Our class got a new transfer student. He was gloomy, silent, and mysterious. I, on the other hand, was a chatterbox who had been exiled to the "VIP Seat" right next to the teacher's podium for talking too much. Then, text started floating in the air above his head. [He is a mute boy who was bullied mercilessly. After graduation, he turns dark and becomes the ultimate villain.] I zeroed in on the keyword. Mute. A mute! That's perfect! Mutes can't snitch on me for talking! 1 Our homeroom teacher, Ms. Sweet, looked expectantly at the class. "Is there anyone willing to be partners with our new student, Jace Thorne..." I jumped up, waving my hands frantically. "Ms. Sweet! Yes! I do! Pick me!" Ms. Sweet ignored me and pushed my head down. "...and sit next to him?" Silence. Everyone looked at each other. Everyone liked their current seatmates. Except me. I was the lonely island in the VIP seat because I wouldn't shut up. Ms. Sweet sighed, scanning the room. Finally, she looked at me. "Nora, you need to be nice to the new student." She paused, looking like she wanted to say more. "...Specifically, please talk a little less." Jace lowered his eyes. A flash of sadness crossed his face. But I was too busy celebrating my new captive audience. I stood up and saluted. "Yes, ma'am! Mission accepted!" I grabbed my desk and dragged it to the second-to-last row—prime real estate. I enthusiastically pulled Jace to sit next to me. "Come on, don't be shy! From now on, you're my best listener!" Jace sat down silently. The class rep turned around to say hi. I shoved his forehead. "Back off! Don't interrupt my bonding time!" I turned back to Jace. "I'm a Pisces, super sensitive. I hate the silent treatment. I need care and affection. My hobby is cooking. I'll bring you homemade breakfast tomorrow, you'll love it..." Before I could finish, Jace pulled out a piece of paper. He stuck it vertically between our desks, blocking his face from mine. Then he opened a book and started studying. ? I pondered this. What is he doing? Hide and seek? Interesting. I stopped talking. I hid my face behind the paper wall. After a while, when Jace relaxed... I started laughing. A low, rhythmic, villainous cackle that got louder and louder. Heh... hehe... MWAHAHAHA! Then—SWISH! I yanked the paper away! Jace jumped in his seat, terrified. "Nora!" Ms. Sweet was on the podium, eyes wide, a piece of chalk ready to be thrown. I stood up and bowed. "Teacher, I was wrong! Never again!" When I sat down, Jace pulled a brick out of his backpack. A literal brick. He placed it on the line between our desks. He stuck a Post-it note on it: [DO NOT CROSS] Tsk. A border wall. I sighed deeply. It's okay. It's okay. Although my new partner doesn't understand me yet, I believe that through friendly communication, he will discover my kind nature. Once Ms. Sweet leaves, I have all the time in the world to chat. After all, he really seems to be mute. No matter how much I talk, he won't tattle to the teacher like the others. Hehehe. 2 Before English class, Ms. Sweet usually picks students to recite passages. I usually survive by mooching off my neighbors. Front desk props up a book. Back desk writes answers on my back. Partner mouths the words. But since my exile to the VIP seat, I hadn't answered a question right in ages. I was Ms. Sweet's number one target. Today, back among the people, I was ready. The class rep in front gave me an "OK" sign. The guy behind me tapped my back twice. All systems go. But Ms. Sweet went rogue. Today was a written dictation quiz. All books were confiscated. I looked around. Everyone was writing furiously. I was alone. My paper was blank. I spent all morning thinking about what to cook for breakfast tomorrow. I remembered nothing. I peeked at my mute partner. His profile was sharp, jawline tight. He was writing focusedly. Wait. If he can't speak, he can't recite. So he shouldn't be able to write it down. I'm doomed. We're both doomed. Ms. Sweet is going to drag us to the office. But when I glanced over, Jace's handwriting was flying across the page. And it matched the few words I actually remembered. ! I started copying like a madman. So that's his secret! Silent memorization is more effective than reading aloud! I need to try that. According to my observations, Jace is a genius mute. While everyone else is scratching their heads over math problems, he just looks down, draws one auxiliary line, and boom—solved. I praised him loudly while copying his answers. He panicked and tried to cover his paper. His pale ear was exposed. I leaned in. "Oh my god! You're a genius egg!" "Bestie, I love you!" "Promise me we'll be partners forever!" "I can't live without you and your homework!" "I declare myself your number one fan!" His ear turned bright red. He glared at me, annoyed and embarrassed, and covered his ear with his hand. His neat handwriting was exposed again. Hehehe. I kept copying. Having a partner is the best. 3 To fulfill my promise and prove my love isn't just talk, I woke up early. I restarted my breakfast career. I made a feast and left some on the dining table for my parents. I walked into their bedroom and ripped open the curtains. "Good morning, Mom and Dad! Today is full of hope!" "Your darling daughter made delicious breakfast! Enjoy!" My mom froze. Then she buried her head under the pillow and kicked my dad out of bed. "Your turn." My dad got up reluctantly, hair like a bird's nest. He walked past my breakfast without looking. I was hurt. "You don't respect my labor!" "I spent so long making this! It's super delicious!" "You'll regret not eating it!" Dad pushed me out the door. "Let's get you to school first. I'll taste it carefully later." On the way, he asked if the VIP seat was comfortable. I smirked. "I have a new partner." "He's great. I can talk all I want and he never snitches." "He's smart too. Memorizes everything silently." "He's lucky to have a partner who thinks of him constantly." "I even woke up early to make him breakfast." "Being my partner is a blessing for him!" Dad gave me a look of pity. Back in class. I placed the breakfast box on the border brick. I looked at Jace expectantly. "Dear partner, if you are satisfied with my breakfast, can we tear down this wall and unify our territories?" Jace stared at the breakfast for a long time. Sunlight hit his face, his long eyelashes fluttering. My heart sped up a little. He hesitated, then picked up a sandwich. He looked at me. I nodded encouragingly. He took a careful bite. The chewing stopped. Five seconds later. "Blargh..." He ran out of the room. I stood there, stunned. "Holy crap, he's not mute!" [What kind of elixir did the side character put in the breakfast? The villain spoke!] [Uhh, looks more like lethal poison...] [The villain is puking his guts out. Poor guy.] Huh? What are they saying? Provoking me? My breakfast is the most delicious and nutritious thing in the world! I didn't even eat any myself! I saved it all for my parents and Jace! I ate a bun from the cafeteria that was mostly dough! These people have no taste! Uncultured! 4 When Jace came back, his eyes were red. He put away the Post-it notes he used to communicate. He gave me the silent treatment. It's okay. I'm generous. I don't mind. "Partner, partner, was it good? Delicious, right? I made it just for you. Are you moved? Why aren't you eating? Don't like tuna? It's okay, give me feedback so I can improve. Strawberry flavor tomorrow?" He turned his back to me and read his book. "Do you think silent reading is better than reading aloud? Can you give me some tips? How did you get so smart? Did you eat something special as a kid?" "Send me the link, I need brain food too." He was silent for two seconds. He turned around, pointed at my brain. Then spread his hands and shook his head. ... I'm mad. I'm really mad. I'm never talking to him again! I focused on my book. Trying Jace's silent memorization method. Memorizing... memorizing... consciousness fading... My head tilted. It hit something soft. Comfy. I rubbed against it unconsciously. Warmth seeped into my forehead. The next second. I was shoved awake. My partner's neck was flushed red. His back was to me, radiating panic. I rubbed my eyes. Back to memorizing. zzzZZZ...
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