topoko

So, to start to explain the existence of this chapter I need to explain something else first. Here in Brazil we don't celebrate "valentine's" in the same day as everyone else, we have our Dia dos namorados (girlfriend/boyfriend day) in the 12th of June (today) due to various reasons, one of them being the significance of Saint Anthony (whose day is June 13th) to couples and such, we don't give as much importance to saint Valentine, so that's why we use a different date than everywhere else. 

As for the existence of this chapter, I really wanted to try writing something and decided to use this special occasion to do so. This chapter is not canon to the main story and shouldn't be taken into account moving forward, it's just an experiment! Anyways, hope you like it!

I had gotten to the classroom early as per usual, and since I didn't have any friends to talk to I spent my time reviewing the material for the next class.

It's not like I was lonely or anything...

The teacher suddenly burst through the door, smiling and probably in a good mood, maybe the lecture would be easier today...

She stopped at her desk and turned towards the door she just passed.

"You can come in, don't be shy~"

Everyone's attention was solely focused on that one door. Was it a new student?

Someone suddenly walked through the door, looking somewhat uncomfortable.

It was a girl, taller than me, and with long blonde hair and soft features, the school issued uniform looked stunning on her.

She stopped near the teacher's desk and stood there for a second as if gathering courage to speak. Her posture was perfect, in just a few seconds she had managed to steal the breath away from everyone in the class.

After clearing her throat she started in a melodic voice.

"Hello everyone! I am Oriel but you can call me Ori! I just transferred to this school and I hope we can all be friends!"

Her introduction was perfect, it reminded me how I had utterly failed mine at the beginning of the semester, I felt my face burn with shame.

Judging by the positive reactions from everyone she wouldn't have issues making friends, unlike me, and that she would be talking to lots of people everyday, unlike me, and she would probably sit with the popular kids, unlike me...

I lowered my head, this had nothing to do with me anymore.

As I tried to concentrate on the book on my lap I couldn't help but notice the footsteps coming my way.

"Hello, uhm... Is this seat taken by any chance"

Everyone was supposed to share a desk with a seatmate, but due to my unfortunate circumstances I was alone.

My eyes darted around the room, there were plenty of other vacant spots, why was she asking me? My mind raced trying to find an answer, everyone was looking at me, including her, looking closely she really had a cute face.

This was not the time to be thinking about that, I gathered my strength and said.

"It- it's empty"

I tried to not sound weird but I am sure that the last part was inaudible. 

"So I can sit here right?" 

She asked already sitting, her being this close was overwhelming me so much I couldn't help but look away. 

"Ye- yeah"

"Thanks-"

How can she sound so cheerful when she has to sit with someone like me? 

I didn't have the strength to even look at her.

"Due to it being her first day, she doesn't have her textbooks, so you need to borrow her your's, okay Kathie?"

She didn't really leave me any other options...

I put the book that was on my lap on top of the desk, in doing so I caught a glimpse of Oriel looking at me.

"Kathie... That's a cute name~" 

I instantly looked the other way, my face must have turned as red as a tomato.

Why was my heart racing from just a comment like that? 

I noticed a cute giggle coming from my side but I didn't dare look back at her, what was with this girl...

We ended up being seatmates during all the classes, she didn't leave my side even during lunch break, which I always spent alone in the school yard. 

I wouldn't say it was a bad thing, she wasn't a bad person and I had a lot of fun spending the day with a fr- friend!? 

I wonder if this nice feeling I had in my chest while talking with her was due to a friendship forming... But even then I couldn't muster up the courage to look her in the eye, everytime our eyes met I felt my body heat up for some reason...

The day went by fast and when I noticed classes were already over. 

I was getting ready to go to the dorms when I remembered something.

"Say Oriel, you know where the dorms are?"

She looked at me as if she had been waiting for me to ask. 

"I was expecting you'd show me the way..."

Even if I didn't match her gaze, her puppy eyes made it so I couldn't make up any excuses.

"Of course..."

She instantly switched back to her usual cheerfulness, and started humming happily as she packed up her stuff, which wasn't much. 

I couldn't even get mad at her when she looked so innocent...

Since this was the first time I was walking to the dorms with someone I was doing my best to entertain her, which was easy since she was new here and I could make small talk by telling her about the stuff around the school and the buildings.

We were walking in the main path, there were grassy fields around us and right in front of us, in the middle of where two paths met up there was a big tree. 

She was quietly listening as I explained.

"To the left the path leads to the principal's office and to the right it leads to the library, and that big tree in the middle-"

I froze, for some reason I couldn't finish my sentence. 

That tree was pretty famous in the school for being the tree of love, it was said that every confession accepted under it would forever stay true.

I didn't really believe that but for some reason my voice didn't come out when I tried to tell her about it.

"..."

She looked at me quizzically. I felt anxious all of a sudden as if I was about to breakdown.

"I am sorry for being so boring..."

I tried to change the subject so that she wouldn't notice my nervousness. I guess after today she'd probably find someone else to be her seatmate and just forget about me.

She suddenly ran forward stopping under the big tree.

I couldn't help but run after her. As she turned around to look at me all I could see was a dazzling smile. 

"You aren't boring at all"

She took a step closer to me.

"In fact, I find you pretty interesting"

I stood there motionless, unable to understand what was happening.

"Ever since I saw you this morning I couldn't stop thinking about you"

She grabbed both my hands, our bodies were now closer than ever, I had to look slightly upwards to meet her gaze.

"Never say something like that again, because I would never think that about you" 

At that moment there was no one else in the world but us. 

"Kathie, I love you" 

Her face moved even closer and-

I suddenly woke up breathing heavily, what had I just dreamed about, Oriel and I had...
I felt my heart beating as if it was about to burst out of my chest. I hid my burning face with my blanket and tried to calm down, needless to say I didn't get anymore sleep that night.

topoko

Hope you at least had some fun with this chapter, would love to hear your thoughts on it, leave a comment if you want to and have a nice day!