Everlasting fragments of memories bloom towards the end

The hallway buzzed with noise as students began searching for their classroom after the opening ceremony. Their chatter echoing off the walls while they searched for their classrooms. The hum of excitement and dispassion filled the air, blending with the occasional clatter of shoes against the polished floor.

Clayton and Ethan weaved through the crowd, their heads craning as they scanned the signs on the doors.

"It'd be great if some cute girls transferred to our class this year, right?" Ethan spoke with a weird grin. 

Clayton sighed, not even sparing him a glance. "More importantly, we need to actually find our classroom, you idiot." His tone was sharp, his face fixed in irritation as if it were the only thing keeping him from smacking Ethan right there.

Unfazed, Ethan smirked and puffed out his chest. "This year, I'm going all out! Mark my words, I'll be the ultimate ladies' man!"

Clayton finally turned to him, a matching grin spreading across his face. "You know, if I were a girl, I'd have already called the police on you."

Ethan froze mid-step, his grin faltering for a moment before he burst out laughing. "Man, you've got no faith in me!"

"And you've got too much faith in yourself," Clayton shot back, smirking as they disappeared into the throng of students.

Ding! ding! ding! 

Ethan let out a dramatic sigh of relief as they slid into their classroom just before the bell. "Barely made it, huh?"

Clayton scowled. "If you hadn't been chasing that girl, we would've been here ages ago."

"But she was just so hot!" Ethan said dreamily, probably dreaming about her in his reverie

Loser.

As Clayton caught his breath after running through the whole school chasing after Ethan, he subconsciously raised his head— staring at the brown-haired girl. Wow...

Clayton realized he was staring at the brown-haired girl for too long but as he attempted to shift his gaze away, he failed to do so. 

She sat in the middle-right side of the classroom. Faint rays of sunlight entered through the wide-open window, as her brown hair slightly blew in the wind. What was her name again? Clayton mumbled to himself as the brown-haired girl noticed him. 

Clayton felt his face burned hot in embarrassment, and just was he fumbled to say something...

"Alright, everyone, settle down!" Miss Mae's cheerful voice broke through the chatter as she strode in, her bright smile lighting up the room. She paused by the window, peeking outside before turning to face the class. "It's good to see you all again. Let's make this last year our best, okay?"

"Yeah," murmurs of agreement rippled through the room, but it wasn't sincere. 

A boy from the middle row stood, his movements deliberate as he strode to the front of the room. "My name is Ronan Vercetti. Nice to meet you."

The room fell silent, all eyes on him. Tall, with blond hair that seemed to catch the light and striking blue eyes that carried a sharp gleam, Ronan exuded an effortless confidence. He flashed mischievous grin.

"So, what are your hobbies, got any talents?" Miss Mae added on.

"I am just your average senior." he blunted.

Miss Mae tilted her head. "What are your hobbies? Any special talents?"

Ronan shrugged casually. "I'm just your average senior."

Miss Mae hesitated, her polite smile wavering. "I see. You can take your seat."

The room buzzed to life as he walked back to his desk, whispers weaving through the air.

Ethan leaned closer to Clayton, whispering dramatically, "Average? Yeah, right. Look at him—those eyes, that hair, that build. Looks like I've got competition huh? But don't you worry dear friend, the ladies are still mine" Ethan glared at Clayton— smirking.

Clayton rolled his eyes, muttering in a mocking tone, "Sure they are..."

Meanwhile, the girls exchanged excited whispers about Ronan as they secretly peeped at him. However, Ronan didn't show the slightest excitement— his gaze locked on the green board in front of him. 

No one really paid attention class since it was the first day and most students also thought that the first semester didn't matter as much— Ethan's dreamy gaze glued to the slow-moving clock as he dreamed about his 'dating' life while Clayton sat hunched over his desk, a pencil in hand as he doodled absentmindedly in his sketchbook. His thoughts wandered far from the classroom, lost in the vivid worlds of his favorite web novels— what would he have done if he transmigrated into his favorite novels. 'Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint, Lord of the Mysteries, Reverend Insanity, Shadow slave, Re:zero' and so many different novels through various genres. Clayton even had a passion for writing since he often imagined himself being transmigrated into novels, meeting his favorite characters. He was an expert at reading web novels— to the point where he had read all the 'great' ones and constantly craving for new stories to read. As a result, everyone boredom struck him, he would create characters, plots, entire universes in his head— writing down on his 'Notes' app.

