Theory of Happiness

Chapter 1

Adam Ivory was sitting in his office, fixing his suit. He was just about to meet his new class- 9B. From what he had heard, those children were really gifted and the man truly hoped they would get along.

He stood infront of the white door, took a nervous deep breath and opened it.

"Hello class! My name is Adam Ivory and I am going to be your chemistry teacher all the way through high school."

All twenty-five pairs of eyes were staring at him. The room, previously buzzing with excited chatters, suddenly went silent, only curious hushed whispers filling it. The man proudly looked around the room, examining every single student. As his glance greeted each one, he noticed... something odd. He was uncertain about it, but his hunch kept insisting.

He tried to shake off the feeling and continued to talk. And yet, time to time, he felt like there was something funnily familiar, but from where, and why?!

He couldn't understand. After a few more minutes he smiled at the children.

"Ok, now it's time for me to get to know you! So, would you like to tell me your name and a little something about yourself?"

The class agreed and the teacher started nodding to each child. He listened with joy as they talked, amazed by how diverse and yet alike each one was. This was something he could never get bored of.

After a few students, he found himself exchanging smiles with a sweet girl. When her pitch-black eyes met his stone grey ones, he subconsciously twitched. He stared at her, blinked a few times, as if he was trying to clear his eyesight and check if the view infront of him was real. It made the girl blush.

"And... what about you?" Adam smiled, when he caught himself staring, not wanting the girl to feel uneasy, and he convinced himself it was probably nothing. Then he asked her, trying his best to sound normal:

"Tell me your name and a little fun fact for yourself, will you?"

"S-sure, sir!" the girl grinned, stuttering slightly. "Well... I'm Danaia Thomas and... I, uhh... I love chocolate!"

At the last words, she chuckled awkwardly. As a response, she got another stare. There was something behind her teacher's seemingly careless and calm eyes, but what- she couldn't tell.

Adam knew that name. 'Call it a coincidence', he thought. However... he had heard that chuckle too. Not long time ago or just accidentally while passing the hallways. He knew exactly where he knew it from. In fact, he had heard it just this morning, before coming to work.

"Umm... yeah, t-that's it." Danaia said, bringing the man back in reality. He quickly thanked her and hurried to go on. Yet, his glance unwillingly kept coming back to the girl, examining her voluminous light-chestnut waves tucked behind her ears; her round, cheeky face and especially the charcoal black eyes, sending slight shivers down his spine.

Nearly the whole class had passed when the last pair of eyes got his attention. The girl who was standing infront of him had a big, confident smile, showing off her pearly teeth. She didn't wait for her teacher to ask.

"Hello! I'm Elisabeth Cooper. I love reading and writing! Also-"

As soon as Adam heard the name, he could no longer hear what she was saying. He almost gasped out loud. While he was looking at her jet black hair, he instinctively raised his hand and fixed his own. The one little wave, falling casually onto her forehead and disturbing the pattern of straightened silky locks; her big smile; the little dimples, decorating her cheeks...He wondered if his naivety was playing him a trick; if all the longing didn't force his mind to see what it wanted, in order to fill the void inside his heart, abruptly hurting so bad even though so many years had passed.