Albert

Tuesday, September 30

Diary,

I can't entirely agree that it is my fault to be born handsome. My adorable face and my charming smile make it difficult not to attract any attention. I can't blame my triceps for growing and my height for getting taller. My body continually gives out the good shape, upgrading my attractiveness from one level to the next. All of these, I can't help but sparkle─ though not literally─ to girls.

I am not narcissistic here, but the truth is the truth. Why bother denying it? I'm a rich playboy with a good look. This is another fact.

There is also an ugly fact that I hate to admit, but I have to accept it anyway. It is how mess-up my life is.

People say that eighteen is the beginning of a glamorous life, and I should get ready to embrace it all in. But, sadly, it isn't so in my case.

Instead of prestigious things, I can smell a daylight nightmare ahead of me.

Because of my father's new job, we have to move to a small country somewhere in Southeast Asia.

What is it called again? Wait, let me think.

Oh yeah. I remember now.

Cambodia.

I've never heard of it before, nor do I fancy coming here.

Although I'm of age to move and do things independently, such as not coming here, I can't. The reason is simple, but the backstory is complicated.

Let's put that aside for now.

What's done is done. Next, I need to figure out what or how to live my life in this new, unfamiliar land. Yesterday was supposed to be my first day at school, but the jet lag made me miss it.

Well, I can't wait to discover the crucial thing inside my head. It's an answer to a question:

HOW MANY PRETTY GIRLS ARE THERE ON THE CAMPUS?

"Sir, we arrived at your school's front gate." The voice of my father's chauffeur wakes me up from my imagination of girls in miniskirts and strapless tops.

"Thanks, Chan. Safe drive back." I close my diary and put it in my backpack before getting out of the car and walking to find my class.

I look at the map I have printed from the school website and search for my class, ignoring the giggling and whispering from girls I passed by. As I said, I am not the type to seek attention, yet attention keeps drawing towards me. I can't help it. Maintaining my handsome posture, I continue to find the classroom.

It doesn't take me long to find it. The university here is way too small compared to my high school. I reach my destination before beads of sweat find their way to my body. Stopping at the door and taking a look inside, my brows furrowed at the silent room.

Did I get the wrong room? I recheck the map and the label on the door. No, it's the right one. Then, why is no one here? Am I too early?

I look at my wristwatch. It is already half-past one.

Whatever. Maybe the students in this country don't like coming into the classroom early. I think to myself.

With a shrug, I walk into the room. To my surprise, it isn't empty. Instead, there is a tiny figure moving around near the corner.

What was that? An alarming question pops up inside my head. I just glimpsed from the outside and saw nothing besides chairs and tables.

But there really is something there. Someone, to be exact. Breathing and moving like a living person.

Has she been here all along? Or is she… a ghost? Please don't tell me I get haunted on my first day at school.

Squinting my eyes, I walk softly, careful not to make any sound as I step closer toward the tiny figure to get a better view. I jump back a little when she turns around.

Dressed in a rainbow gypsy skirt and an oversized white T-shirt, the figure stands where it stood and stares at me. Her long and messy jet-black hair covers most of her face that I can barely see her eyes, except for the movement of black pupils from behind her fringe.

"May I help you?"

Did the ghost just ask me? I confirm with myself. Well, a ghost or not, it is rude to ignore the question.

"Well, I just…this is class 2A, right? I am a new student," I reply.

"Yes. You're in the right class." She points at the seat next to the window. "You can sit over there because it's empty."

No, she doesn't look like a ghost. Her feet are touching the ground. She isn't floating. Her skin isn't pale either. I stare at her up and down, debating with myself whether she is a ghost or a person.

"What are you staring at?" Her tone of voice depicts anger.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to stare. It's just…." I trail off, unable to say what I am thinking out loud.

"Just what?"

"Well, I didn't see you when I looked inside. And all of a sudden, you are standing here, so I thought一."

"You thought that I was a ghost." She cuts me off.

"Urgh, yes. Sorry."

"There is nothing to be sorry about. I'm used to it. I'm good at being invisible anyway." She steps out from the corner and walks past me.

"Wait." I turn around, grabbing her arm to stop her from walking further.

I must have used more strength than I meant to because her slender body is pulled back, almost tripping if it isn't for my other hand catching her waist. The force parts her hair away from her heart-shaped face, revealing dead skins and chapped lips.

Exceptionally, shouldn't a girl's most significant concern be her face? How come this girl shows no interest in caring for her beauty?

"I don't know about your country, but here, staring at someone is considered abusive. Better work with your eyes properly," she pushes me away angrily once she finds her balance and walks out of the room without waiting for me to say anything.

Her capriciousness dumbfounds me, for this is the first time a girl acts this way towards me.

"This girl surely is strange," I murmur to myself and head to the seat she has pointed at.

The class is still empty, even though I have been sitting for a while. I wonder what the right time is for the students here to come to class. There are only ten minutes left, yet no one is coming. Having nothing better to do, I decided to take a nap.

When I resume my sitting position, the ghostly girl from before has already come back and is sitting diagonally across me. The seating arrangement is a U-shape, so when I say across, it isn't far away. It takes only a few paces to reach her seat from mine. She sits at the closed end of U, whereas I sit on the left. This sitting arrangement exposes her to me completely.

Just like before, we are the only two in the room.

I better go and apologize. It's better not to leave a bad impression on our first meeting. So  I think to myself as I am about to walk to her.

<TO BE CONTINUED>