Chapter 10
Class 24 buzzed with excitement. “Big news! Big news!” A tall and thin student burst into the room, nearly tripping over himself.
The classroom fell silent for a moment. A girl in the front row leaned forward and asked, “What’s going on?”
The guy, Lance Chavez, barely containing his excitement, replied, “I just went to the bathroom, and on my way back, I saw the new student coming in. Wow, she’s gorgeous.”
The girl rolled her eyes, unimpressed. “Is she as pretty as Esther Esther had been named the campus queen at Greenvine High for three years running.
Lance shook his head in amazement. “Not even ten Esthers can match her beauty.”
“Really?”
“You must be exaggerating!”
“Where is she? Where?”
Some students were skeptical, while others started scanning the room.
Lance caught sight of Jonas walking toward them. “Jonas brought her,” he whispered before quickly slipping back to his seat in the second–to–last row.
*****
Moments later, Jonas entered the classroom. Standing at the front, he sensed the buzz in the air. Clearing his throat, he announced, “We have a new student joining us today.”
At the mention of a new student, everyone who had heard Lances comment straightened up, eyes glued to the door.
Suddenly, a girl wearing a school uniform strolled in. She had a simple yet striking face, and whispers spread through the classroom like wildfire.
“Tara, what are you doing?”
“Why is it you? Where’s the new girl?”
Tara touched her nose and took a step back to her seat. “She’s behind me.”
A few seconds passed with no movement at the door. Jonas called out, “Lenore?”
Lenore quickly finished sending a text, tucked her phone away, and walked into the classroom. She wore a erisp white shirt, her black–and–white uniform jacket draped casually over her shoulders, a black backpack slung to one side, and a few books
in her arms.
Her features were so striking that people could hardly look away She exuded a relaxed confidence that hinted at strength, the kind people wouldn’t dare mess with. There was a moment of stunned silence in the classroom.
“Holy crap!”
“Those looks, that height, that vibe–she’s like a goddess who just walked out of a fairy tale.”
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Chapter 10
“Not even twenty Esthers can compete with her, let alone ten…”
“I think Esther’s reign as the beauty queen of Greenvine High is over now.”
“Don’t be shy, just say it. Drop the ‘I think‘ already.”
The entire class erupted into an unprecedented discussion, eyes fixed on Lenore, unwilling to look away.
“But really, does it matter if she’s pretty? This is Class 24; how many good students do we even have?”
“Beauty isn’t just about looks; it’s about having a good heart, right?”
“What do you know? Looks are everything these days.”
“I’ve decided. From now on, this new classmate is my goddess. Anyone who tries to get in my way, watch out.”
Shirley Wright scoffed and said, “If she got into this class, she’s probably just another pretty face who got in through connections.”
Tara glanced at her and laughed, “Hey, it takes skill to use connections too. What’s wrong with being pretty? If I looked like that, I’d be thrilled just to be a pretty face.”
Amid the lively chatter, Jonas raised a book, tapped it against his desk, and coughed. Gradually, the class quieted down. Turning to Lenore, he said, “Why don’t you introduce yourself?
Lenore raised an eyebrow and replied nonchalantly, “Lenore Smedley.”
After her brief introduction, a few seconds of silence followed as if she had said everything there was to say.
Jonas smiled and cleared his throat again. Just as he was about to assign a seat, he noticed an empty spot in the second–to- last row. A frown crossed his face. “Lance, Where is Kyle?” he asked.
Lance rubbed his nose sheepishly and mumbled, “Kyle isn’t feeling well.” His voice was barely convincing, clearly a weak
excuse.
Kyle Zamora, known for causing trouble around school, often skipped class, and when he did show up, he would just sleep So honestly, it didn’t matter if he was present or not.
Jonas sighed, accustomed to the situation. He pointed to an empty seat in the back corner. “You can sit there for now,” he told Lenore.
