CHAPTER 1 THE START OF SOMETHING
Jade sat in his classroom, surrounded by the familiar scents of sharpened pencils and the faint tang of chalk. The hum of the air conditioner blended with the soft rustling of pages, but none of it eased the heaviness in his chest. Missed assignments lay stacked inside his notebook like quiet accusations, reminding him of how far he had fallen behind.
His eyes drifted toward Sarah.
She sat a few rows away, absorbed in her notes. The warm classroom light caught on the neat curves of her handwriting, on the calm focus in her eyes. She looked like she belonged there—steady, brilliant, effortless. Jade felt painfully aware of the difference between them.
Why does she seem so far from me… even though she’s right there?
When the lunch bell rang, Jade hurried to Ethan and Lucas.
“Guys, I need all the homework from the past few days,” he said, trying not to sound desperate. “I’m really behind.”
Ethan raised an eyebrow. “Bro, a whole week’s worth? That’s a lot.”
Lucas nodded. “We can’t just give you everything.”
Jade’s shoulders tensed. “Please. I don’t want to get in trouble.”
Before either of them could reply, a soft, steady voice came from behind him.
“Hey, Jade… I heard you needed help.”
He turned. Sarah stood there, holding a stack of neatly arranged papers. She gave him a small smile—warm, quiet, sincere. For a moment, Jade forgot to breathe.
“I—I was absent,” he managed, cheeks flushing. “I’m trying to catch up.”
Sarah held out the papers. “I’ve done all the work. You can use mine.”
Their fingers brushed as he took them, a small touch but enough to send a wave of warmth up his arm.
“T-thank you, Sarah. Really.”
She smiled again, a little brighter this time. “No problem. Just catch up, okay?”
Jade nodded, still dazed, while Ethan and Lucas exchanged smirks behind him.
“Someone’s got a crush,” Ethan whispered.
Lucas added, “Look at his face—he’s gone.”
Jade barely heard them.
She never talked to me like that before… Why does everything feel different now?
The next day, Jade deliberately chose the seat behind Sarah and convinced Ethan and Lucas to move as well. Even with her back turned, he felt strangely aware of her presence—as if the room shifted subtly around her.
He admired the way she approached her work with quiet confidence. Determined to talk to her, he leaned forward.
“Hey, Sarah… can you help me with this math problem?”
She glanced back, her expression soft. “Sure.”
One question became two, then three.
Jade found himself asking, “What do you do for fun?”
Sarah tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, smiling. “I like reading. It helps me relax.”
Jade brightened. “Really? I love reading too. What books do you like?”
“Mystery and fantasy,” she said. “They’re my favorites.”
“That’s perfect,” Jade said, excitement slipping into his voice. “I’m reading a mystery series right now. Maybe we could… you know… trade recommendations?”
Sarah’s smile widened just a little. “Yeah. That sounds nice.”
Their conversations slowly warmed—small exchanges, shared jokes, soft laughter—each one carving a gentle place in Jade’s heart.
On the last day before summer break, the setting sun cast long golden rays across the classroom. Dust sparkled in the warm light as Sarah approached Jade with a shy but hopeful smile.
“Thanks for talking with me these past weeks,” she said softly. “It’s been… really nice.”
Jade felt his heartbeat rise. “Yeah. It really has been.”
“I’d love to keep in touch,” Sarah continued. “Maybe we could meet over the summer? Talk about books?”
Jade’s heart lifted, light and full. “I’d like that. A lot.”
Later that day, while playing outside, Jade tripped over uneven ground. A sharp jolt shot up his hand, followed by a sickening crack.
At least today… something good started.
The ache in his hand was sharp, but the warmth in his chest made the pain feel somehow bearable.
