A Little Fall of Rain

Chapter 3: Collide

The bright red-orange blooms of the only fire tree in the campus fell as students and vehicles passed by. I looked at the trees on both sides of the pathway while finding a place to wait for the boys.

My gaze landed on the noticeably white benches in front of the main building. Some parents and their freshmen children already occupied some of them, waiting for the bell to signal the start of the first assembly this academic year. As I approached the area, one parent smiled at me, and so I smiled back. I dropped my backpack on my lap, hugged it, and leaned on the bench.

"Boring," I said after minutes of waiting. I then got up and set foot in the building.

The stairs were the first thing I saw as I entered. Going up, a large, framed picture of the Father Founder could be seen on the wall in front of the landing.

The silent corridor greeted me as I reached the second floor. I could see the small, red lights from the surveillance cameras on both ends.

"Hello?"

My voice only echoed, making me wonder why there were no people in the building, whereas at this hour in my previous school, students were already in their respective buildings, waiting for the one who keeps their classroom's key to arrive.

Even I occasionally come to school before or as the sun rises.

I passed by each of the classrooms, noticing that only one was different. It had something like a mini storage room—or was it a comfort room? Either way, it seemed to be locked for a very long time.

Names of angels and saints printed on paper and framed hung at the top of the doorframe, specifying the section that will stay in that area.

After exploring the level, I headed to the exit.

I looked at where I left my bag. It was still there. It's not like there's anything in it that is worth stealing, anyway.

I started to walk towards it when I noticed a noisy group occupying the benches in the lobby.

Lea sat on the table as she grinned while listening to her friends talk all at the same time. She then did a dramatic pose while saying something that made the group laugh.

She was glancing around her when her gaze met mine. She smiled. I looked away and returned to my seat.

"There you are!" Castiel said and dragged me to introduce me to his elementary friends. I only nodded at them when they greeted me.

Kris was like a buzzer beater, arriving just in time for the bell to ring.

"Heyya! Sunny first day, aye?"

"It's the first day of classes and you're almost late."

"Almost," he replied in a singsong voice and winked.

Seniors held up placards which contained the different sections. We lined up, but I jolted when Kris suddenly poked my side.

"Weakness identified," Castiel said while trying not to laugh.

I glared at them, but Castiel launched himself towards me and tickled me.

"Hey! Stop it! Castiel!!!"

I tried to avoid him, but Kris also cornered me.

I ended up laughing with them as I felt others look at us weirdly.

So much for good first impressions.

After that, I found myself standing with Castiel in front of the classroom, waiting for our teacher to call our names and assign our seats.

Castiel's seat was too far from me.

I sighed and turned to my left to see who my seatmate was.

"Ah," she blurted out when I landed my gaze on her.

Why was she looking at me?

"Hello," she greeted, and I nodded in response.

"Good morning," I said.

Our first class was Mathematics. At first, I thought the teacher was the scary strict type, but later on I realized she was the cool strict type that I didn't need to worry about being called and humiliated if I didn't know the answer.

The class likes her enough for them to chant "Seatwork! Seatwork!" It was the first time I had a class that wanted to do Math activities on their own.

I smiled as I answered the questions. Once my classmates were already falling in line, I too went to get my sheet checked. Lea followed and hummed a tune behind me.

Still smiling since my score was a good start for this academic year, I returned to my seat.

I was looking at my paper when I felt someone staring, so I looked around.

I landed my gaze on Lea, who was the only one looking at me.

She beamed.

"A smile looks good on you."