Zenith 1

The sky, motionless and dim, hovered in its murky indigo defiance. Few students lingered around the dimly lit school compound. Pearlie, arriving earlier than the other students, had taken a bulky fictional book from her schoolbag and was picking a moderately bright corner along the corridor to continue the part of the story where she had left yesterday. She sat down and stooped over the book. Her auburn hair cascaded down her shoulders, obscuring her face. Unable to shake away the feeling that she was being watched, Pearlie swept a brief glance around her. Her olive eyes barely paused upon a solitary figure before returning to her book, her fingers fidgeting nervously.

Swathed in darkness, the silent stranger stuffed his hands in his pockets and propped himself against a post with palpable masculinity. His head was vaguely turned to a side, appearing deliberately bowed in search of shelter from the shadows. Thenceforth, Pearlie screwed her eyes onto the words of the book without understanding them.

The heavens brightened within an hour, and clouds reflected the rich orange and bright scarlet of the awakening sun. The dark peach walls of the town's secondary school complemented the luminous radiance of dawn. Students began to gather around the corridor, brewing up a faint hum of excited murmurs. Pearlie trudged toward the classrooms with her friends. The boy slung his bag over his shoulders and left his post languidly, eyes settling on her back as he ambled a few steps behind her. Pearlie smoothed her hair hastily.

'Stop gawking at her, Night, unless you want her complaining to her parents,' Zanders glimpsed sideways at the boy. 'Besides, she's in a different class, the second class. You don't even know her… do you?'

Night averted his emerald eyes swiftly, his russet hair blown loose from the breeze as they entered the classroom, which buzzed with aimless blather. The students immediately quietened as Madam Nabila strode into the classroom. The students greeted her in dull unison. Night froze into granite as he spotted a girl lingering at the doorway; her eyes flickered in his direction. He tensed rigidly, oblivious as the teacher waved a hand at the girl.

'Class, a student from the neighbouring class will be joining you from today onwards. Please have a sit, Pearlie.'

Realising the only empty seat available was right before him, his breathing became unconsciously shallow and ragged.

Zanders, who sat next to Night, whispered in a low voice, 'So are you going to gawk at her every second now?'

Night seemed unperturbed on the outside. He dropped his intent gaze politely as she neared him, or rather, the seat.

'Oh, I've never noticed the vacant chair before. Pearlie, you may sit in front of Night,' the teacher droned on.

'Wow, that's a dream coming true; can't put the blame on me if I'm jealous.' Zanders continued.

Night murmured quietly, 'Why would you be when your own girlfriend's sitting in front of you?' He suddenly looked smug. 'At least your girlfriend could try introducing me to Pearlie.'

Both of the boys stopped talking when Pearlie reached the seat.

'Welcome to 5A, the best and cutest class,' it was the teacher's voice again. Students are assigned to different classes according to their annual examination results. 5A, apparently the first class, is occupied by twenty students with the highest past year achievements.

Pang! Pearlie accidentally dropped her book on her way towards her seat. Night dashed forward to help just when she began to reach for her books, momentarily stunning her with his quicksilver poise. Within the few seconds their eyes truly met for the first time, incandescent emerald and olive burning into each other like molten metal. The whole class became completely hushed.

Madam Nabila's voice broke through the silence when Pearlie and Night stared at each other like fools. 'Yup, what did I tell you? This is the best and cutest class where boys know how to take every girl's heart.' Her words seemed to be directed at Night. All of the students in the class laughed including Zanders, while Night struggled to keep his face composed.

During a short, 20-minute breakfast recess, Pearlie and Zanders's lover, Nicol, who have been friends since childhood, went to the school canteen together. Near the end of recess, Pearlie saw the boys talking casually a few strides away.

Pearlie asked, 'Nicol, who's that guy?'

Nicol looked at Pearlie disbelievingly. 'I'm sure you've heard the teachers calling his name.'

Pearlie rolled her eyes. 'Yeah but…I hardly know him.'

'Oh, come on, then. I'll introduce Night to you.' Nicol walked toward them.

'What do you think of him?' Pearlie kept up with her pace.

'Night's a nice guy, I think.'

'You think?'

'Sometimes he could be humorous, and sometimes… sometimes he could be too cool for my liking. I don't know how you'd make of him, though.' Nicol said as she reached the boys.

'Zanders, can I introduce her to Night?' Nicol asked her boyfriend.

'Sure. The both of them would surely click at once, like the both of us.' Zanders grinned at Nicol as he hooked his arm behind Night's shoulders playfully, speaking without bothering to lower his voice, 'Hmm…Pearlie's quite attractive. What do you think, Night?'

Pearlie turned around to look at the surroundings, suddenly self-conscious.

'Hey, cool it, Night.' Zanders said teasingly. 'I was joking. Unlike you, I don't find her attractive at all.' He and his lover let out long peals of laughter.

'Well, don't just stand there. Shake hands when you meet a new friend. Proper courtesy, you know.' Zanders winked good-naturedly. 'Uh, guess we'll leave now.' Nicol followed him back to their classroom.

Pearlie's blood abandoned her extended arm when he took her hand in his and shook. 'Nice to meet you, Pearlie,' he pronounced each syllable perfectly.

'Nice to meet you, too,' echoed Pearlie, heart thudding against her sternum wildly as warmth radiated from his palm. If Night noticed how cold her hands were, he didn't mention it.

Pearlie cleared her throat softly; Night dropped his hand.

'Oops,' said Night lackadaisically as the school bell rang.

'What did you have for breakfast?' Pearlie asked.

'Zilch,' Night looked at the empty canteen solemnly before turning his back to it. 'I prefer getting food when students were lesser. But I'd skip a light meal for you.' He grinned. They strolled back to class, ignoring the swarm of students walking past them.

'I guess you really like being solitary,' Pearlie mumbled thoughtfully.

'Thank you.' His grin widened charmingly. 'Come, let's not tarry any longer. Sir Ripin scolds those who are late for his classes.' Night's stride lengthened.

Zanders smiled deviously at Night a couple of minutes before the teacher entered the class. Night looked at him sternly.

Zanders whistled, 'I'm not saying it's funny, but I will smile and laugh when I want to. Ha! Ha!' He laughed boisterously.