Chapter 3
I got into this top high school straight out of a tiny country town.
Back home, I was always the number one student in my grade.
I figured I was pretty smart and had a real knack for learning.
Whatever the teacher explained, I got it right away, and homework was always a piece of cake.
But when the first monthly exam rolled around, I ended up ranked over 400th in the whole grade.
No one could ever understand how I felt in that moment.
I always thought studying was my gift, the one thing that would set me up for life.
But once I left that tiny town behind, I realized I was just another face in the crowd.
Ranking over 400th in my grade, I couldn't even dream of getting into a top-tier university.
So I studied as my life depended on it, giving it everything I had.
I didn't care if I was isolated or even bullied.
In my world, grades were the only thing I cared about.
After busting my ass studying day and night, I finally clawed my way into the top 50 in my grade. But that was where I hit my limit.
That was when I realized that some things couldn't be achieved by sheer will alone, no matter how determined one was.
Success depended on so many external forces. They were just as essential as one's own effort.
My dad sent me here because he'd heard the teachers were supposed to be the best around.
And honestly, they were on a whole different level compared to what we had back home.
But even in the same school, teachers were divided into different tiers. All the best resources went straight to Class 1. That was what everyone called the noble class.
Every student in that class was the cream of the crop, coming from powerful and prestigious families.
They enjoyed the best educational resources at school, and after hours, their families arranged for renowned tutors to give them extra coaching.
There was just no way someone like me could ever hope to compete with kids who had their entire families behind them.
They clung to the top 50 spots on the rankings like those places belonged to them. There was no way I could even come close.
Among all those privileged students, Damon stood out as the most exceptional.
I'd been hearing about Damon for two whole years.
His family was a total mystery, his looks were gorgeous, and his grades always stayed more than 30 points ahead of whoever was in second place.
Even though he kept to himself and acted cold and distant, he was still crowned as the school's ice prince. He was the campus prince. Pretty much every girl had a crush on him. I was no exception.
Someone like Damon, untouchable, admired by all, was suddenly forced into my life in our final year, all because of a malicious game.
Honestly, it was unbelievably amazing.
That old, tucked-away study room became a secret base for Damon and me, our own little world nobody else knew about.
After school, we'd always slip in one after the other, almost like we could read each other's minds.
We never spoke. We just quietly worked through our own exam papers side by side.
Whenever I got stuck on a tough problem and started scratching my head in frustration, he'd quietly move closer.
He'd grab his pen and walk me through it, showing me how to solve it without saying much.
Damon really was in a league of his own.
His approach to solving problems was always sharp and concise. Even the messiest, most confusing questions, he'd just untangle them with ease, and suddenly everything was crystal clear.
Guys who explained things so seriously were honestly super charming.
His lashes cast down like butterflies resting, sometimes fluttering gently.
His long fingers gripped the pen, smoothly scribbling out formula after formula.
His handwriting was elegant and carefree, reflecting his confidence and laid-back vibe.
Without even realizing it, I found myself completely entranced, just watching him.
Suddenly, he gave my forehead a gentle tap with his pen.
Damon pretended to be annoyed, putting on a playful pout. "What are you daydreaming about? You look totally lost."
Like I was bewitched, I reached out and tapped his eyelid with my finger. "Hey, you've got a little mole right here," I said.
It was a faint brown spot, tucked away in the crease of his eyelid. One would never notice it unless one was really looking.
Damon froze for a moment, then flashed me a smile. It was honestly gorgeous.
Snapping back to reality, I jerked my hand away and bowed my head deeply, my face burning with embarrassment.
My flushed, red ears were completely exposed to him.
Sunlight streamed through the window, and our shadows fell across the table.
The sunlight caught the dust in the air, making every tiny particle visible, just like my frantic heartbeat, exposed for all to see.
On that warm, sunlit afternoon, Damon told me how he really felt. "Charlotte, I like you. Will you go out with me?" he said.