Monday
Emirates Academy
10:00 AM
The examination hall was crowded.
Voices overlapped in waves, loud laughter's, whispers too fast to listen. Students clung to confidence they didn't have. Some paced. Some prayed. Some pretended not to care.
I walked in as eyes followed me.
Some stared too long.
Some quickly looked away.
Then came the whispers
"Who is that…"
"He looks pale…"
"No… he's just hot…"
"He looks like a demi-god…"
All of a sudden the attention changed as the crowd began to rumble
"The cold stone queen is here."
"OMG I can't believe I'm seeing Sergei Dimitri Esmeralda."
" All my problems will be solved if I just get married to her."
"The daughter of the brilliant buisness tycoon the proud fox of Dimitri establishment."
Esmeralda.
The crowd gave way as she walked past them. Calm. Unrushed. Untouched by the panic around her.
Her hair was loosely tied, soft strands resting against her face. Her lips moved gently as she whispered to her friend, her voice low, almost careful.
And then
She looked up.
Our eyes met.
To me everything stopped.
Not slowed.
Stopped.
The noise vanished.
The crowd disappeared.
Even the air felt… still.
For the first time in over two thousand years
I felt something… quiet.
Not hunger.
Not violence.
Not chaos.
Something softer.
Something I did not understand.
It didn't burn.
It didn't consume.
It simply… existed.
A calm pull.
But still so strong it pulls me to her.
Like noticing light after living too long in darkness.
And just so quickly,
It was gone.
She looked away.
The world came crashing back.
Noise. Movement. Reality.
I exhaled slowly, my face returning to its usual cold stillness.
Whatever that was,
I buried it as I walked towards the exam hall.
"HEY—WAIT!"
"HEY! WAIT!!"
Footsteps rushed toward me,
"…What now," I muttered under my breath.
"I KNOW YOU!"
I turned slowly.
Oh yes the boy from the other night I saved from getting a beat down.
"My crazy brother said you beat up three guys the other day, is that true?!"
Before I could respond
"That's obviously a lie," the other girl cut in, folding her arms. "He's too cute, he doesn't look like he can hurt even a fly ."
I stared at her.
Too… cute?
Certainly strange.
I observed them quietly.
The boy stood like he owned the moment :tall, confident, smiling too much.
Behind him two identical faces, but the shorter lookalike caught my attention.
The first girl stepped forward, short hair, average height, heart faced doll.
"I am Misheal," she said. "Yes, we're twins. Don't make it weird by asking."
Her lookalike stayed slightly behind, fingers nervously brushing her hair. She was shorter than her sister with longer hair but extremely beautiful, I did a quick comparison in terms of beauty to Esmeralda .
"Maria… nice to meet you," she said softly.
I nodded once.
"Pleasure is mine."
The boy clapped his hands once. " Splendid! Now tell me your name."
I looked him in the eye.
"I don't tell strangers my name."
Silence.
Then
Misheal burst out laughing. "OH I like him!"
Marco pointed at me dramatically. "SEE?! That's the attitude of a guy that can beat up three other guys. Well I am Marco," he said proudly. "As I told you the other day."
"I'm sorry," I replied calmly. "I don't know you."
Misheal gasped. "I KNEW IT! He made everything up!"
Marco ignored her instantly. "Anyway… you scared about the exams?"
"No, not at all."
Maria blinked, surprised.
"…Wow," she whispered. "Someone actually isn't scared…"
Misheal smirked. "Congratulations. You found your missing rib."
Maria froze. "S-stop it!"
Marco laughed. Misheal laughed harder.
I remained quiet.
Observing.
They started walking beside me.
Just like that.
Uninvited.
Unbothered.
Humans attach too easily, I thought.
"So," Marco continued, "you new here?"
"Yes."
"Where from?"
I glanced ahead.
"I was… placed here."
Misheal raised an eyebrow. "That sounds suspicious."
"What makes it suspicious," I replied calmly.
Marco laughed.
"You sound like an undercover agent sent to school to spy on us."
I said nothing.
Misheal leaned closer, studying my face with unnecessary curiosity.
"You look like a vampire," she said.
"Really! Are vampires real." I said
"Of Course they are and you look like one .That's probably why my sister is already into you."
Maria hit her head with a soft slap.
"Please stop talking."
Marco nearly choked from laughing.
Misheal held her head. "Ouch that hurts!"
"You deserved it!"
Maria then stepped closer to me again.
Carefully.
"Please…" she said softly, eyes lowered.
"What's your name?"
I paused.
That question…
I had not told anyone my name in a long time, but the innocence in her voice was compelling.
"…Andre."
"Just Andre?" Misheal asked instantly.
"Yes."
Marco grabbed his chest dramatically. "WOW. So you hate men. Like what did I ever do to you bro?"
Misheal smirked. "That's called standards."
They laughed again.
Loud. Carefree.
I didn't join them.
But I didn't leave either.
"If we pass," Misheal said, stepping closer, "you're sitting with us."
"I am not to agree to that," I replied flatly.
Marco shrugged. "You don't need to."
Misheal leaned in slightly.
"Too late."
"Congratulations."
"You've been adopted to the family."
Maria stood behind them, fidgeting.
"Like we will never leave you alone…"
I looked at them.
Their noise.
Their energy.
Their warmth.
It was… overwhelming.
Not in a bad way.
Just… unfamiliar.
For a brief second
I realized something.
I realized how much of a childhood I never had.
Something almost painful that I never felt and experienced real friendship, love, joy and laughter. I only had the opposite of all positive emotions.
I turned away.
"…We'll see."
Maria smiled softly. "O-okay…"
Misheal smirked. "He's handsome. Hey do you know my sister is going head over heels for you."
"SHUT UP!" Maria snapped instantly.
Marco stretched lazily. "This is going to be interesting."
I leaned closer " is that true."
RRRRIIIIIIING!!!
The bell tore through the hall as everyone paused for a minute.
"ALL CANDIDATES—TO YOUR SEATS IMMEDIATELY!"
"NO TALKING!"
The atmosphere flipped instantly.
Panic returned.
Movement sharpened.
Silence began to fall.
Marco looked at me.
"If I fail," he said dramatically, "remember I was a legend."
Misheal smacked his head. "No one will."
Maria looked at me one last time.
"Good luck…"
I didn't respond.
I simply walked forward.
"This is the first step to you Esmeralda." I said to my self