Chapter 1
Someone New
Spring stood in the kitchen, flipping toast absentmindedly while eggs sizzled on the stove.
Her mind, however, was somewhere else.
Exams.
She hated them.
No—she hated everything about school.
The way they expected students to memorize pages of information, write them on paper, and somehow let that decide their future.
Can a paper really decide who I become?
“Spring!”
Her father’s voice snapped her back.
She turned quickly.
“The gas,” he said, pointing toward the stove. “Unless you’re planning to serve burnt breakfast.”
Spring groaned softly and lowered the flame.
At the breakfast table, her father looked at her warmly.
“Love, I might be busy at work tomorrow. Can you attend Michael’s parent-teacher meeting?”
Michael immediately protested.
“What? No! I don’t want Spring there.”
Spring rolled her eyes dramatically.
“Relax. I don’t want to go either.”
Her father laughed.
“Still—thank you, sweetheart.”
A few minutes later, they were on their way.
Spring sat beside the metro window, her earphones in, Eastside softly playing in her ears.
Beside her, Michael kept talking about something she wasn’t listening to.
Her eyes stayed fixed outside.
Watching roads.
Watching strangers.
Watching life.
Sometimes she wondered if there was more waiting for her out there—something bigger than school, exams, and routines.
Something that would finally make her feel complete.
At the next stop, she noticed a boy from school step into the metro.
Neatly dressed.
Books in hand.
Focused face.
Probably another topper.
Spring looked once—
then looked away.
Not interested.
When their stop arrived, she grabbed Michael’s arm and stepped out.
Without realizing—
someone inside the metro kept staring at where she’d been sitting.
Meanwhile, Arwin checked his notes again.
He had woken up early, touched his mother’s feet for blessings, and left home determined to ace today’s exam.
Everything was going according to plan—
until someone pushed into him in the crowded metro.
He looked up—
and froze.
A girl.
Same school uniform.
No books.
No notes.
No panic about exams.
Just sitting there quietly by the window, eyes distant, like her mind belonged somewhere else entirely.
There was sadness in her face—
but mystery too.
Like she was waiting for something.
Or someone.
And somehow—
he couldn’t stop looking.
Then suddenly, she looked at him.
For one second, their eyes met.
Arwin smiled awkwardly.
She looked away—
coldly—
as if he didn’t exist.
For the first time in his life,
Arwin was offended…
and curious.
Very curious.
