaving my hand awkwardly suspended in the air.
"What the…" I muttered. "What is wrong with that guy?"