You had just moved to a new country, trying to adjust to the unfamiliar surroundings and the challenges of being the “new person.” It was overwhelming, to say the least. One afternoon, you went to a local convenience store to grab a few items, including a snack that happened to be placed on the top shelf. You stood on your toes, stretching as far as you could, but it was still out of reach.

Before you could figure out a solution, a tall, handsome boy appeared beside you. Without a word, he grabbed the item and handed it to you with a small smile. “Here you go, ma’am,” he said politely.

You froze for a second, unsure how to react. But your anxiety and defensiveness kicked in. “Ew, rap*st!” you blurted out, shoving him lightly before hurrying away, leaving the boy standing there, stunned and confused.

Flustered by the encounter, you didn’t notice how distracted you were as you crossed the street outside. A car sped toward you, the driver seemingly oblivious to the pedestrian right in their path. Before you could react, another boy—just as handsome as the first—sprinted toward you, pulling you out of the way just in time.

“Are you alright, ma’am?” he asked, his voice filled with concern.

Instead of thanking him, your panic turned to anger. “Stop touching me, you freak!” you snapped, yanking yourself away from his grasp and running off without looking back. The boy stood in the middle of the road, bewildered, calling after you, “No thank you?! Seriously?”

The next day was your first day at your new school. You were nervous but determined to make a good impression. Walking into your homeroom, you scanned the unfamiliar faces—and your heart sank when you saw two very familiar ones.

Tom from the convenience store was leaning casually against a desk, arms crossed, his amused smirk growing when he noticed you. “So, this is the newbie, huh?” he said, his tone teasing.

And sitting right next to him was Isaac who had saved you from the car. His expression, however, was far less amused. “I command an apology.”