FIRT LOVE

That day, the sky was a bit overcast with a light drizzle. Linh's mother drove her to school on the motorbike, as today was Linh's first day of starting tenth grade. She had gone through an incredibly intense entrance exam. Upon arriving at school, Linh said goodbye to her mother and went to find the class list with her name on it. As she stepped through the school gate, she was amazed to see the schoolyard packed with people even though it was only six in the morning.

Perhaps this was the bustling scene of the back-to-school season that, no matter how many years passed, its beauty would always remain.

"Hey Linh, over here! What are you doing over there? Your name's right here!" a petite girl, quick on her feet, ran over to Linh, calling out as she approached. Linh turned around and saw Nhi, her childhood friend since kindergarten.

"Slow down! You're going to trip if you keep running like that," Linh said.

Nhi reached Linh and exclaimed, "Oh my gosh, girl! We're in the same class again this year! Haha!"

Linh laughed, delighted that she would be in the same class with her childhood friend once more. Both girls headed to their classroom, 10C5, while chatting excitedly about the memorable summer after that grueling entrance exam.

The two girls, who used to run through the village lanes, had now grown into graceful young ladies with delicate faces, wearing the traditional Vietnamese áo dài, looking so pure and elegant. When they entered the classroom, they quickly found ideal seats for themselves. Both were outgoing, so wherever they sat, they easily made friends with new classmates. Linh and Nhi chose the third row in the first group, facing the teacher's desk. In front of them sat two boys who seemed rather quiet.

The homeroom teacher entered the classroom and greeted them, "Hello, class! My name is Ms. Mai, and I will be your homeroom teacher for the entire school year..."