Chapter Text
I’m staring at her again…
From a distance, of course.
I’m currently in a room across from theirs, and she’s sitting inside her history class.
She looks really pretty—like always.
No wonder everyone in this whole school admires her. Beautiful, kind, and smart. She has everything, which is why it’s impossible not to like her.
Ever since she transferred to this school two years ago, all I’ve heard from the students here is praise for her—nothing but admiration. And I think she truly deserves it. Because everything they say about her is true. Anyone would be so lucky to have her. She’s a real catch indeed… except for the fact that she’s a girl.
And I happen to be a girl too.
I’ve been denying all the feelings I’ve had for her since the very first day. I can’t even believe that I’m capable of feeling this way toward another person.
I’m not sociable. It’s not that I hate people—I don’t—but I don’t really like them that much either. I’d rather be alone than with someone. I crave solitude so deeply that I’m almost sure I’ll die alone in the future, with the company of a few cats, becoming a real cat lady. I can’t imagine myself getting married or having kids. Just the thought of someone taking away my alone time terrifies me. And no one ever really catches my attention anyway, so I’m fine with that…
Not until Laurent Schuett came into the picture.
This is how my quiet world keeps turning—soft, uneventful—until suddenly, she catches my eye.
Across the hall, inside her classroom, I see her blinking slowly, fighting sleep as if it’s a battle she’s determined not to lose. A smile slips out before I can stop it. I can’t really blame her.
Mr. Time’s history class is painfully boring. Anyone would struggle to stay awake. But there’s something endearing about the way she tries so hard—chin lifted, eyes stubbornly open, refusing to give in. I let out a small chuckle at the sight. Whenever she’s near, I find myself mesmerized, even as I do everything I can to hide it.
I’ve learned to be content with admiring her from afar. She could never return my feelings anyway.
She seems straight as an arrow. Since the day she transferred here, I’ve never heard a single rumor about her having a boyfriend. I don’t even understand why she keeps turning people down—especially when so many have tried. They say she just wants to focus on her studies. And I believe it. She’s a straight-A student, after all. Still, if even the most popular, good-looking guys in this school are rejected by her, what chance could I possibly have?
None.
So I tell myself to stay quiet. To swallow everything I feel. To admire her from a distance and nothing more.
That’s all I’m allowed.
Because she’s beautiful in the way a forest fire is beautiful—something breathtaking, dangerous, never meant to be approached. Something you only watch from afar. Or like a masterpiece hanging in a gallery: stunning, untouchable, meant to be observed and never disturbed.
Because the moment you reach out—
the moment you touch it—
you ruin everything.
That’s what she’s like. And I never plan to change that. I’ve done everything I can just to avoid her. I’ve avoided her like the plague ever since… But I still can’t help remembering the first day I saw her.
It was a sunny day—July 6th. I can still remember it clearly, like it was carved into the back of my mind.
I had my skateboard with me, walking into school alone. Just like any normal day.
I’m the school’s Ice Princess. I’m fully aware of that title my schoolmates have given me. I think it’s probably because I don’t really like talking to people.
I’m practically a certified genius at keeping people away from me.
My famous cold stares are very good at driving people off.
And I like it that way.
It’s not that I have issues with socializing or anything—I just don’t like talking when I don’t want to. I don’t want to be bothered. For example, when I’m listening to a good song and someone suddenly talks to me, I feel like I’ve been pulled out of that song, and then I have to replay it all over again. Isn’t that irritating? For me, it is.
Maybe that’s the reason people are afraid to befriend me… and I don’t care. I don’t need friends anyway.
From day one, I knew who I was meant to be.
A billionaire’s daughter. An only child, to be exact.
So I knew I would inherit everything my parents owned. And I know people will try to befriend me just because of that. I know how this society works. Even when I was young, I already knew that people might only want to get close to me and my family because of what we had.
I seriously have it all—the looks and the money. So who wouldn’t want to be with me?
But I had built my walls up. And until then, no one had ever broken through them.
Until that day.
I was using my skateboard because I didn’t want to be dropped off at school. I don’t want any attention. I’m so done with that. I was already near the school gate when a certain someone caught my eye.
A certain she, to be exact.
Her blue eyes captivated me. They were electric blue, and I immediately got lost in them.
She had long brown hair that complemented her eyes really well.
It sparkled under the warm sun, and I swear I couldn’t breathe for a second.
I’ve seen so many pretty faces before I saw her. But I swear to God, they are nothing in comparison.
She’s the most beautiful person I have ever seen in my entire existence—and I’m not even exaggerating.
She’s walking toward me.
And it may be as cliché as it sounds, but my world just stops, and all the people around us suddenly become a blur.
She’s all I can see.
The wind suddenly stops blowing.
The people stop moving.
And time stands still.
It’s like a scene from a movie. I can hear my own heartbeat as everything goes into slow motion—every single movement she makes.
The sunlight kisses her skin. And God, she looked like art.
And I love art.
I honestly didn’t know how long I had been staring at her, but she finally noticed and asked if I was alright. And I said yes, of course—though with a lot of stuttering. That surprised me, because I’ve never stuttered in my whole life. Just this once. Talking to this girl I don’t even know.
“Are you sure you’re fine?” she asked again. I nodded. “Y-yeah.”
“You look kind of pale to me. Should we go to the school clinic? I’ll come with you.”
I couldn’t even speak before she suddenly grabbed my arm and started pulling me toward the school clinic.
Everyone we passed stared. No one was used to seeing me with someone — especially not like this.
At the clinic, the nurse looked surprised.
“Miss Ty and… miss?” she asked.
“Laurent Schuett,” she answered.
And I smiled instantly after hearing it.
Her name suits her.
Why on earth am I smiling? Get it together, Margaux. What is happening to you?
The nurse asked what was wrong. Laurent nudged me to answer.
“I… just had a sudden headache,” I lied.
The nurse handed me medicine and water. I hesitated.
Laurent gave me a look that said take it.
So I did.
Without question.