The library was quieter than usual. Kaylila sat by the large glass window, staring at the blank page of her notebook. She was supposed to be working on practice questions for the upcoming test week, but her mind was elsewhere—lost in a swirl of emotions she couldn’t untangle.
She hadn’t seen Norrell since their last conversation. His words echoed in her mind: "I like you, Kaylila, but I need to focus on my studies right now."
The honesty had stung more than a lie. It was the first time she had let her guard down, the first time she had dared to believe in something beyond herself.
“Lost in thought?” a voice interrupted, jolting her back to reality.
Kaylila looked up to see Keziah Adesuwa Osage standing over her. Keziah is a student Crystal Gem Academy but had already earned a reputation for being bold and brilliant. She carried herself with confidence that demanded attention.
“Mind if I join you?” Keziah asked, gesturing to the seat across from her.
Kaylila nodded silently.
“You’ve been staring at that page for the past fifteen minutes,” Keziah remarked, setting her books on the table. “Trouble concentrating?”
Kaylila hesitated before answering. “Something like that.”
Keziah studied her carefully, her sharp eyes taking in every detail. “Let me guess—boy drama?”
Kaylila blinked, startled. “What makes you think that?”
Keziah shrugged, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips. “Call it intuition. Don’t worry; I won’t pry. Just know that you’re not the first girl to get distracted by feelings during test week.”
---
Meanwhile, Norrell was in the school auditorium, seated at the desk , his textbooks open but untouched. He rubbed his temples, trying to focus on the notes in front of him.
“Still brooding?” Norrelle asked from the doorway. She leaned against the frame, arms crossed, her identical features softened by concern.
“I’m not brooding,” Norrell replied without looking up.
“You made a decision, Norrell. Why do you look like you’re regretting it?”
“I’m not regretting it,” he insisted. “It’s the right choice. I have to stay focused on my future. Feelings will only complicate things.”
Norrelle sighed, walking into the room. “Feelings are complicated, but ignoring them doesn’t make them go away. You like her, don’t you?”
Norrell was silent, his fingers tracing the edge of the desk.
“I thought so,” Norrelle said softly. “You need to figure out what you want before you end up hurting her—and yourself.”
---
By midweek, test week was in full swing. The school buzzed with tension as students crammed every spare moment. Kaylila and Keziah had claimed a quiet corner in the science lab for their study sessions.
“Let’s go over the formula again,” Kaylila said, pointing to a problem on her worksheet.
Keziah leaned over, her pencil scratching against the paper as she explained. “You just need to isolate the variable here. See?”
Kaylila nodded, her focus shifting for a moment to Keziah’s calm demeanor. “Thanks. You’re really good at this.”
“I’ve had practice,” Keziah replied. “My old school had tests like these every month. You learn to adapt.”
YOU ARE READING
MY DAYS AT CRYSTAL GEM ACADEMY
Teen Fiction"My days in Crystal Gem Academy were an experience that was worth it. Olafemi Arasimisoluwa Kaylila is an only child who has always been loved and supported by her family. An A student with no pressure at home, Kaylila seems to have it all figured o...
