The morning sun shades a warm glow over the school garden, where Lychie, Anya, and Joyane knelt among the flower beds, tending to the plants assigned to their class. The scent of freshly turned soil mixed with the floral fragrance of blooming petunias, made the atmosphere light and refreshing.

Anya: grinning as she watered the marigolds  "So... are we going to ignore the fact that you and Kent have been talking a lot lately, Lych?"

Lychie: rolling her eyes but keeping her focus on trimming the leaves "What about it?"

Joyane: smirked as she gently patted the soil around the roots  "Oh, nothing. Just that it's interesting how you two seem to have your own little world sometimes."

Lychie: scoffing lightly  "We were just talking about literature and chess. That's all. And it's only one time, don't get exaggerated about it"

Anya: raising an eyebrow  "Mhm. Literature and chess, huh? You sure Kent isn't trying to checkmate his way into your heart?"

Joyane: giggling  "You have to admit, he's been making an effort to talk to you. That's not exactly something he does with everyone."

Lychie: exhaling and standing up to stretch "You guys are reading too much into things." pauses, then adds softly  "Besides... I don't think I'm ready for anything like that."

Her words hung in the air for a moment, causing both Anya and Joyane to exchange glances.

Joyane: more gently  "Is this about Ian?"

Lychie didn't respond immediately. Instead, she crouched back down and absentmindedly ran her fingers through the petals of a white daisy.

Lychie: softly  "I've already made peace with that... I think. I know that Ian and I are just friends. I've set that in my mind, and I won't let myself think otherwise."

Anya: placing a hand on her hip "But that doesn't mean it's easy."

Lychie: laughing dryly "No, it's not. But I don't want to be stuck in a feeling that's one-sided. I spent too much time waiting for something that was never there."

Joyane: nodding in understanding "And Kent?"

Lychie: pausing before shaking her head  "I don't know. He's nice, but I don't want to assume anything. Maybe he's just being friendly."

Anya: grinning mischievously  "Or maybe he sees something in you that you don't see yet."

Lychie simply shook her head with a small chuckle, brushing off the idea.

Lychie: standing up and dusting off her hands  "You two are impossible."

Joyane: smirking  "And you're just in denial."

The three girls laughed as they continued tending to the plants, the conversation lingering in the air like an unspoken promise. Maybe, just maybe, time would reveal the answers Lychie wasn't yet ready to face.

Joyane, sensing that Lychie had reached her limit on the topic of Kent and Ian, decided to steer the conversation in a different direction. She straightened up, brushing the dirt off her hands, and looked at the other two with a thoughtful expression.

Joyane: "Alright, enough about your love life, or lack thereof. We need to talk about the school festival. It's coming up fast, and we still haven't finalized our class participation."

Anya: groaning  "Ugh, don't remind me. I still have a ton of work to do for the art exhibit. The teachers are all over us to get everything ready."

Lychie: raising an eyebrow  "I thought you liked that kind of pressure?"

Anya: dramatic sigh  "I do, but not when I have to juggle it with other responsibilities. Plus, now they want us to help with the decorations for the main hall, and I barely have time as it is."

Joyane: nodding  "Well, you're not alone. The student council is handling a lot of things, and I swear, I haven't had a full night's sleep in days."

Lychie: grinning  "That's because you take on too much, Joy. You could say no, you know."

Joyane: mock gasping  "Excuse me? Say no? Me? Impossible."

The three girls laughed before Joyane continued, her tone becoming more serious.

Joyane: "But really, our class still needs to decide on a booth or event. We have a few ideas floating around, but nothing is finalized."

Lychie: thoughtfully  "I heard the other classes are doing things like escape rooms, food stalls, and even a haunted house. We should do something unique."

Anya: snapping her fingers  "What about a poetry and art showcase? Since we have a mix of creatives and writers in our class, we could combine both."

