On a cold morning of 38 degrees — yes, 38 degrees here is already cold! — Yory was walking through the school corridors reading his book carefully.
A very normal habit... think of a normal person.
But with Yory this doesn't work.
Yory does this so he doesn't have to see people looking at him.
— Ahhhh... why is everyone looking at me like that, man... that's scary...
Suddenly, he stops.
He stays still for a few seconds... and looks back.
Nothing.
He looks at the book again and continues his path.
...footsteps.
He hears footsteps.
Looks back again.
Nothing.
Then he speaks to himself:
— I think my 4 hours of sleep are starting to take effect...
He keeps walking... still hearing footsteps.
Now he is sure.
There is someone following him.
But he decides to ignore it... waiting for the right moment.
The perfect moment.
Then—
He quickly turns around, points his finger back and shouts:
— I GOT YOU!
...
There was no one there.
Yory starts to sweat cold.
His hypothesis... was a failure.
Then—
A voice appears next to his ear, low... threatening:
— Too slow...
— AAAAAAH!!
Yory throws himself against the wall, completely scared.
Momoni Gigi just laughs at the situation.
— My bad~ did I scare the book eater?
— WHY DID YOU DO THAT??! YOU ALMOST KILLED ME FROM THE HEART!!
Yory scolds Gigi, who keeps laughing at his face without stopping.
Yory tries to get closer...
But before he can—
Someone passes between the two.
Her hair moves slightly with the wind.
Her look is cold.
Her expression... completely indifferent.
As if nothing there mattered.
She simply keeps walking.
Yory watches her moving away.
Gigi... freezes.
He grabs onto Yory and asks, trembling:
— W-w-wWho was that?!...
Yory keeps looking at her from afar...
And answers low, confused:
— I think... I've seen her somewhere...
20 minutes later... already class time.
The Biology teacher enters the room.
A short man, with a polka-dot tie, a strange hairstyle all up and glasses too big for his face.
He stops near the board.
Looks at the students...
But mainly... at Yory.
Yory notices and speaks low:
— What does this guy have against me...?
Meanwhile, in the mind of the teacher Paulo Tejante...
"Scumbag..."
"You think you fool me, huh?"
"No way a poor student gets those grades just studying..."
"I made a third-year test to test you..."
"Not even Anano got more than 95..."
"And you get 100?"
"Impossible..."
"I will find out."
Yory feels the look burning his forehead and turns his face to avoid contact.
— What are you looking at? I know I'm pretty, so look away. — says Anano.
— Oh you damn girl, I'm not looking at you!
Yory answers, indignant.
Then he asks, still sweating cold:
— Hey... do you have any idea why the Biology teacher hates me so much?
Anano looks at the teacher...
Who at that moment was slowly breaking the chalk while staring at Yory.
— I think even I would get angry if someone like you got maximum score on an impossible test.
Yory doesn't understand very well.
He looks at the notebook and answers:
— So that means I am that intelligent in his mind?
— Maybe...
She crosses her arms.
— But I think I understand this side of the teacher.
...
But in Anano's mind...
"WHAT THE HELL IS THIS BOOK EATER TALKING ABOUT??!!"
"JUST BECAUSE YOU GOT 5 POINTS MORE THAN ME?!"
"YOU WERE JUST LUCKYYYY!!"
The class begins.
Some students pay attention.Others look sleepy.
But Yory...
...wait.
YORY WAS SLEEPING IN CLASS??!
IMPOSSIBLE!
The student considered a genius by the whole school...
only 15 years old...
who skips class to study...
who studies 20 hours a day...
WAS SLEEPING.
On the desk.
Drooling.
Anano looks at that, in disbelief.
— The world will end tomorrow... this sick nerd is not watching class!
The students around start whispering:
— He is really sleeping...— I can't believe I lived enough to see this...
Everyone saw that as something absurd.
But professor Paulo... saw it in another way.
"So that means my classes are easy like that for you...?"
"You damn genius..."
"I will have the pleasure of destroying your grade..."
— Antibiotics are drugs used medicinally... — said the teacher.— The incorrect use of herbs like marijuana can cause health problems... tiredness, hunger... and many times users faint anywhere...
Anano stops.
Looks at the teacher.
Then... looks at Yory.
Sleeping.
Tired.
Red eyes.
...
— ...so that's it...
She lowers her head, with a serious expression.
— Sorry for not noticing before, Yory...
Suddenly—
She stands up abruptly.
— TEACHER!!
The whole class looks.
— YORY IS USING MARIJUANA TO STUDY!!!
— HUH?!
Yory wakes up instantly, completely lost.
— WHAT DID YOU SAY YOU CRAZY GIRL??!!
