"Are those the same eyes from my dreams? The first time I saw them, I froze. My body couldn't move, and all I could think about… was you. Just tell me—are you the one I keep seeing in my dreams?"
The beeping of her alarm clock pulled Alissa out of her recurring dream. Gasping softly, she sat up. The image lingered: a man in dusty black robes, standing in the dark beneath the moon. He stood in a field of white roses, glowing against the green ground. Beneath his hood were glowing crimson eyes—the same eyes she had seen in Albert, the new transfer student.
"Could he really be the same person?" she whispered to herself.
A small blush crept up her cheeks as she jumped out of bed. She stepped out onto her balcony and opened the glass door. There, perched on the railing, was a black raven.
"Looks like you've taken a liking to me, haven't you, little one?" Alissa smiled at the bird.
She darted back inside and grabbed a half-open packet of biscuits from her study table. When she returned, the raven was still waiting. As she approached slowly, her eyes locked with its glowing black gaze.
She crumbled the biscuits on the railing and took a step back.
The raven looked at the food, then back at her. He dipped his head in a motion that looked almost like a bow, then began to eat.
"So cool," Alissa whispered.
A voice rang out from her left. "It is."
Startled, Alissa turned. Sasha was standing on her own balcony, leaning on the railing.
The raven flapped its wings and flew off. Alissa watched it go, a hint of disappointment in her eyes.
"Sorry," Sasha said with a regretful look.
Alissa turned back with a smile. "No, it's okay. He'll return. He's been coming for three days straight."
"Three days, huh? Same as the new guy. Isn't he in your class?" Sasha asked.
"You mean Albert?"
"Yep. I even asked him to hang out this Sunday, but he said he had something important. Do you think he was brushing me off?"
"I don't know… He doesn't seem the type," Alissa said, her voice soft.
"Exactly! Asia saw him get into a black Bentley. So maybe he wasn't lying. But honestly, this guy is too mysterious."
"Actually… I think the same, Sasha."
"Wanna hang out after school today?" Sasha offered.
"Today?"
"Yeah. I'll ask Albert, too. You can bring your 'glasses-girlfriend'—" she stopped mid-sentence, surprised. "Whoa! He replied already. He said sure! That was fast."
What Sasha didn't know was that Arvard could hear everything. Even the wrath still lingered in the air.
"Okay, then it's me, you, your friend, Trisha, Asia… and that one boy who likes Trisha—I forget his name," Sasha said, excited.
"Alright," Alissa replied, a bit hesitant. Isn't she a little too excited?
"Oh shoot, gotta get ready for school!" Sasha shouted, running back inside.
Alissa chuckled nervously. Was Sasha always like this?
She stepped back inside and headed to the bathroom. But as she stood under the water, a heaviness settled in her chest.
Why would Albert even notice me? I've never even dated anyone… Sure, they call me one of the "Goddess Three," but that's probably just because I'm a lonely virgin. There are prettier girls—Sasha, for example. They even have each other's numbers.
"Why am I even going with them?" she murmured.
She stepped out of the shower, wrapped in a soft, pink towel.
Could he really be the guy from my dreams? Could we be… destined?
Face burning, Alissa buried her face in her hands.
We stared at each other for so long the first time we met… Could Albert really become my first boyfriend?
Suddenly, a voice broke through her thoughts.
"Dreaming big, aren't you?"
Alissa shrieked and instinctively clutched the towel tighter around her chest—even though it was already secure.
"Who's there!?" she shouted.
Karen leaned against the doorframe, laughing. "Relax, it's just me. You gave me the spare key, remember?"
"You can't just walk in like that!" Alissa huffed.
Karen walked over, smirking, and suddenly tugged the towel. "Let me borrow this."
"What are you doing?! Give it back!" Alissa yelped, trying to snatch it from her.
Karen held it behind her. "Nope."
"You perv! At least knock first!" Alissa shouted.
"Oh, I see. I interrupted your daydream about Albert?" Karen teased, stepping closer.
Alissa turned away, face burning. "Shut up…"
Karen's eyes scanned her. "If Albert ends up with you, he's getting some sweet sugar, huh?"
"Pervert!" Alissa shouted, trying to hide herself.
Karen giggled. "Where do I learn this stuff? Eh… I spend time with—uh, never mind."
"Wait—with who?" Alissa asked, intrigued.
"No one," Karen said quickly.
"Wait, Karen… are you still a virgin?" Alissa asked, suspicious.
"I am… probably," Karen said, trailing off into her thoughts.
"Karen!"
"Huh? Oh right! We're gonna be late!"
Alissa yanked the towel back and dashed into her room. Less than a minute later, she was dressed in her uniform. As she put on her shoes, she said, "Sasha invited us to hang out after school with her, Albert, and—"
"Ew! Didn't expect Sasha to be gay," Karen interrupted.
"What the hell?" Alissa snapped. "She invited us all as a group. Albert too. And his friend."
"Ohhh. Okay," Karen shrugged.
"Let's go," Alissa said, slinging her bag over her shoulder.
As they stepped out, they saw Mai locking her door across the hallway.
"Hey there," Mai said cheerfully.
"Didn't expect you to be late too," Alissa said, locking her own door.
"What happened to your student council duties?" Karen teased.
"They can cut me some slack for once," Mai replied with a laugh.
As they rode the elevator together, Karen suddenly said, "Hey… why were those student council girls clinging to Albert yesterday?"
Alissa and Mai turned toward her, intrigued.
"I overheard one of them saying, 'Please join us… You can ask for anything, I would even—'"
"What?!" Alissa and Mai said at once.
Karen continued, dramatically, "Then Albert leaned in close, pushed her back against the wall, and said, 'Wanna go somewhere more private?'"
Their hearts thumped as they imagined it.
"She was trembling, face red, maybe from fear… or embarrassment… or horniness—I don't know. Her eyes were getting wet. And just as she seemed about to collapse, he whispered something and walked away… like some hero in a love story."
"What did he whisper?" Alissa asked breathlessly.
Karen shrugged. "How would I know?"
"Seriously? You noticed her tearing up, but didn't hear what he said?" Alissa groaned.
Karen smirked. "I was just behind them. Nothing like that happened—I was pulling your leg."
Alissa and Mai glared at her.
Suddenly Karen stopped walking. "Look."
They followed her gaze.
Albert—Arvard—was talking to a student council girl. Another council member was charging toward him, fist raised, clearly intending to strike.