ntly knocking or rather pounding o

ed, and the voice now sounds distinctly close, full of annoyance. Slowly, I start openin

ce snaps me out of my drowsy state, and I quickly jerk awake, tossing

led up in a thick fur blanket. In haste, I throw off the furry me

a came back again, and as usual, I'd spent the night reading horror or thriller novels. You can tell from the sc

shout from the bathroom, startin

iting downstairs," Rex yells back. Okay, thirt

he journey to my new school,

s voice pulls me out of my drowsiness, and I t

ree, maybe," I answer, making R

out me, including my sleep issues. My insomnia usually flares up when I'm stressed, and I guess it's because

d look around again. Soon enough, our car arrives right in front of NYHS. I g

un

the sound of a

, a bit perplexed, my eyebro

you, why else?" he answ

little kid needing a guardian on the first day

ou can find your classroom. I'm

itably, holding up a rolled-up piec

u can read

ut

lready surrendered and following his steps. But wait, Rex isn't leading me towa

we're going

without looking at me, focusing on rea

should be to t

to the counseli

ere again? Didn't we already go there to sort out m

hy

th his right hand, probably because his left hand is still holding mine, which has started to get sweaty. Feeling uncomf

an with an elegant demeanor. Wait, who's this? As far as I remember, th

is directed at Rex, of course. For a few seconds, I'm caught staring at h

ounseling room. Just before that, I catch h

woman named Brenda, accordin

o.

and even her friendly smile fades from her lips after Rex introduces me. I can only force a stiff smile, sensing an unfamiliar tension in the room. Well

eturning. But why does she call me Lia? How does she know? Oh, it must b

a few friends in Indonesia can use that. Look, her smile disappears again, and this time she glances at Rex. For a moment, they lock eyes, and I'm wondering if

our class schedule and the extracurriculars you need to follow," she e

ed it, and thank y

ontact me here," she says, handing me her business

n people know about it," she explains, causing me to smile awkwardly again. There's something going on between them

lly step out. I won't stay silent; I need to ask Rex something. I tug a

ng my arms in front of my ches

pression. I feel like banging my

ave some kind of history together," I ask i

es me. Well, he is handsome, very handsome. So why d

nd

counseling at your school. That's all," Rex r

ex to fall silent for a moment as if pondering my words. A few m

noon shift is about to start," he changes the topic, stepping closer

om work," I shout, the echo of my voice resonating in the empty locker hallway. Rex just gi

to take off my backpack and pull out the NYHS map

rving the various symbols and signs on it. I need to

ously to see what's going on. My eyes widen as I witness someone brutally hitting another person who's already battered. And there are those

's a student at NYHS. I hide again as his sharp gaze seems to be directed towards me. Hopefully, he won't see me and will never see me in N

no longer spotting anyo