© 2026 [Your Kiaan].
All rights reserved.
This story is an original work by the author.
Any unauthorized copying, reposting, or reproduction on other platforms is strictly prohibited.
The rest of the morning felt strangely distant to Leo.
Even while standing in front of the sports teacher, signing papers for the upcoming basketball tournament, his mind was elsewhere.
That humming.
It stayed with him.
Soft.
Light.
Unforgettable.
He had heard countless voices before, but none had ever stayed in his mind like this.
Who was she?
When the first bell rang, students flooded the hallways, filling the morning silence with noise.
Leo walked back toward that same classroom.
His eyes paused at the half-open door.
But when he looked inside—
She was gone.
Only the words on the board remained.
“Every new beginning carries its own magic.”
Leo stared at it for a moment.
For some reason, it felt like a piece of her was still there.
Meanwhile, Pearl sat by the window in her new classroom, watching students laugh and talk around her.
Everything still felt unfamiliar, but not uncomfortable.
She had always been good at making people feel warm around her.
Soon, a cheerful girl sat beside her.
“Hi, you’re the new student, right?”
Pearl smiled.
“Yes.
I’m Pearl.”
The girl smiled back.
“I’m Mia.
Welcome.”
By lunch break, Pearl had already spoken to a few classmates.
As she walked with Mia toward the cafeteria, voices from nearby caught her attention.
A group of girls stood by the corridor, whispering excitedly.
“Did you see Leo this morning?” one girl asked.
“He looked so good in the basketball jersey,” another sighed dreamily.
A boy nearby rolled his eyes.
“Of course.
It’s always Leo this, Leo that.”
Another boy laughed.
“What can we do?
He’s good at everything.”
“Top in studies, captain of basketball, teachers’ favorite…”
“Not all teachers,” someone interrupted.
“Mr.
Sharma can’t stand his attitude.”
“Well, that’s because Leo barely talks.”
Pearl listened quietly.
That name again.
Leo.
She looked at Mia curiously.
“Who exactly is this Leo?”
Mia smiled as if she had expected that question.
“Leo is… hard to explain.”
Pearl raised an eyebrow.
Mia continued, “He’s one of the most popular boys in school.
Good in studies, amazing at sports, and honestly… he’s kind-hearted.”
Pearl looked surprised.
“Kind-hearted?
But they said he barely talks.”
Mia nodded.
“That’s because he keeps to himself.
People think he’s cold, but he’s not bad.
Last year, one of our classmates was getting bullied, and Leo stepped in without saying much.
He even helped him afterward.”
Pearl listened carefully.
Mia smiled.
“He doesn’t care about popularity, attention, or girls following him around.
He just does his own thing.”
Pearl glanced back at the group of girls still talking about him.
“That explains them,” she said softly.
Mia laughed.
“Trust me, half this school likes him.”
Pearl shook her head with amusement.
For some reason, hearing about him made her curious.
Later, after lunch, Mia took Pearl to show her around the campus.
As they passed by the basketball court, loud cheers filled the air.
Pearl stopped.
A crowd had gathered there.
At the center of it all—
Leo.
Pearl could only see his back through the crowd of students.
The girls in front of her blocked most of her view, their excited voices filling the air.
“There he is,” Mia said.
Pearl tilted her head, trying to see him.
But before she could catch even a glimpse of his face, the bell rang.
The crowd started moving.
Pearl sighed lightly.
“So that’s the famous Leo.”
Mia smiled.
“You’ll meet him sooner or later.”
On the court, Leo caught the ball and looked toward the crowd.
For a second, he heard it—
A soft laugh.
Warm.
Light.
Familiar.
His eyes searched through the students.
That sound…
It felt like the same girl from the morning.
But once again—
she was already gone.
And fate kept them apart.
© 2026 [Kiaan].
All rights reserved.
This story is an original work by the author.
Any unauthorized copying, reposting, or reproduction on other platforms is strictly prohibited.
A name.
A distance.
They are so close, yet still strangers.
Do you think Leo will find the girl behind that melody first… or will Pearl discover the boy everyone whispers about?
Let me know in the comments, and vote if you want the next chapter soon ♡ With Love Kiaan