'Good morning to the second day of school! Totally looking forward to what's installed for us today!'

Clare looked up from staring at her table when she heard her three classmates arrive. As expected, Helen had broken the peace of the morning.

'By the way Deneve, is it just me or do the students in our school look older than their age? I've seen a Year Two who looks sixteen! And even in our class, some of them look like Year Threes!'

'Seriously Helen, do you ever pay attention to what Miria says?;

Helen pouted. 'I do, I really do! Oh come on Deneve tell me!'

A cough from Miria caught their attention. She crossed her arms.

'As I have said previously, this school is fairly well-known as the 'Transfer School'. The first reason is that students transfer in and out of the school the whole year-round. So our current classmates might disappear one day and we might get new ones the next day.'

I didn't know that, Clare mused.

'The second reason is that the school accepts students whom, for whatever reasons, are older than the level they are applying for. For example, they might have served time in boys or girls home due to criminal offences or they might have failed a grade and retained. Therefore, it can be said that the age group of students in this school ranges roughly from thirteen to eighteen years old.'

'Most likely, these 'special' students have to pay higher school fees to enter the school. Nonetheless, this does not change the fact that the Principal is willing to get 'bribed' to allow the students to enroll. However, since a large number of students probably fall under this category, I guess it just becomes normal for the school.'

The three who were listening intently were in awe at the information.

'How did you get to know all of these! That makes the school a whole lot more interesting, don't you think so?' Helen grinned, and Miria just stayed silent.

The rest of the morning passed rather uneventfully. The Year Ones were given a tour of the different Extra Activities (EAs) available in school. It was compulsory for all students to participate in at least one EA, which were conducted after school. The Year Two and Year Three seniors set up booths at various locations to introduce their EAs and allow for sign ups for the Year Ones.

Lunch break came after that. The other three were heading for the cafeteria, so Clare took her lunchbox and headed towards the rooftop, which proved to be a scenic and tranquil place. There were a few pockets of students at different spots already. She chose an empty corner, sat down and started munching on her bread. She had no intention of participating in any EAs, considering the fact that she had to work after school. EAs would be a waste of her time. With luck, the teachers would fail to realize. Taking the last mouthful of her bread, she placed her hands on either sides of her and gazed up the sky, admiring the fluffy clouds floating daintily across the azure sky. That almost seemed…beautiful. She wished she could actually feel more joy and peace in viewing such a beauty of nature.

It took awhile for her to snap out of it and another few moments for her to register the fact that she was alone on the rooftop. Realization hit her and sucked the blood out of her cheeks as she grabbed her lunchbox left with the uneaten onigiri and sprinted. How could she have missed the bell? She chided herself for getting caught up in her thoughts and hurried towards her classroom, only to find it empty. Confused, she took unsure steps towards her own table. The sight of the books on her table jotted her memory. It was supposed to be Japanese lessons at the Language Lab (L.L.). She vaguely remembered someone mentioning that it was on the fourth floor of the main building and without wasting anymore time, she snatched her books and headed for the fourth floor as fast as her legs could take her.

Racing up the stairs, she took two steps at a time, panting but not daring to slow down. She finally reached the fourth floor and turned left. In the midst of hurrying as she turned at the corner, she was oblivious to another student turning the corner at the same time. She felt herself crash into someone, recoiling and then falling, her back making hard contact with the floor. Wincing, Clare struggled to sit up and glanced over at the student she bumped into, who was somehow still standing unharmed.

Then their eyes met.

She felt a wave of familiarity overwhelm her, as if she knew this person all her life. Time seemed to stand still as they looked into each other's eyes. Clare saw those black eyes that sparkled, those black eyes filled with life, yet beneath them…the unmistakable tinge of sadness. At the same time, she has this inexplicable yearn to embrace this person, to comfort her, and to feel comforted. She felt like she could stare into those eyes for eternity…

'Teresa! Are you okay!'

A voice caught the student's attention and she broke the eye contact. Clare snapped out of her thoughts and the gravity of the situation hit her hard.

Teresa… Her name was Teresa. It meant something, but she did not know what. Clare waited for something to click in her mind but nothing happened. She observed the one called Teresa carefully. Her long black wavy hair matched her black eyes, and despite the incident a hint of a faint smile hung at her lips. The three badges of a Year Three were pinned neatly at her right collar. The senior that called out to her rushed to her side, her shoulder-length straight hair flying up and down.

'My my, you really should be careful of who you get into trouble with…or knock into, in this case.'

Yet another two seniors appeared at Teresa's side, one with boyish crop-cut hair and the other with layered hair that came just below the ears.

Still sitting awkwardly on the floor, Clare bit her lip and muttered an apology, all the while keeping her eyes on Teresa.

'Are you hurt anywhere?'

'Irene, I'm fine, seriously, there's hardly a scratch on me.'

'Sophia, what shall we do with this one huh?'

'Who knows, Noel...'

The senior called Sophia strolled over to Clare and bent down towards her, lifting Clare's chin with one finger.

'An apology isn't gonna help sweetheart. There'll be hell to pay for…'

'Knock it off Sophia.'

Sophia whipped her head back, clearly in disagreement.

'But Teresa she…'

'You really need to get stop terrorizing little Year One kids. Just leave her alone, will you?'

Creasing her brows, Sophia turned back to face Clare and gave a creepy smile, bending her face forward to whisper in Clare's ear.

'Careful now. Might not be so lucky next time.'

Then she stood up and returned to Irene's side.

Teresa took a last glance at Clare and sauntered off, the other three following behind. Clare just sat on the floor, too paralyzed to move. She took some moments to get herself together. Picking up her books, she got up and started sprinting towards the L.L., ignoring the stares as she ran past the Year Three classrooms. All the while, her mind was filled with thoughts of one person.

Teresa.