~Love is Hatred but the Heart can't Resist~

Chapter 1: Flashbacks and Distraction

          Belle was a student at Academics de Bellar, a public school in BM City. She was a lively, extroverted little girl with a way for making friends immediately. On the first day of school, her outgoing personality won over many classmates. However, it didn't take long for her new friends to uncover a less pleasant side of her. Belle had a habit to cause trouble, and her misbehaving kind often led her to pick on others.

          One of her primary targets was Shawn, a smart, a specific boy who had the reputation of being a "nerd." Shawn was the complete opposite of Belle; he was quiet, studious, and preferred to stay out of the spotlight. Belle found it amusing to tease him, and Shawn, in turn, found her behavior infuriating. He especially disliked her because she often made fun of him for being physically weak.

          One day, during recess, Belle and her classmates were playing a game of tag. Shawn was reading a book nearby, completely absorbed in his own world. Belle, noticing him, decided to make him the center of her attention. She ran up to him and snatched his book, holding it above her head while teasing him. "Come on, Shawn, are you really going to let a girl outsmart you?" she taunted. Shawn tried to get his book back but was no match for Belle's quick movements. The scene attracted the attention of their classmates, some laughing while others looked uncomfortable.

          Eventually, one of Belle's classmates, a girl named Sophie, stepped forward. "Belle, that's enough. It's not funny," she said firmly. Belle looked surprised, and then a bit embarrassed. She had crossed a line, and she knew it. Sophie's interruption made Belle realize that her behavior was driving a wedge between her and her friends.

          The next day in class, Belle was lost in thought, replaying the incident in her mind. She felt a sharp pain of guilt, but pride kept her from apologizing. "Belle... Belle! Are you even listening to what I've said?!" Mr. Jasper, their teacher, called out, snapping her back to reality. He looked at her with disappointment. "Ohh... Sorry, Mr. Jasper! It won't happen again," she mumbled, embarrassed.

          Mr. Jasper resumed his lesson, writing musical notes on the board. Belle could hear whispers behind her. She turned around to see Ella and Jab gossiping. Annoyed, she glared at them until they stopped. Her irritation grew, and she couldn't focus on the lesson.

 "Psst, hey Belle! Can you just write down the lessons instead of glaring at those two? You really need to step up your game," Shawn whispered from his seat next to her. They had been assigned as seatmates for the semester, a pairing neither of them had been thrilled about initially. Belle rolled her eyes and looked at the board without really seeing the notes. She felt bored and frustrated.

          Shawn sigh and then smiled, a surprising expression given their usual interactions. "You're lucky I'm friendly and suppose we could be friends one day" he said casually. Belle was taken aback, her cheeks flushing red.

 "Friends? Why would you think we're going to be friends? Idiot," she retorted, trying to mask her surprise and confusion. Shawn chuckled softly at her reaction, his laughter light and genuine.

          Over the next few weeks, something unexpected began to happen. Belle found herself paying more attention to Shawn. She noticed how patient he was, how he helped others with their homework, and how he never complained, even when she teased him. His quiet strength and kindness slowly started to change her opinion of him.

          One afternoon, after another class, Belle and Shawn stayed behind to finish their assignments. The classroom was quiet, and the soft scratch of pencils on paper was the only sound that is heard. Shawn looked up and saw Belle struggling with a math problem.

 "Need help?" he asked gently. Belle hesitated but then nodded. Shawn moved his chair closer and explained the problem step by step. As he did, Belle watched him closely, her previous annoyance melting away. She realized she enjoyed spending time with him, and his intelligence, which she once mocked, now impressed her.

 "Thanks, Shawn," she said softly, a genuine smile on her face. Shawn looked surprised but pleased. "No problem, Belle. That's what friends are for," he replied with a wink.

          Belle's transformation didn't go unnoticed. Her classmates saw the change in her attitude, and even Mr. Jasper mentioned how well she was doing in class. Belle still had her fiery spirit, but it was tempered with a newfound respect for others, especially Shawn.

     One day, as they walked home from school, Belle raised the courage to apologize. "Shawn, I'm sorry for how I treated you before. I was really mean, and you didn't deserve that."

     Shawn stopped and looked at her, his eyes kind. "It's okay, Belle. We all make mistakes. What matters is that we learn from them."

          Belle smiled, feeling a weight of guilt lift off her shoulders. From that day on, their friendship grew stronger. They became an unlikely pair, the extroverted troublemaker and the quiet nerd, but they brought out the best in each other. Belle learned to appreciate Shawn's intelligence and kindness, and Shawn found a loyal and spirited friend in Belle.

...but this is only the beginning.

End of Chapter 1