Lychie: eyes lighting up  "That's actually a good idea. We could set up a mini gallery with paintings and sketches from the art students and also have a section where people can read or listen to poetry. Maybe even have live readings?"

Joyane: nodding in approval  "That sounds promising. It fits with our class's strengths and won't be too difficult to set up. We just need approval from the teachers."

Anya: grinning  "And we know exactly who to send to convince them." gesturing at Lychie and Joyane  "The golden speaker and the student council officer."

Lychie: laughing  "Oh great, no pressure."

Joyane: smirking  "I'll draft a formal proposal. You, on the other hand, will have to charm them with your words."

Lychie: shaking her head in amusement  "Fine, fine. But we still need to discuss it with the rest of the class."

Anya: playfully nudging her  "And maybe Kent will have something to say about it, huh?"

Lychie: groaning  "Anya!"

The three girls burst into laughter, their earlier conversation momentarily forgotten as they shifted their focus to the upcoming festival. It was going to be a busy few weeks, but somehow, with all of them working together, it felt exciting rather than overwhelming.

Joyane: "But you know the final decision for our event still depends on our classmates."

Anya: sighed "We know"

The bell rang, signaling the end of their gardening session. Lychie, Anya, and Joyane quickly gathered their things before making their way back to class. The rest of the day passed in a blur of lessons and discussions, but even as Lychie took notes diligently, a small part of her mind remained elsewhere, on the festival preparations, on Ian, and most confusingly... on Kent.

When the final bell rang for dismissal, Lychie let out a relieved sigh. She needed some quiet time. With her bag slung over her shoulder, she made her way to the library, hoping to find a book to unwind with. The peaceful atmosphere was exactly what she needed.

As she ran her fingers along the rows of books, she stopped when she saw something unexpected, a book on chess strategies. She hesitated, her mind immediately drifting to Kent. She knew he was good at chess, and curiosity got the better of her. She might have a glimpse of idea how chess works, but she couldn't grasp it completely.

Maybe I could understand his world a little better... she thought, carefully pulling the book off the shelf.

Just as she was about to flip through the pages, a familiar voice startled her.

Kent: teasingly  "Didn't take you for a chess enthusiast, Lychie."

She froze. Her heart leaped in surprise as she spun around, instinctively hiding the book behind her back. Kent stood there, arms crossed, a smirk playing on his lips.

Lychie: stammering  "I-I was just, uh, just looking! That's all!"

Kent: raising an eyebrow  "Oh? Just looking?"

Before she could react, Kent leaned in slightly, trying to peek behind her. Lychie took a step back, gripping the book tightly, but he wasn't letting her off that easily.

Kent: grinning  "What's that behind you?"

Lychie: defensively  "Nothing! Just, just a random book!"

Kent: chuckling  "Oh really? Then why are you hiding it like it's a secret?"

In one swift move, Kent reached behind her, attempting to grab the book. Lychie, determined to keep it from him, instinctively leaned back, but in doing so, she lost her balance slightly. In an effort to steady her, Kent grabbed her wrist, pulling her closer instead.

Suddenly, they were too close. Closer than they had ever been before.

The teasing atmosphere faded as they both realized their proximity. Lychie's breath hitched when she looked up, her wide eyes meeting Kent's. She could hear his heartbeat, or was that her own? The space between them was almost nonexistent, and the warmth of his presence sent an unfamiliar, almost electric feeling through her.

Neither of them spoke. The air around them was thick with something unspoken, something neither of them were prepared to confront.

Realizing how dangerously close they were, Lychie immediately stepped back, pressing the book to her chest as if it could shield her from the moment they just shared. Her face burned, and she struggled to find her voice.

Lychie: quickly  "I-I need to go! I just..um, I forgot I have something to do!"

Without waiting for a response, she turned on her heel and hurried out of the library, her heart pounding wildly.

Behind her, Kent stood still for a moment, watching her retreat. Then, a quiet chuckle escaped his lips as he ran a hand through his hair.

