Character Introduction
Naveah & Camellia
"Do you ever wonder what people would say if they saw the real you?"
I looked up from my book and stared at Camellia.
"What kind of question is that?"
She shrugged, resting her chin on her hand.
"A serious one."
I closed my book slowly.
"From you? That's concerning."
She rolled her eyes.
"Naveah, I'm being deep right now."
"That's exactly why I'm concerned."
She gasped dramatically.
"You hurt me."
"You'll survive."
"See? This is what I'm talking about."
"What?"
She pointed at me.
"Everyone thinks you're this intimidating, mysterious, perfect Student Council President. The girl who never gets nervous, never gets scared, and probably fights villains in her free time."
I raised an eyebrow.
"I don't fight villains."
She stared at me.
"You literally learned martial arts in three different countries."
"That doesn't mean I fight villains."
"It means you could."
I couldn't stop myself from laughing.
Only Camellia could make me sound like some kind of superhero.
"But seriously, Nav," she continued, her voice softer. "Do you ever get tired of everyone expecting so much from you?"
I looked down at my book.
"Sometimes."
She smiled gently.
"But you never show it."
"Someone has to stay strong."
"Yeah."
She nodded.
"But you know you don't always have to be strong around me, right?"
I looked at her.
Camellia Anthony Kilian.
My best friend.
The girl who had known me since I was three years old.
The person who had seen every version of me.
The stubborn me.
The angry me.
The broken me.
The happy me.
"You're annoying, you know that?"
She smiled proudly.
"I know."
"But you're my annoying person."
Her eyes widened.
"Was that a compliment?"
"Don't get used to it."
She laughed.
"Too late."
A comfortable silence settled between us.
The kind of silence that only existed between people who didn't need words to understand each other.
Then she suddenly leaned closer.
"So..."
I immediately became suspicious.
"No."
"You don't even know what I was going to say."
"I know you."
She smiled.
"Fine. But answer honestly."
I sighed.
"What?"
"Do you think you'll ever fall in love?"
I froze for a moment.
Then I looked away.
"Maybe."
Camellia blinked.
"Maybe?"
"Yeah."
"That's the most honest answer you've given me today."
I shrugged.
"I don't know what the future holds."
She smiled.
"Good."
"Good?"
"Yeah."
She packed her books and stood up.
"Because one day, someone is going to come along and completely ruin your perfect little plan."
I laughed.
"That sounds like a threat."
"No."
She grinned.
"It's a prediction."
I shook my head.
"You watch too many romance movies."
"And you don't watch enough."
"Maybe."
She smiled.
"One day you'll understand."
I didn't know it then...
But Camellia was right.
Because sometimes the person who changes your life doesn't arrive with a warning.
Sometimes they just walk into your world unexpectedly.
And suddenly...
Everything you thought you knew begins to change.