BRIANNA

38

When I realized that I couldn't take it anymore, I looked in the direction where I thought the person who was staring at me was and to say I couldn't believe my eyes would be an understatement. The intensity of his gaze had been a tangible presence, and now, meeting it head-on, I felt a jolt of electricity shoot through me. I was met with the most beautiful green eyes I had ever seen, a shade so vivid they seemed almost unreal. His eyes alone made him look perfect, a striking feature that could easily capture anyone's attention. There was a depth to them, a mix of curiosity and amusement that only heightened my awareness of his scrutiny. He didn't even look away when he saw that I caught him staring at me. On the contrary, his lips curved into a slight, amused smile, as if he found my reaction entertaining. It was both unnerving and fascinating, and I found myself caught in the trap of his gaze, unable to look away.

When I finally gathered the courage to take my eyes off him, I turned to Sarah and asked, "Who is he?" She just smiled at me, a knowing glint in her eyes, and told me that she would tell me about him during our lunch break. Her reaction only fueled my curiosity, making me even more eager to learn about this mysterious boy who seemed to have a magnetic pull on me. The rest of the morning passed in a blur, my thoughts constantly drifting back to those piercing green eyes and the enigmatic expression that accompanied them. I found it hard to concentrate on my classes, my mind playing over the brief but intense encounter.

As soon as we were done with our morning classes, Sarah and I headed to the cafeteria to get something to eat. The cafeteria was bustling with students, the air filled with the clatter of trays and the hum of conversation. Everything there was so expensive, but I was grateful that I at least had my meal allowance. We joined the line, and as we moved forward, I couldn't help but glance around, half-expecting to see those green eyes watching me again. Sarah, noticing my distraction, gave me a reassuring smile. Once we had our food, we found a table in a relatively quiet corner of the cafeteria and settled down.

"You wanted to know about our golden boy, right?" Sarah began, her tone casual but her eyes twinkling with amusement. Golden boy? I thought to myself. Is he the golden boy of this school? The term seemed almost mythical, like something out of a storybook.

"I had no idea he is the school's golden boy," I replied, still trying to wrap my head around the information. "I just wanted to know who he is. He was staring at me the whole time while we were in class." My words came out in a rush, my curiosity bubbling over.

"Huh? That's a first," Sarah said, raising an eyebrow. "JC doesn't pay attention to girls." Her statement left me even more perplexed. What's so different about me then? I wondered. It didn't make sense that he would focus on me when, by all accounts, he didn't usually pay attention to girls.

"Really? It doesn't make sense," I echoed, my mind racing with questions. Someone like him should have tons of girlfriends, I thought. His looks, his confidence—everything about him screamed that he would be surrounded by admirers.

"He's not a virgin or anything," Sarah continued, her tone matter-of-fact. "The whole school would think you're crazy if you ever thought he might be a virgin." Her words painted a picture of a boy who was far from innocent, someone with a reputation that preceded him.

"It is true that he doesn't pay attention to girls, and it is also true that he doesn't date," she added. Her statement left a gap in the narrative, a puzzle piece that didn't quite fit. How come he is not a virgin if he doesn't date? I wondered, the contradiction gnawing at me.

"I know you must be asking yourself how come he isn't a virgin," Sarah said, as if reading my thoughts. "As the whole school would say, JC only f***s. He f***s every skirt in his way and everybody knows." Her bluntness took me aback, but it also clarified the image of JC.

That makes sense then, I thought, piecing together the information. Somehow, I knew from the very first glance that he was a bad boy. There was an aura about him, a mix of danger and allure that was hard to ignore. The revelation about his behavior fit perfectly with the vibe he exuded. Yet, despite this, the fact that he had paid attention to me remained a tantalizing mystery. What had caught his interest? Why me? These questions swirled in my mind, adding another layer of complexity to my already overwhelming day.

As I sat there, digesting both my food and the information Sarah had given me, I felt a strange mix of excitement and apprehension. JC was clearly someone to be wary of, yet his attention was undeniably flattering. The prospect of crossing paths with him again was both thrilling and intimidating. This new world of Brooklyn International was proving to be more than just a change of scenery; it was a landscape filled with new challenges, intriguing mysteries, and the potential for unexpected connections.

That makes sense then, I thought, piecing together the information. Somehow, I knew from the very first glance that he was a bad boy. There was an aura about him, a mix of danger and allure that was hard to ignore. The revelation about his behavior fit perfectly with the vibe he exuded. Yet, despite this, the fact that he had paid attention to me remained a tantalizing mystery. What had caught his interest? Why me? These questions swirled in my mind, adding another layer of complexity to my already overwhelming day.

As I sat there, digesting both my food and the information Sarah had given me, I felt a strange mix of excitement and apprehension. JC was clearly someone to be wary of, yet his attention was undeniably flattering. The prospect of crossing paths with him again was both thrilling and intimidating. This new world of Brooklyn International was proving to be more than just a change of scenery; it was a landscape filled with new challenges, intriguing mysteries, and the potential for unexpected connections.