The teacher explodes at the same time:
— I KNEW YOU WERE NOT CLEAN, BOY!!!— YOUR RED EYES DON'T FOOL ME!!!— TO THE PRINCIPAL, NOW!!
— WHAT IS THIS TEACHER?! YOU WILL BELIEVE THIS??!!
— YOU DON'T FOOL ME ANYMORE, YORY!!!
— I WAS JUST SLEEPY, MAN!!!
— JUST ACCEPT THAT YOU USE MARIJUANA!!! — shouts Anano, with pity.
— YOU DON'T FOOL ME ANYMORE!!! — continues the teacher.
He grabs Yory by the arm and drags him out of the classroom.
Anano goes right behind.
The whole room goes silent.
No one understands anything.
Gigi just watches...
— Wow...
Anano and Yory go to the principal's office.
Inside, Elboges was sitting in his luxurious chair, with an impeccable posture... as if he was already waiting for that.
The two stand side by side.
And the lecture begins.
Yory... for sleeping in class.
Anano... for inventing something as disturbing as that.
And Paulo...
FOR INSISTING THAT YORY USED DRUGS!
— Yory and Anano... — begins Elboges, with a calm but heavy voice — your punishment will be to clean the pool after the last class of the day.
The two freeze.
— Use this moment to clean not only the dirt... but also your consciences for the mistakes you made.
Silence.
— Now you may go. And don't cause more trouble.
— Y-yes... — both answer, discouraged.
They leave the room with defeated expressions.
Paulo also tries to leave together.
But—
A hand rests on his shoulder.
He stops.
Slowly...
Looks back.
Elboges was right there.
Smiling.
— I did not say you could go, Mr. Paulo...
— I-I...?
— Let's talk a little about... principles.
Paulo's face starts trembling.
— Wait... no... this can't be...
Elboges walks to the table...
And places on it—
A GIANT BOOK.
Full of pages.
Thick.
Terrifying.
— Let's review all the regulations of behavior with students...
He turns the first page.
— And also take the opportunity to check our taxes.
— NOOOOOOOOOO!!!
The door closes.
Locked.
Paulo's screams echo through the corridor.
Meanwhile...
Yory and Anano were walking through the corridors.
Side by side.
But each one looking to a different side.
Strange atmosphere.
Silence.
Until Anano breaks it:
— Looks like we will have to stay at school until we finish cleaning the pool... just the two of us...
— Yeah...
Yory answers, completely discouraged.
But then—
He freezes.
— "WAIT..."
— "JUST THE TWO OF US... IN THE POOL...?"
His brain starts speeding up.
— "ISN'T THIS..."
— "AN AFTER SCHOOL DATE??!!"
The classic romantic comedy scenario.
Pool.
End of the afternoon.
Two teenagers alone.
Logical consequence?
A KISS.
— "DAMN!!! THIS WILL GO VERY WRONG!!!"
— "IT WILL BE JUST THE TWO OF US!!!"
— "I WILL SEE HER ALL WET BECAUSE OF THE WATER!!!"
— "THIS IS DANGEROUS!!!"
He enters internal collapse.
But then...
He stops.
Breathes.
— "...wait..."
— "What if this is her plan from the beginning...?"
Yory's imagination activates.
Anano appears... wet... holding the hose...
— "Yory~..."
— "COULD IT BE?????!!!"
But...
In Anano's mind...
The story was different.
Completely different.
—
"Look, Yory! The hose is very big, look!"
She slips.
— "Waaaa!!"
Almost falls—
But Yory holds her by the waist.
Serious look.
Handsome.
— "A jewel like you should not fall like that..."
They get closer.
Perfect atmosphere.
Imminent kiss.
And then—
Anano opens a cruel smile.
— "Did you really think that I, Anano Peleno... the most popular and beautiful in the school... would stay with a trash book eater like you?"
— "AHAHAHAHA!!"
— "NOOOOOOO!!"
Yory falls on the ground crying.
Destroyed.
—
In reality...
Anano walks with a side smile.
— "What a perfect plan..."
NO, IT IS NOT!
Yory also starts laughing alone.
— "She will confess today..."
— "It's my chance to reject her..."
NO, SHE WILL NOT!
The two stop in front of the classroom.
Anano opens the door.
They enter together.
But...
Something is different.
A new person is in front of the class.
Next to the philosophy teacher.
— For you two who were outside when she introduced herself... — says the teacher — this is Luara Silva.
— She will be the new student in the class.
A girl with long golden hair.
Serious eyes... but strangely familiar.
She takes a small step forward.
— It will be a pleasure to study with you this year...
She looks directly at Yory.
— And especially with you.
Silence.
— Do you remember me...?
Yory's world freezes for a second.
— I am your...
— ...childhood friend?
Yory is completely surprised..
As if he had taken a shock.
— ...Lua?