Rose grins, nudging him playfully. "I've been practicing."
Their parents watch with contentment, seeing the bond between their children strengthening over a meal cooked with love and determination.
As the evening progresses, laughter echoes through the dining room, filling the house with warmth and the joy of family reunited.
_______________________________________
"You may already know that only a few scholarships are offered at this school, and most of the students who go here are wealthy," Mira says, standing confidently on the stage, her voice echoing through the auditorium. Gorya, eager to hear her speech, had dragged Rose and Hana along with her.
"But don't worry, you don't have to belong to any particular financial or social status," Mira continues, her eyes scanning the audience.
"How much longer is this going to last?" Rose leans in, whispering into Hana's ear.
"I'm not sure," Hana replies, glancing at her watch, then at Gorya, who is completely engrossed in the speech.
Rose sighs, leaning back. "Gorya's so focused, it's like she's in another world."
"I believe that the most important thing is that we all have the right to dream. This is our time. If you believe in yourself and follow your dreams, a bright future awaits you," Mira concludes, her voice filled with passion as the crowd erupts into applause. The sound reverberates throughout the auditorium.
As the clapping dies down, Hana nudges Rose. "Do you think Gorya even blinked during that speech?"
Rose chuckles. "Doubt it. She's totally starstruck by Mira."
Later, in the school cafeteria, Gorya sits with her phone in hand, replaying Mira's speech. Rose drops her tray down beside Gorya, shaking her head with a grin. "Are you seriously watching Mira's clip again?"
"She's the coolest, don't you think?" Hana chimes in, sliding into the seat across from them.
Rose picks at her salad, twirling her fork around. "Cool doesn't even begin to cover it. She's brave, independent, strong, talented, beautiful—she's the perfect example of a woman."
"She is... because of her, I decided to come to this school," Gorya says softly, her gaze still fixed on her phone screen.
Hana nods in agreement. "Same here. She's so inspiring."
But Hana notices something off in Gorya's expression. "Gorya, is something bothering you? You seem off today," she asks, leaning forward.
Gorya sighs, putting her phone down. "It's just... this school, the way people are treated based on their status, it's overwhelming sometimes."
"You're not still thinking about that bullying stuff, are you?" Rose asks, her voice full of concern.
Gorya nods, her shoulders slumping. "It's hard not to. It feels like no matter how hard you try, you can't stop thinking about the reality."
Hana reaches across the table, placing her hand over Gorya's. "Hey, you've got us, okay? We're in this together. Remember, we made a promise to stay safe until graduation."
"Yeah," Rose adds, her voice firm. "And if anyone tries to mess with us, we will stand up. We're not going to stay like cowards!"
Gorya manages a small smile, touched by her friends' words. "Thanks, guys. I really appreciate it."
___________________________________________
The school has already ended, and the building is empty. The sun hung high in the sky, casting a golden glow over the basketball court as Kavin, MJ, and Thyme played an intense game. Sweat dripped from their faces as they moved swiftly, their laughter echoing across the empty space. Ren sat on a nearby bench with a sketchpad in hand, observing the game as he drew, though his eyes often wandered, lost in thought.
"Nice shot, Kavin!" MJ called out, catching the ball and dribbling it before passing it to Thyme. Thyme smirked as he took a shot, the ball sailing through the air before hitting the backboard with a satisfying thud.
"Too easy," Thyme chuckled, running back to his spot.
As the game continued, Rose walked by the court, her eyes focused on her phone as she passed by with a cap pulled low over her face, minding her own business—until suddenly, a basketball flew straight toward her.
Without warning, the ball smacked against the side of her head, knocking her cap askew. Rose staggered slightly, eyes wide in shock and pain as she caught her balance.
From across the court, Thyme shouted, "Hey, pass the ball back!" His voice was casual, almost indifferent, as if he hadn't just hit someone. There wasn't even the faintest hint of an apology.
Rose froze, her hand touching the spot where the ball had hit. Slowly, she turned to look at them, her eyes narrowing. Kavin and MJ were laughing, unaware of what had just happened. Ren's eyes flicked up from his sketchpad, his expression unreadable.
But Rose wasn't about to let this slide.
She straightened up, pushing the cap back onto her head, hiding her face from their view. Without a word, Rose picked up the basketball. Her hand gripped the ball tightly, and she began to walk toward the boys, her steps deliberate. The three boys watched her approach, though none of them seemed particularly concerned.
Rose stopped walking when she was about ten feet from them. She looked up at Thyme, her eyes narrowing, though they couldn’t see the full fury in her gaze because of the cap’s brim.
With a deceptively sweet smile, Rose said, “Here’s your ball.”
And then, with all the force she could muster, she hurled the basketball directly at Thyme’s face.
The ball connected with a loud thud, the impact sending Thyme stumbling back. Pain exploded in his nose, and he winced, grabbing his face as he felt the warm, sticky sensation of blood trickling down.
Kavin and MJ were stunned, their laughter dying instantly as they rushed to Thyme's side. "Bro, are you okay?" Kavin asked, his voice laced with concern as he inspected Thyme's bloody nose. Thyme glared at Rose, his eyes burning with anger, but she was already sprinting away, her cap still pulled low to hide her identity.
“What the hell?” Kavin bent down to check on Thyme.
"Ow, what the—" Thyme started, but the pain in his nose cut him off. He winced again, feeling the blood dribble onto his hand.
"What just happened?" MJ muttered, looking around in disbelief.
"She just—" Thyme began, but the pain in his nose cut him off. He gritted his teeth, trying to stop the bleeding. "That girl just threw the ball at me!" He wiped his nose with the back of his hand, his pride bruised more than his body.
Ren, who had been silent the entire time, watched the scene unfold with a hint of surprise in his usually calm expression. He set down his sketchpad, staring at the spot where Rose had disappeared. The world around them seemed to pause, as if the air had thickened with tension.
After all, every girl in the school either adored the F4 or feared them too much to act out like that.
YOU ARE READING
perfect (Renrawin Aira) F4 Thailand
Fanfiction"Something on my face, or are you just admiring my good looks?" "Neither, I was just zoned out and your ugly face just happened to be in my line of sight." She replied
