The cafeteria buzzed with chatter, but there was an undercurrent of tension at our table. Apart from the usual faces, the three girls I had met yesterday—Lena, Sarah, and Nina—were sitting with us, their presence a reminder of the previous day's chaos.
Breaking the tension, Ryan leaned forward and declared, "Guys, we've got a tournament coming up next week. Let's forget about everything else and focus on that."
I quickly jumped in, trying to keep the mood light. "So, how are we setting up the lineup?"
Ryan glanced around the table before responding. "Julian and Ethan should play as forwards. There's this second-year named Harrison who used to play as a striker for our team. Daniel, you'll be central midfielder, I'll take the right midfielder spot, and Simon—a third-year—will handle the left. Logan will be left-back, and we've got some guys from other grades to fill the remaining positions."
Logan nodded, a slight smile breaking through his usual seriousness. "That's a solid team we've got. Let's meet up with the others during the last period to iron out the details."
It was clear they didn't want to dwell on the fight before the tournament. They were serious about the game, and the thought of the upcoming competition seemed to ease the tension, at least for now.
Soccer isn't just about skill—it's about coordination, teamwork, and trust. I knew we could pull it off if we worked together. Yet, as much as I wanted to believe that focusing on the tournament would make our problems disappear, a part of me couldn't shake the feeling that the fight wasn't over. The unease lingered, like a storm cloud on the horizon.
But for now, I let myself get caught up in the excitement of the game, hoping that whatever challenges lay ahead, we'd be ready to face them together.
After practice, we found a quiet spot to gather. A few unfamiliar faces appeared—more girls, apart from Lena, Sarah, and Nina, who I'd already met. They seemed close, laughing and chatting among themselves. I felt a pang of unease, realizing I didn't know anyone in my own class well enough to feel comfortable in a group like this. It made me feel like an outsider.
I found a place off to the side, isolated, and pulled out my smartphone. I started scrolling through social media, not really paying attention, just trying to look busy. The group was still chatting away, and I was content to be left alone. But then, some of the girls drifted toward me. I glanced up for a moment, meeting their eyes before quickly returning my focus to my phone. My heart rate picked up, and I could feel their eyes on me like I was some sort of exhibit.
One of the girls sat down beside me, while three others stood in front of me, as if they were waiting for something. I forced myself to stay calm, keeping my face neutral, even though I could feel my uneasiness growing. I wasn't used to this kind of attention, especially not from people I barely knew.
The girl beside me broke the silence. "So you're Daniel, the new guy in Class 1-A. You look too good to be a nerd. How did you end up there?"
Her comment made my stomach drop, and I felt a little short of breath. I wasn't sure if it was a compliment or a jab. Talking to girls in a group was one thing, but being singled out like this made me feel exposed. Still, I didn't want to make a bad impression. "I didn't know much about the other activities and stuff, so I just focused on what I knew—studying. I guess I got lucky, though maybe not everyone sees it that way. I actually enjoy studying, I think."
She shifted closer, placing her bag in her lap, and I felt her legs brush against mine. My heart thumped in my chest. I hadn't been this close to a girl I barely knew before, and it was throwing me off balance. For them, this might have been normal—a friendly approach—but for me, it was overwhelming. This was a world I hadn't explored, a part of social life that felt foreign.
Human beings are meant to be social, but I found comfort in solitude. Being happy alone is a rare gift, but finding people who share your thoughts and interests is something even more special. It struck me that I hadn't really had a meaningful conversation, even with my own mother. I turned my head to the opposite side, trying to collect my thoughts. This school life was something I'd never imagined—having friends, girls approaching me to talk. Maybe some girls in the past had wanted to talk to me, but I'd always kept myself distant, wrapped in my own mystery.
I didn't know what these girls thought of me, but I decided to make the best of it. I gave them a warm smile and said, "It was nice talking to you all. See you around." With that, I got up and left, feeling a strange mix of relief and regret.