Chapter 1: The Girl in the Back Row
The hum of the classroom was a familiar kind of chaos—pens tapping, whispers bouncing off the walls, the faint buzz of the old ceiling fan that never quite worked right. Yumi Rubin sat in her usual spot, the back row by the window, where sunlight spilled across her sketchbook and turned her pencil smudges into soft shadows.
It was the last semester of senior year, and everything felt like it was ending too soon. The walls were covered in faded posters about college applications and prom tickets, reminders that life was about to change. Yumi liked to pretend she was ready for it, but deep down, she wasn’t.
Her pencil moved across the page, tracing the curve of a jawline she knew too well. Ryu Mondragon.
He sat three rows ahead, laughing with his friends, his voice carrying easily over the chatter. He had that kind of presence—effortless, magnetic. The kind that made people turn when he walked into a room. He wasn’t just the captain of the basketball team; he was the kind of person who made everyone feel like they belonged, even if he didn’t mean to.
Yumi had been sketching him for months. Not in a creepy way, she told herself, but because he was interesting to draw. The way his hair fell over his forehead, the way his smile tilted slightly to one side, the way his eyes softened when he was listening to someone. She told herself it was just practice. But every time she looked at him, her heart betrayed her.
“Yumi, are you even listening?”
Her best friend, Mia, nudged her from the next seat. Yumi blinked, realizing the teacher had asked a question.
“Uh—sorry, what was that?”
Mr. Ramos sighed, adjusting his glasses. “I asked if you could explain the symbolism in the poem we just read.”
Yumi’s mind went blank. She hadn’t heard a single word of it.
“Um… It’s about… love?” she guessed.
The class laughed softly, and her cheeks burned. Mr. Ramos shook his head but smiled. “Close enough. Pay attention next time, Miss Rubin.”
As the laughter faded, Yumi glanced up and caught Ryu looking back at her. Just for a second. He smiled—small, amused, but kind. Her heart stuttered.
When the bell rang, she packed her things quickly, hoping to escape before Mia started teasing her. But of course, Mia was faster.
“You were totally staring at him again,” Mia whispered as they walked down the hall.
“I was not.”
“You were. You even drew him again, didn’t you?”
Yumi hugged her sketchbook to her chest. “It’s just practice.”
Mia grinned. “Sure. Practice for when you finally talk to him.”
Yumi rolled her eyes, but her stomach twisted. Talking to Ryu wasn’t part of the plan. She was perfectly fine admiring him from afar. That way, she couldn’t mess anything up.
They reached their lockers, and Yumi tried to focus on swapping her books. But then Ryu’s voice echoed down the hall.
“Hey, Mia! Yumi!”
Yumi froze.
He was walking toward them, backpack slung over one shoulder, that easy smile lighting up his face.
“Hey, Ryu,” Mia said, way too casually. “What’s up?”
“Mr. Ramos said we’re doing group projects for Lit. He told me to find you two. Guess we’re partners.”
Yumi’s heart dropped and soared at the same time.
“Us?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
“Yeah,” Ryu said, grinning. “You, me, and Mia. Should be fun, right?”
Mia elbowed her. “Totally.”
Yumi nodded, trying to look calm, but her pulse was racing. She could barely believe it. After months of watching him from a distance, she was actually going to work with him.
That afternoon, they met in the library to plan their project. Ryu spread out his notes across the table, his handwriting neat and confident. Yumi tried to focus, but every time he leaned closer to point something out, her brain short-circuited.
“So,” Ryu said, looking between them, “we could do something creative. Like a visual presentation or a short film. What do you think?”
Yumi hesitated. “Maybe… a visual piece? Like an illustrated story?”
Ryu’s eyes lit up. “That’s actually a great idea. You draw, right?”
Her breath caught. “How did you—”
“I’ve seen your sketches in art class,” he said. “You’re really good.”
Yumi’s cheeks warmed. “Thanks.”
Mia smirked behind her notebook.
They spent the next hour brainstorming ideas, and for the first time, Yumi felt like she wasn’t invisible. Ryu listened to her suggestions, asked her opinion, and even laughed at her jokes. It was surreal.
When the bell rang, signaling the end of the study period, Ryu gathered his things. “Hey, I’ll text you guys later about the outline. What’s your number, Yumi?”
Her heart skipped. She fumbled for her phone, trying not to drop it as she gave him her contact.
“Cool,” he said, smiling. “Talk soon.”
As he walked away, Mia leaned in. “You’re welcome.”
“For what?”
“For manifesting your love story.”
Yumi groaned. “It’s just a project.”
“Sure,” Mia said, grinning. “For now.”
That night, Yumi sat at her desk, staring at her phone. She told herself not to overthink it, but every time it buzzed, her heart leapt. When Ryu’s name finally appeared on the screen, she almost dropped the phone.
Ryu: Hey, just checking if you’re free tomorrow to work on the project.
Yumi: Yeah, I’m free after class.
Ryu: Cool. Maybe we can meet at the café near school? My treat.
She stared at the message for a long time before replying.
Yumi: Sounds good.
She set her phone down, her heart fluttering. It wasn’t a date. It was just schoolwork. But still, she couldn’t stop smiling.
Later that night, she opened her sketchbook again. She drew him—not the confident athlete everyone saw, but the version she saw up close today. The one who listened, who smiled softly when she spoke, who made her feel seen.
When she finished, she looked at the drawing and whispered to herself, “You’re in trouble, Yumi.”
Outside, the city lights flickered through her window, and somewhere in the distance, a song played on the radio—soft, hopeful, and full of promise.
It was the beginning of something she didn’t yet understand. But she could feel it.
Something was changing.
And for the first time, she didn’t want to hide in the back row anymore.
