The crisp morning air nipped at your cheeks as you stood by the school’s entrance, hands stuffed into your jacket pockets. The growing bustle of students arriving didn’t faze you; your focus was on scanning the sea of faces for your friends, who, as usual, were running late. Typical.

You leaned against the cold stone pillar, letting out a soft sigh. How can they be late every single day? you thought, rolling your eyes. Just as you were about to check your phone for any messages, a familiar figure brushed past you, his shoulder nearly grazing yours.

At first, you didn’t pay much attention. But then you caught it—a flash of sharp brown eyes glaring at you, like you were some kind of nuisance.

Oh. Him.

The recognition hit you like a cold wave. Your childhood enemy. The one person who could ruin your day just by existing in the same space as you. His name hung in the back of your mind, but you refused to even think it. He was tall now, taller than you remembered, his posture annoyingly confident as he strode toward the school doors. His messy hair was just as unruly as ever, like he didn’t even try to fix it, but somehow, it suited him. Not that you’d ever admit that.

“What are you staring at?” he shot over his shoulder, his voice dripping with the same sharpness as his glare.

You blinked, caught off guard. “Excuse me?” you replied, raising an eyebrow, trying to keep your voice steady.

He stopped just a step away from the entrance and turned halfway, his smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth in that infuriatingly familiar way. “Didn’t anyone ever tell you it’s rude to stare? Or are you just that obsessed with me?”