It’s the first day of my school after I dropped out, because of my family not being able to afford the tuition fee. It feels too overwhelming. I looked left and right, seeing students waving, greeting, and joyfully smiling at each other. I’m quite envious.

A girl wearing a white cardigan over her uniform came up to me, “Are you Miles Federico?” She asked. She looked small, up to my torso when she’s near me. Can a human be this small?

I nodded at her, making her blast into a big bright smile, “Well, I’m Natalie Chua your caretaker of the day or should I say the whole school year!” She said, pointing a finger at my face.

I gestured a thumbs up and so did she. Natalie, probably 4’10 or 4’11, she looks Japanese, Cute smile. Maybe I’ll try to be friends with her, nah I’ll just stop daydreaming.

…

“We’ll be meeting after class. Is that okay? We can’t do the tour right now since it’s near 8.” Natalie said, looking at her watch then at me. I nodded at her. She handed me a small card that had the words “School schedule” in capital letters.

“Ok, I’ll be going now. My teacher might put me in detention if I miss another class!” She added, waving at me as she ran.

I began my walk to the classroom. The hallways were filled with mainly women who wore casual clothes instead of uniforms. The Boys were wearing uniforms, but were all not buttoned up like mine. They all stared at me like it was the start of a big party for them. The hallway suddenly felt suffocating, filled with the stares and whispers.

One more meter. I looked straight to my classroom door, not looking anywhere else. If I did look around me more, I might have caused trouble. While I was in my own world, I realized I am already holding the door knob. I twisted it revealing a normal yet unusual classroom.

One had a green mohawk. There was a couple making out. A girl sleeping. A girl eating. There are a lot of characters in the room that, Only I can sense. Suddenly, a person behind me rested their arm on my shoulder. It was the teacher, He was old and wrinkly. He kept touching my behind but I ignored it, and the class burst into laughter that made them tear up and run away.

"This is your new classmate, Miles Federico. I hope all of you treat him well." He showed me my seat and I followed. I felt stares from the seats beside me and in front of me. They are laughing at me.

…

Class was incredibly tiring. I sat on an empty seat in the cafeteria. No one would want to sit beside me. Most of them are on their phones, while I can't even take out mine. They might see. I quietly ate my food, so that I could leave the cafeteria faster.

"Hey, Why are you eating alone?" A girl said, It was Natalie. She had her tray in her hands. Pudding, she likes it so much she took 3 cups. I ignored her question and continued to finish my food.

"Loner character then." She whispered, but I heard. I looked at her food, it was the expensive ones on the menu. rich girl.

"What? I have friends. They just have club activities today." She spoke loudly this time, using her spoon to point at me. I raised a brow at her, doubting.

"Aish! Just eat will you? We have a tour to do!" I nodded at her. The school ends classes every recess. I don't think any school would have this kind of short hours, but it's pretty much okay. After eating we went outside for a bit. "Okay, we'll start at the gym and end at the library. Is that okay? It's gonna be a long walk because this school is humongous!" She made an arch shape with her arms. I gestured a thumbs up.

…

After an hour of her long trip around the school we stopped at the library. I roamed around the Romance Genre books looking for something to read. A book with a peculiar cover caught my eye. I took it out of the shelf, revealing an oil painted eye. It looked hand painted on the book. I looked around me to see if anybody was looking, but there was none.

“Addiction.” The book had it written all over the back, sending chills down to my spine. As I observed more of the book's cover I decided to open the book.

“Hey!” I jumped from shock and dropped the book causing a loud ‘thud’ echo. It was Natalie, she’s holding a ton of books that seem to be math books. Is she…

Before I could say the word in my mind she spoke, “Hey, I’m not a genius at math! Not all Asians are good at math, stereotypes annoy me.” Her loud voice shifted to a soft and quiet one as she finished. I nodded at her again, getting the book that fell from my hands. She took a peek at the book I am reading. I pulled it closer to my chest revealing the back with Addiction written all over.

“Addiction.” She read the back of the book. My body moved on it’s own. In a blink of an eye, I was cupping her face with my large palms. Her cheeks were soft like dumplings that were getting warmer. She was beet red looking at me with her chestnut tinted eyes. She’s beautiful.

Her face became even warmer in my palms, “Y-You… We just met you idiot!” She shouted, dropping the books then falling to her knees. She hid her red face behind her knees, which I thought looked like a Tanuki{The Japanese raccoon dog, also known as the tanuki, is a species of canid endemic to Japan}.

“You two no flirting and leave this Library!” The old librarian shouted from her desk. Natalie snapped back and apologized to the Librarian.

…

It’s quiet. Natalie seemed to have been uncomfortable because of what I did. She keeps touching her cheeks, maybe her teeth hurts? Should I ask?

I grabbed her hand pulling her inside an empty classroom, I pointed at her cheeks that were once again tinted with pink. What’s wrong? She keeps turning red! Fever maybe?! I touched her forehead, then pulled away. Woah, fever it is then.

“Why, do you keep touching me…” She spoke, looking away from my face. The sunshine landing perfectly on her pink cheeks, she looks like a goddess. I then shook my head and looked away as I felt my cheeks warming up.

“Sorry.” I replied, looking at my feet. Ah, so shameful of you Miles. As I get lost in my mind I notice Natalie who seemed to be in shock. I raised a brow then tilted my head. What’s wrong with this girl again?

“You can talk?” She asked, her eyebrows almost merging together. She kept gasping. What the fuck? Isn’t she overreacting? Obviously I can talk!I nodded at her.

“Speak if you can, I literally thought you were deaf!” She shouted, making me jump. I felt a tickle in my stomach making me burst into laughter. Natalie, who was upset and annoyed, left the room.

I wiped away the tears that formed in my eyes. It was now just me and my thoughts.Things were so fast I couldn't hold everything in. I exhaled looking out the window. The trees were dancing in the wind and the birds sang. It reminded me of my days back in Kindergarten. My mother would pack me an apple, peanut butter and jam which are my favorite foods.Dad would bring me to school and humiliate me sometimes. After this maybe I should visit my mom and Dad.