The morning classes passed more quietly than Rubi had expected.
Mathematics.
English Literature.
History.
The teachers changed, the lessons continued, and students filled the classroom with endless conversations, yet one thing never changed.
Takoru barely spoke.
Sometimes he slept through an entire lecture.
Sometimes he simply rested his chin on his hand, staring outside the window as if the world beyond the school gates was far more interesting than anything happening inside the classroom.
Rubi tried not to look at him.
She really tried.
After everything that had happened over the past few days—the backyard, the borrowed pencil, his quiet “It’s nice”—she found herself becoming strangely aware of his presence.
Not because she liked him.
Because she couldn’t understand him.
He wasn’t loud.
He wasn’t rude.
He wasn’t even the arrogant biker she had imagined before entering Mirae Academy.
He was…
Complicated.
The lunch bell finally rang.
Students immediately rushed out of the classroom.
“Art class after lunch!” Emmi said happily while packing her books.
Rubi’s eyes lit up.
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
“It’s an elective today.”
Yuri smiled after noticing the excitement on his sister’s face.
“I haven’t seen you smile like that since we transferred.”
Rubi looked down, slightly embarrassed.
“I…
just like drawing.”
Emmi laughed.
“Like drawing?”
“You practically breathe through that sketchbook.”
The three of them walked toward the old wing of Mirae Academy.
Unlike the modern buildings with shining glass walls, the old wing felt peaceful.
Tall wooden windows.
Brick corridors.
The faint scent of paint floating through the air.
It almost felt like stepping into another world.
“This place is beautiful…”
Rubi whispered unconsciously.
“It was the original academy building,” their Art teacher explained while opening the classroom door.
“Many students don’t come here unless they have Art.”
“The silence helps people think.”
Rubi immediately loved the room.
Wooden easels stood neatly in rows.
Shelves overflowed with paints, brushes and unfinished sculptures.
Finished student artworks decorated every wall.
Sunlight poured through the tall windows, covering the room in warm golden light.
For the first time since arriving at Mirae Academy…
Rubi felt relaxed.
The teacher clapped her hands.
“Good afternoon, everyone.”
“Today’s assignment is simple.”
“I don’t want perfect drawings.”
“I want honest ones.”
She smiled before writing on the board.
Draw the place where your heart feels safest.
A few students immediately started whispering.
“My room.”
“The beach.”
“My grandmother’s house.”
“The football field.”
The teacher simply smiled.
“There are no wrong answers.”
“Art is about truth.”
Rubi slowly opened her sketchbook.
The place where my heart feels safest…
Without even thinking…
Her pencil began moving.
Not toward mountains.
Not toward the ocean.
Not toward her bedroom.
Instead…
An old oak tree slowly appeared on the page.
Its branches stretched across the paper.
Soft sunlight filtered through its leaves.
Wild flowers surrounded the roots.
It was the same tree she had seen in the forgotten backyard.
The tree…
Without the motorcycle.
Because even after removing the bike…
The place itself had somehow felt peaceful.
Her pencil danced across the paper.
Every line came naturally.
Every shadow carried emotion.
Minutes passed without Rubi noticing.
Around her, students occasionally stood to sharpen pencils or wash brushes.
She heard none of it.
She only heard the gentle scratching of graphite against paper.
Scratch…
Scratch…
Scratch…
Until…
Someone stopped beside her desk.
Rubi continued drawing.
Thinking it was simply the teacher.
Then she noticed something strange.
The entire classroom had become unusually quiet.
Almost…
Too quiet.
She slowly lifted her eyes.
Takoru.
He stood only a few feet away.
One hand rested inside his pocket.
The other lazily held his phone.
His expression remained unreadable.
He wasn’t supposed to be here.
He didn’t even take Art.
Neither of them spoke.
Takoru’s eyes quietly followed the movement of her pencil.
Not her face.
Not her eyes.
Only the drawing. You are reading on g.com, the official source.
Rubi’s heartbeat slowly became uneven.
Why is he here…?
She tried to continue sketching.
Her fingers suddenly felt stiff.
She could feel him watching every movement.
Every line.
Every shadow.
Every tiny mistake.
For the first time in years…
Drawing no longer felt easy.
It felt…
Embarrassing.
Just then—
“Boss!”
The loud voice echoed through the room.
Nesmin appeared at the classroom door, breathing heavily.
“There you are!”
“I’ve been looking everywhere.”
Several students looked toward the entrance.
Even the teacher raised an eyebrow.
“What are you doing hiding inside the Art room?”
Nesmin laughed.
“Oh…”
“I thought maybe our Sleeping Prince suddenly wanted to become an artist.”
A few students giggled.
Takoru didn’t react.
Nesmin walked closer before lowering his voice.
“Steav is waiting.”
“The weekend ride is almost here.”
“We still need to test the new coastal route.”
The moment Rubi heard one word…
Bike.
Her fingers froze.
A cold chill ran down her spine.
The sound of an engine echoed inside her memories.
A smile.
A promise.
A rainy road.
A truck.
Her breathing became shallow.
Her grip tightened around the pencil…
Until—
Snap.
The graphite broke cleanly in half.
The sharp sound echoed through the silent Art room.
And every eye slowly turned toward Rubi…
Read part 2…
Thank you for reading Part 1 of Chapter 7.
Sometimes, silence says more than words ever could.
Today, Rubi found a place where her heart felt calm, while Takoru quietly found another reason to watch her.
Neither of them understands the other yet, but fate seems determined to keep crossing their paths.
Now I’m curious…
Why do you think Takoru walked into the Art Room?
What do you think Rubi drew before her pencil broke?
And what do you think Takoru was thinking while watching her draw?
I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments!
Thank you for reading, and I’ll see you in Part 2.
Take care until then!