Kent: to himself  "She's really something, huh?"

And with that, he picked up the book she had accidentally dropped in her rush, "Introduction to Chess for Beginners", and smiled to himself before walking off.

---------------------

During lunch break, Lychie sat with her usual group of friends, Anya, Joyane, Cale, Eddie, Nial, and Ian, but something was off. The usual energy around the table was missing. Lychie wasn't eating. Instead, she had buried her face in her arms on the table, her thoughts far away as the events earlier in the day replayed in her mind. She couldn't shake the feeling from her encounter with Kent in the library.

Anya: concerned  "Hey, Lychie, you alright? You've barely touched your food."

Joyane: frowning  "This isn't like you. What's going on?"

Cale: eyeing her closely  "You've been quiet all day, Lychie. Something's up, huh?"

Eddie: teasing lightly  "Did you get in trouble with someone? Or did the food just not look good today?"

Nial: raising an eyebrow  "You're usually the one who's cracking jokes around here. What happened?"

Ian: seriously, with a gentle tone  "You okay, Lychie? You've been kinda off."

Lychie didn't look up. The familiar sounds of the cafeteria seemed distant to her as her mind kept returning to the moment with Kent. She had been so close to him, too close. The way he teased her, the way they had nearly touched. It was overwhelming, and she hadn't had time to process it yet. She didn't told them about that part though.

Anya: more seriously  "Lychie, come on, talk to us. This isn't like you."

Joyane: softly  "If it's about earlier... with that chess book... you know you don't need to be embarrassed, right?"

The mention of Kent made Lychie flinch slightly, though she tried to hide it. Her cheeks flushed at the thought of him, and she felt an uncomfortable tightness in her chest. She wasn't ready to talk about it. Not yet.

Lychie: murmuring, voice shaky  "I'm fine... really. Just tired, I guess."

Eddie: giving her a skeptical look  "Come on, Lychie, we know you better than that. Something's bothering you."

Nial: teasing  "Yeah, you didn't even finish your lunch. You're usually the one asking for seconds."

Cale: with a soft but serious tone  "You can talk to us, Lychie. Whatever it is, we've got your back."

Ian: nodding  "You don't have to keep it all in. We're here for you."

Lychie hesitated, feeling the pressure of their concern weighing on her. She wanted to tell them, but she wasn't sure how. She wasn't sure she understood it herself.

Lychie: with a small, forced smile  "I'm okay. Really. Just... thinking about a lot of things."

Eddie: teasing gently  "If it's about Kent and that book, you know it's not the end of the world. We've all had those awkward moments."

Nial: grinning  "Yeah, Kent's harmless. He just hides it behind all that math nerd stuff."

Lychie looked down at the table, her fingers tracing the edges of her lunch tray. The thought of Kent made her heart race, and she wasn't sure how to handle it. She didn't want to admit how much that moment had affected her, but she also couldn't ignore the way it had made her feel.

Lychie: sighing, avoiding their eyes  "Can we just... not talk about it? I'm not ready to get into it right now."

They all exchanged glances, sensing she wasn't ready to open up yet.

Cale: nodding, offering a reassuring smile  "Alright, we'll drop it. But if you need anything, you know where to find us."

The group quietly continued their lunch, but Lychie felt the weight of their concern hanging in the air. She appreciated it, but the uncertainty she felt about Kent lingered. She wasn't sure what to make of it, but for now, she had to push it aside, at least until she was ready to face it.

--------------------------------------

The afternoon bell rang, signaling the start of the much-anticipated meeting for the upcoming school festival. Joyane, as a member of the student council, confidently stood at the front of the classroom, ready to lead the session. The room was buzzing with energy as the HUMSS students gathered, eager to contribute their ideas for a festival theme that would both align with their strand and showcase their creativity.

Joyane: smiling, flipping through her notes  "Alright, everyone. We need to decide on a theme that reflects the core values of HUMSS, something related to literature, history, and society. But we also want to make sure it's creative and dynamic. Any suggestions?"

