Chapter 1 – First Day, New Class, Stran
The first day I stepped into SMK Seri Nusa felt like entering a whole new world.
The atmosphere of secondary school was completely different from primary school. Tall buildings, more mature students, and a nervous feeling I couldn’t describe. My name is Daya Delisyah, a Form 1 student still trying to get used to everything new.
That day was still within orientation week, so all Form 1 students had to gather in the main hall. I sat with a few girls who were friendly and easy to talk to. Among the crowd, I felt relieved—not so alone after all. Laughter, ice-breaking games, and introductions made the time pass quickly.
But in the midst of the crowd, my eyes landed on one boy—Zakri. Tall, fair-skinned, and his smile looked like it belonged in a toothpaste ad. My heart, which had never been “shaken” before, suddenly felt strange. I was even more surprised when I found out… he’s in the same class as me: 1 Cekal.
But the one who truly caught my attention was his best friend—a boy who didn’t talk much but had the cutest face. Seriously. His name? Adam Aaron. From the first day of orientation, I noticed he was the quiet type, yet he sparked curiosity. His face was often serious, but when he smiled... my heart melted.
Orientation week ended. The following Monday, we officially began classes. I was excited to know who our class teacher would be, where I’d sit, and—most importantly—who I’d sit near.
Our teacher, Ustazah Norhana, a gentle but firm Islamic Studies teacher, introduced herself before assigning seats.
“Daya Delisyah, you’ll sit at the back… by the window.”
I nodded and went to my seat. But when I saw who sat in front of me, my heart nearly dropped.
Adam Aaron.
Oh god, why him? I didn’t know whether to feel nervous or happy. Throughout class, I couldn’t sit still. Not because I was scared—but because Adam kept teasing me.
He’d turn around pretending to ask for a pencil, even though he had everything. Sometimes he’d fake borrowing a ruler, but his hand would purposely touch my desk. When the teacher wasn’t looking, he’d flick small paper balls at me. I wanted to be annoyed—but the moment I saw his smile, all my frustration vanished.
There was one moment where he stayed quiet, not talking or teasing. Curious, I glanced over—he was sketching something in his notebook. I peeked—and saw a drawing of flowers… and my name?
I quickly looked down. My heart was pounding.
“Why did he write my name? Is he playing around, or does he...?”
I was confused. I wasn’t sure myself. But from that day on, my heart was no longer at ease.
