The first day of school after the long holiday had finally arrived, and the campus was already alive before most of the teachers had even settled into their offices.
The large school gates remained open as students streamed through them in groups, carrying backpacks over their shoulders, laughing loudly, calling each other's names, and stopping every few steps because someone they hadn't seen throughout the holiday had suddenly appeared in front of them.
It was the kind of morning that reminded everyone why school wasn't entirely about classes. Sometimes, it was about the people.
The friendships.
The arguments.
The jokes.
The stories.
The endless catching up after weeks apart.
A group of girls stood near the entrance, completely blocking the walkway while they hugged one another.
"I missed you so much!" one of them squealed, throwing her arms around her friend.
The girl being hugged laughed loudly, trying to steady herself.
"You missed me, or you missed having someone to gossip with?"
She pulled away and placed both hands on her friend's shoulders, pretending to look offended.
"How dare you?"
Her friend laughed.
"I'm serious."
"I missed you!"
"Then why didn't you call me?"
The girl's expression suddenly became guilty.
"Well..."
Her friends immediately burst into laughter.
"Exactly!"
"I knew it!"
"You didn't even call her once!"
The girl raised both hands defensively.
"Okay, okay! I was busy!"
"Doing what?"
"Enjoying my holiday."
"Without us?"
She smiled innocently.
"Yes."
Another round of laughter followed. Not far from them, a group of boys were having their own reunion. One of them had barely stepped through the gate when another boy rushed toward him and pulled him into a quick hug.
"Bro!"
The boy laughed as he patted his friend's back.
"Look at you!"
"What?"
"You've changed."
The boy immediately pulled away and looked down at himself.
"How?"
"I don't know. You just look different."
His friend narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
"Is that a compliment?"
"Maybe."
"Then say it properly."
"You look good."
The boy smiled proudly.
"I know."
His friend rolled his eyes.
"You're still arrogant."
"And you're still jealous."
"Jealous of what?"
"Me."
"Please."
They both laughed.
The entire campus carried that same energy.
Students who had spent the holiday complaining about being bored were suddenly excited to be back. Some were showing each other pictures from their trips.
Some were comparing new hairstyles.
Others were talking about new teachers, old teachers, assignments, relationships, family drama, and everything else that had happened while school was closed. The cafeteria was already crowded. The basketball court had a group of boys gathered around it.
Near the library, several students sat on benches, catching up quietly. The hallways were filled with footsteps and voices. Everywhere one looked, there was movement.
There was life.
And there was noise.
"Have you done the assignment?"
A boy walking beside his friend suddenly asked.
His friend stopped and stared at him.
"What assignment?"
"The holiday assignment."
The boy's eyes widened.
"Don't tell me there was an assignment."
His friend laughed.
"There were three."
"Three?"
"Yes."
He ran both hands through his hair in disbelief.
"I'm finished."
"You've been on holiday for weeks."
"I thought the holiday was for resting!"
"It was also for studying."
The boy groaned.
"Don't remind me."
His friend laughed as they continued walking. But while everyone was busy catching up, another piece of news was quietly making its way around campus.
At first, it was only a whisper.
Then another person heard it.
Then another.
Before long, almost everyone seemed to know. There was a new transfer student. And he was joining one of the senior classes. Near the cafeteria, two girls sat together while watching students pass.
One of them suddenly leaned closer.
"Have you heard?"
The other girl looked up from her drink.
"Heard what?"
"The new student."
"What new student?"
"You haven't heard?"
She shook her head.
"No."
The girl looked surprised.
"You're the last person I expected not to know."
"Just tell me."
She leaned forward.
"Apparently, we're getting a new transfer student."
The other girl raised an eyebrow.
"Today?"
"Yes."
"Boy or girl?"
"Boy."
"What class?"
"I think our class."
"What's his name?"
The girl paused.
"I think it's Adrian."
"Adrian what?"
"Moretti."
The second girl froze slightly.
"Moretti?"
"Yes."
She lowered her voice.
"Like Vincent Moretti?"
The first girl nodded.
"Exactly."
The conversation suddenly became more serious. Everybody knew the name Vincent Moretti. Even people who didn't know much about him knew that he was a powerful and extremely private businessman whose name appeared frequently in conversations involving major companies, investments, and influential people.
There were always rumors surrounding him.
Nobody seemed to know which ones were true. But the name itself was enough to make people curious.
"So his father is Vincent Moretti?" the girl asked again.
"That's what I heard."
"Wow."
"I know."
"Why is he transferring here?"
"I don't know."
"Where did he come from?"
"I don't know."
"Have you seen him?"
"No."
The girl frowned.
"Then how do you know all this?"
She shrugged.
"People talk."
The other girl laughed.
"That's true."
By mid-morning, the rumor had spread to almost every corner of the school. Students were beginning to create their own versions of the story. Some said Adrian had moved because his father had relocated.
Others claimed the family had moved because of business. Some said he had attended an expensive private school before transferring. Others claimed he had been homeschooled.
Nobody actually knew.
But that didn't stop anyone from talking.
"I heard he's extremely rich."
"Everybody says that."
"No, I'm serious."
"How serious?"
"Very."
"How do you know?"
"My cousin knows someone who knows the Moretti family."
The boy beside him stared.
"That's the weakest source I've ever heard."
The first boy shrugged.
"Believe what you want."
Another student joined their conversation.
"Apparently, he's very quiet."
"How would you know?"
"I heard it."
"From who?"
"My sister."
"Has your sister met him?"
"No."
"Then how does she know?"
The student paused.
"Maybe she just knows."
Everyone laughed.