In the front row, Lychie and Anya were seated with their pens poised, ready to jot down every idea that came their way. Lychie couldn't help but feel the pressure of making sure they picked something that would stand out while staying true to the essence of HUMSS.

Anya: whispering to Lychie  "We'll make this work, don't worry."

Lychie: softly, glancing up  "Yeah, we just need to think outside the box."

As the meeting began, students tossed out ideas related to literature, societal issues, and historical events. The suggestions ranged from abstract themes to more straightforward concepts, but no one seemed to be quite satisfied yet.

Cale: leaning forward with a thoughtful look  "What if we went with something like 'The Power of Words'? We could showcase how literature has influenced society throughout history, and have performances, readings, and discussions around it."

Nial: nodding  "Yeah, and we could even explore how words have sparked revolutions and movements, kind of like how literature has changed the course of history."

Eddie: grinning  "I'm into that! But, maybe we could add a twist and do something more interactive. How about a debate session? We could set up different topics that represent key social and political issues, and have students argue both sides."

Ian: looking up, catching everyone's attention  "I actually think Eddie's onto something. We could turn the entire festival into a live, ongoing debate session with dynamic topics that change throughout the day. We could even have themes that are relevant to current events and let students choose which debates they want to participate in."

The room fell quiet for a moment as everyone processed the idea. A live debate session for the fair? It was unique, engaging, and would definitely spark some excitement.

Joyane: eyes wide, impressed  "That's... actually a brilliant idea, Ian. It's different and aligns perfectly with what we're about as HUMSS students, critical thinking, analyzing issues, and engaging with current events."

Lychie: writing quickly, clearly intrigued  "We could set up different debate stations, and each one would focus on a different aspect of society, social justice, climate change, education, and so on."

Anya: nodding  "And we could invite different classes to participate, maybe even have some teachers involved. That way, it's not just a passive experience for the audience, but everyone can be actively involved."

The excitement in the room grew as more and more ideas were added to Ian's proposal. The students discussed how to organize the debate format, how to invite guest speakers, and what kinds of topics would be most relevant and engaging. Some wanted to add performances in between debates, while others suggested workshops that would help participants better prepare for the debates.

Eddie: smirking  "Alright, so who's ready to take on the first controversial topic?"

Nial: laughing  "You're not getting me into one of those debates, Eddie. I'd rather help set up."

Ian: grinning  "We'll see who's brave enough to take on the challenge."

Joyane: raising a hand to call for attention  "Okay, let's focus. We've got a solid theme, 'Debate for Change: Engaging Conversations on Society's Future.' Now, we'll need to divide the tasks and start brainstorming debate topics. I'll handle the invitations for speakers and judges. Lychie, Anya, can you two help with the schedule and layout?"

Lychie: nodding  "Got it. We'll work on a timeline and make sure everything's organized."

Anya: writing furiously  "I'll make a list of topics and potential speakers."

The group worked well together, and as the meeting continued, the structure for the festival began to take shape. By the end of the session, they had a clear direction and were already brainstorming ways to make the debates dynamic and engaging for everyone.

Joyane: smiling, clearly proud of the progress  "I think we've got something great here. Let's keep the momentum going and meet again tomorrow to finalize everything."

As the students began to pack up their things, Lychie felt a small sense of relief. Despite her lingering thoughts about Kent and the earlier tension between them, the meeting had given her a distraction, a chance to focus on something else.

Ian: approached her as they gathered their things  "You did a great job today, Lychie. I think this festival's going to be amazing."

Lychie: forcing a small smile  "Thanks, Ian. I'm glad we have a solid plan now."

Ian: grinning  "Yeah, I think we're going to knock it out of the park."

As they walked out of the classroom, the group was full with excitement, and for a brief moment, Lychie pushed aside her inner thoughts. There was something to look forward to after all.