로그인THE NEW FRIENDThat evening, Asher tried to distract himself with his organic chemistry book.The test was a week away, but studying was easier than thinking about everything else going on in his life.School had become exhausting.Every day felt like punishment.Most of the time, he was alone.Tyler hadn't come to school for two days.Asher didn't blame him.He was probably embarrassed about what happened in the restroom.Asher was embarrassed too.He still couldn't understand why Tyler had kissed him.Or why the memory wouldn't leave his mind.He forced himself to focus on the page in front of him.It didn't work.By Wednesday morning, Asher walked into the classroom and immediately noticed a familiar figure sitting at his usual seat.Tyler.His freshly cut taper fade looked neat, and he sat casually on the desk with his legs crossed, showing off his brown Nikes.Asher's eyes lingered on him for half a second.Then he looked away.He walked past Tyler without saying a word.Head hig
THE AFTERMATHAsher sat on the edge of his bed, his phone pressed against his ear.He hadn't moved much since getting home.His school bag was still lying beside the door.His shoes were still on.His mind was still in that bathroom.Tyler's face.His voice.His hands gripping his collar.And then...The kiss.Asher touched his lips unconsciously.He quickly dropped his hand.He was still trying to make sense of it when Jane's voice came through the phone."...And he kissed you?"Asher closed his eyes."Yes.""Just like that?"Jane sounded genuinely stunned."Yes, Jane."There was a long pause."Okay..."Another pause."Back up."Asher sighed."There's nothing to back up.""You're telling me Tyler Trevor cornered you in the bathroom, argued with you, called you every name under the sun...""I wouldn't say cornered.""Asher.""Fine.""And then he kissed you?""Yes."Jane went silent again.Asher stared at the floor."I don't know what's going on with him."His voice softened."I've tri
KISS The next morning, Asher couldn't stop thinking about the bracelet. The boutique's number was still saved in his phone. He had stared at it several times before finally deciding not to call. Not yet. What if it was a trap? What if whoever was behind the emails had somehow planted the bracelet to lead them away from the real culprit? Maybe they were supposed to focus on the bracelet while the real evidence disappeared right under their noses. It was better to look into the bracelet first. If it really could lead them to whoever bought it... Then why did Asher feel like they were walking straight into another trap? His phone buzzed. Jane. «Did you call the shop?» Asher stared at the message. He typed. «Not yet.» Her reply came almost immediately. «Good.» Asher frowned. «Why good?» There was a short pause. Then another message appeared. «Because you need to be very careful.» He sighed. Jane was always like this. Always thinking three steps ahead. «Eleanor s
THE BRACELET 1The atmosphere inside the classroom was suffocating.It wasn't loud.It wasn't chaotic.If anything, it was the silence that made it unbearable.Flora hadn't spoken to either of them since the first period.Whenever a teacher called on her, she answered politely before returning her attention to the front of the classroom. She never once looked in Asher's direction.Or Brian's.It was as though they had both become invisible.Asher found himself glancing at her more often than he should have, hoping she'd eventually meet his eyes.She never did.The distance between them hurt more than he wanted to admit.By the time the lunch bell rang, the weight pressing against his chest had only grown heavier.Students poured out into the hallways, their laughter echoing through the corridors as they rushed toward the cafeteria.Asher picked up his tray and instinctively headed toward their usual table.At almost the exact same moment, Brian approached from the opposite side.Flora
WATCHED Monday's final bell echoed through the halls. Asher found Eleanor waiting beneath the old oak tree outside the school gate, absentmindedly scrolling through her phone. She looked up as he approached. "You're late." "Sorry." She slipped her phone into her handbag. "So, boyfriend," she teased. "What's your first question?" Asher ignored the nickname. "I need you to answer honestly." "I said I would." He nodded. "Have you ever sent me an anonymous email?" Eleanor frowned. "...What email?" "The anonymous emails." She looked genuinely confused. "I don't know what you're talking about." Asher let out a nervous laugh. "I've... been getting anonymous emails." A smile spread across Eleanor's face. "Ooh." "What?" "Sounds like you've got yourself a secret admirer." Asher forced a laugh. "...Maybe." "Well, it wasn't me." She shrugged. "I've never sent you an email." Asher studied her carefully. There wasn't the slightest flicker of recognition. No guilt. N
THE DEAL That evening, Asher sat beside his mother on the couch, trying to convince her to contact Eleanor through her parents. "You've been asking to talk to this girl all week," Mrs. Miguel observed. "Did something happen between you two?" Asher hesitated. "...We had a misunderstanding." His mother studied him for a moment before sighing and reaching for her phone. "Let me see if her mother is available." Fifteen minutes later, she ended the call with a smile. "Eleanor agreed to come over this Saturday." Relief washed over Asher. "Thank you, Mum." She smiled before giving him a curious look. "I didn't see Tyler come for lessons this week. I hope he's alright." Asher forced a smile. "I think he's a little sick... probably down with the flu." Mrs. Miguel nodded sympathetically. "Poor boy. He's always alone whenever his parents travel. They've been away for days." Asher blinked. "They left him alone?" "Yes. I almost invited him over for dinner yesterday." Asher frow
HOVERING SINSI paced around my room, still holding on to my phone with sweaty palms. The photo on the screen felt unreal… It was a picture of me and my ex sitting on the couch shirtless, with his hands inside my shorts.I recognised the scene. It was at the Sterling’s house party back when we were
UNDER THE VEILSunday came very fast, and as the choir sang, I sat at my organ playing alongside them. Afterwards, Dad, in his white tuxedo, mounted the altar and began talking about the importance of holiness, how we were all expected to be Christ-like. I envied Dad a little… he was a bold, outspo
THE SPOTLIGHTThe next morning, I got up feeling a mix of joy and anxiousness. Today wasn’t going to be like my normal quiet school mornings.As I guessed, when I arrived at school, the principal rang the bells, signaling all the students to gather in the school hall.“Most of us might be wondering
TUTOR TROUBLEThroughout Chemistry class, I swear I could feel Tyler’s gaze on me. It was unfortunate we shared a classroom; what was more unfortunate was the magazine he had seen in my backpack.He’d obviously suspect I wasn’t into girls. Maybe it was a good thing…he’d probably stop taunting and h