The rumors became even more ridiculous as the morning continued. Some students were already wondering whether Adrian would be arrogant because of his family. Others thought he would be friendly. Some were convinced he would barely speak to anyone. A few girls were simply curious about what he looked like.
"I heard he's handsome."
"Who told you?"
"My friend."
"Has she seen him?"
"No."
"Then how does she know?"
The girl shrugged.
"I don't know."
"Exactly."
Laughter followed.
Meanwhile, there were a few students who didn't care about the new transfer student at all. One of them was Elena Bennett. She sat beneath a tree during break, her book open in her lap. She had been reading quietly while the rest of the campus buzzed around her. She wasn't interested in the gossip.
At least, she hadn't been.
Clara Bennett appeared from behind the tree with two drinks in her hands.
"Elena!"
Elena looked up.
Clara walked toward her with a bright smile.
"There you are!"
Elena closed her book halfway.
"Where else would I be?"
Clara sat beside her and handed her one of the drinks.
"I've been looking for you."
Elena accepted it.
"Why?"
"Because I haven't seen you properly since school resumed."
"You saw me in the hallway."
"That doesn't count."
Elena smiled faintly.
"Why not?"
"Because you were walking like you were being chased."
"I was going to class."
"You could have waited."
"I was already late."
Clara rolled her eyes playfully.
"You're always rushing somewhere."
Elena opened her drink.
"And you're always talking."
"That's why we're friends."
Elena smiled.
"Maybe."
Clara nudged her gently.
"So..."
Elena looked at her.
"So what?"
"You've heard about the new student?"
Elena hesitated.
"Yes."
Clara's eyes widened.
"Really?"
"I heard some people talking."
"Do you know his name?"
"Adrian Moretti."
Clara nodded enthusiastically.
"Exactly."
Elena took a sip of her drink.
"What's so special about him?"
Clara stared at her as though the answer were obvious.
"His father."
Elena's expression remained calm.
"Vincent Moretti?"
"Yes."
Clara lowered her voice.
"Everybody knows that name."
Elena nodded.
"Apparently."
"People are already talking about him."
"They talk about everyone."
"Not like this."
Elena looked at the crowd.
She could hear several students talking about the same subject.
"Maybe they're just curious."
Clara shrugged.
"Maybe."
She leaned back against the tree.
"I wonder what he's like."
Elena opened her book again.
"You'll probably find out soon."
Clara looked at her.
"You're not curious?"
"No."
"Not even a little?"
Elena turned another page.
"No."
Clara smiled.
"You're lying."
"I'm reading."
"That's not an answer."
"It's the only answer you're getting."
Clara laughed.
"Fine."
The bell rang shortly afterward.
Students began returning to their classrooms. Teachers moved through the hallways with files tucked under their arms.
The excitement gradually settled into the normal rhythm of lessons. But there was one important detail that nobody knew yet.
The new student hadn't arrived.
Not yet.
Across the city, a car was moving steadily through traffic. Inside it sat Adrian. He leaned against the window, looking outside. His expression was calm, but there was a slight tension in his jaw. Today was his first day at the new school. He hadn't expected to be nervous.
He wasn't.
At least, that was what he kept telling himself.
His uniform was neat.
His backpack rested beside him.
His phone was in his hand.
He glanced at the time.
He was late.
The reason was simple.
Vincent had left instructions that morning before travelling for another meeting. Adrian had been expected to leave early. But getting ready had taken longer than planned. Then traffic had made everything worse. Adrian sighed and leaned his head against the window.
"Perfect," he muttered, staring at the traffic ahead.
The driver glanced at him through the mirror.
"Don't worry, sir. We'll get there."
Adrian looked toward the front.
"I know."
He returned his gaze to the window.
He didn't like being late.
He didn't like walking into places when everyone was already settled.
And he especially didn't like knowing that an entire classroom would probably turn to look at him. He had experienced enough attention throughout his childhood because of his father.
He didn't need more.
The car finally reached the school grounds later in the day. The driver slowed near the entrance.
Adrian looked outside.
The campus was still busy, although the morning excitement had settled. He could see students walking between buildings.
Some stood in groups.
Others were heading toward classrooms.
Adrian took a deep breath.
This was it.
He picked up his backpack.
The driver turned slightly.
"We're here."
Adrian nodded.
"Thanks."
He opened the door and stepped out.
For a moment, he stood beside the car.
His eyes moved across the unfamiliar campus.
Another school.
Another beginning.
He adjusted the strap of his backpack and started walking toward the main building.
Meanwhile, inside the classroom, the students had settled down for their next lecture. Their teacher stood at the front of the room, writing on the board. The students were taking notes. A few whispered quietly among themselves. One student leaned toward his friend.
"Do you think he's here yet?"
His friend shook his head.
"I don't know."
"Maybe."
The teacher turned around.
"Is there something you'd like to share with the class?"
The two boys immediately straightened.
"No, sir."
"Then pay attention."
"Yes, sir."
The teacher continued with the lesson.
A few minutes passed.
Then there was a knock on the classroom door.
Everyone looked up.
The teacher stopped speaking.
Another knock followed.
The room became completely silent.
The teacher placed the marker on the desk.
"Come in."
The door slowly opened.
A tall boy stepped into the classroom.
The conversations died instantly.
Every pair of eyes turned toward him.
He stood in the doorway with his backpack hanging from one shoulder, his expression calm and unreadable.
For a brief moment, nobody spoke.
The teacher looked at him.
Then he looked toward the class.
The students stared back.
The new student had finally arrived. And the boy standing in that doorway was none other than Adrian Moretti.