Something that wasn't just a daydream to Clayton, rather it was his passion. In those moments, drifting away from the cruel 'reality'—he lived in his mind free from fear and responsibilities. 

"Clayton!" A sharp voice yanked him back. He blinked, his heart stumbling as the teacher's glare bore into him.

"Yes?" as he blurted— attempting to cover for his daydreaming. 

"I told you. Sigh, state the term 'Osmosis'." the biology teacher spoke in a disappointed voice as she raised her hand, adjusting her glasses. 

"....Ugh... Osmosis... is... Osmosis." Clayton. He flinched at his own words just as the bell saved him.

"If you're going to sit like this during class, just go home. But don't expect me to have mercy during the last semester!" she paused for a moment before continuing "Alright, everyone! Make sure to bring the materials for the experiment on Wednesday!" She stuffed her laptop and her water bottle into her bag, slowly walking out. 

....Experiment? This is the first day dammit. Wait, what? Clayton massaged his temples as he organized his thoughts. What do I have to bring? I'll just ask Ethan. Clayton turned around— his eyes glimmering with hope, only to be met with Ethan snoring, a thin line of drool glistening on his desk. Forget it. Clayton muttered under his breath, exhaling heavily. 

What should I do? Should I let it go? Not like I really care about it. "Could you stop staring at me?" What? Who's talking to me? "Hello? You're weird." After jolting out from his chains of thoughts Clayton realized he was staring at the brown-haired girl's eyes— the only eyes he couldn't read, eyes full of mysteries...

Come to think of it, I know she's been in my class for a while now, but I don't remember her name?

"My bad. I didn't realize I was staring at you. You know, just chained inside my thoughts these days." Clayton forced an awkward smile as he scratched the back of his head. "My name is Clayton, what's yours?"

"Evelyn...Evelyn Claire." the brown-haired girl responded with a steady voice as she shifted her gaze elsewhere." Clayton sat blankly— his mind as clear as the snow, he stared at her subconsciously as Evelyn sensed Clayton's gaze glued to her again, as Evelyn's head tilted slightly, her brows furrowing. "There you go again, staring at me!" ....? "Agh, my bad!" Clayton stammered. Why do I keep staring at her? 

An awkward silence stretched between them, as they exchanged blank glares. Right, the materials! "How should I address you? Claire or Evelyn?" Clayton asked politely, Evelyn immediately shot back with a cold tone, "I don't care how you address me." 

Rude... "Well then, I'll just address you as Claire." Clayton smirked slightly before continuing, "Could you tell me the materials the teacher said to bring?" 

"Sigh, you should've paid attention. Just for this once, I'll tell you." Why are you so cold? Clayton muttered under his breath. "What was that?" Evelyn spoke without showing the slightest emotion. "Nothing." Dammit, you're so difficult to communicate.

"Then, the teacher told us to bring 'milk', 'bread', 'grapes', 'onions'." The experiment must be something weird judging from the materials.

Evelyn continued, "Also, she assigned groups and unfortunately, I've been paired along you idiots."

"You idiots? Do you mean Ethan and me?" Clayton spoke as he pointed his fingers towards his face.

"Yes, It's a group of four. Me, you, Ethan, and the new kid, Ronan."

Some crazy coincidence huh? I hope the new kid is at least smart, dammit.

"Just do as I say, and we should be fine." Evelyn's said without showing any worries made Clayton little bit confident. 

"Ronan's aware, right?" Clayton asked vaguely.

"I think so, he was listening to the teacher unlike someone." Evelyn said as her lips slightly curved upwards.

So, you finally smiled huh?

"Enough with the creepy stare!" Evelyn scowled. 

"Alright, alright. " Clayton shifted his gaze to sleeping Ethan as he mumbled "I was just looking at you with my normal look, what's so creepy about it anyway..."

"Anyways, talk to you later, Claire." Clayton bead farewell as he waved his hand before approaching Ethan— smacking him on his back."

"Wake up idiot! It's lunch time." Clayton yelled in Ethan's ear before smacking him again.

"Could you wake me up without smacking the absolute sh*t out of me?" The half-awake Ethan complained as he slowly got up.