The Kiss that Sparked it All

But at a high school that seemed to have adopted the “boot camp” approach from its neighboring institutes, the days seemed long and the pressure was intense for Mara. Students were squeezed from dawn till dusk, hardly getting a moment to breathe, let alone relax.

Mara had once worked hard, determined to prove herself and earn a spot at that prestigious school like Victoria.

But such ambitions felt like distant memories now.

Victoria couldn’t miss the hint of resentment in her sister’s voice. She playfully ruffled Mara’s hair, “Just buckle down and, ace your SATs. We’ll be on the same college campus in the future. Our school’s choir competition has had a long tradition. Winners even get to compete at nationals, so it’s a big deal for us.”

Mara had always been granted free rein with Victoria’s smartphone, and she took the opportunity to scroll through and see what a well-rounded private high school was like.

However, she hadn’t expected to see the very boy who had offered her comfort the other day standing in the center of the back row of the choir photo.

“Ah-”

Victoria was busy applying her nightly face cream, turning at the scream from her sister. “What’s the matter? Did someone send me a prank video or something?”

“Is the choir all made up of people from your class?”

Victoria nodded, “Of course. We compete as a class. Lots of heartthrobs, right? And even more beauties.”

“Yeah, no shortage of those,” Mara muttered, a sense of dread creeping into her heart. She knew just how beautiful her sister was, not to mention the other attractive girls in her class.

If that boy spent his days surrounded by such beauties, would he even notice an ordinary girl like her? Why did fate have to be so cruel, bringing this boy into her life only to place him in her sister’s class?

Why? Hadn’t the universe ever thought to throw her a bone?

Mara clenched her teeth, her back to Victoria, who couldn’t see the dark expression shadowing her face.

“Who’s the guy in the center of the last row?”

Victoria’s laughter was light and carefree, “You’ve noticed him too, huh? He’s been voted ‘Mr. Popular’ ever since he set foot in the school. And he’s held onto that title until now.

Quite the looker, isn’t he? Girls line up from our classroom door all the way to the stairwell just to catch a glimpse of him.”

Victoria turned to smile at Mara, who couldn’t mirror the gesture. “What do you mean? Are you secretly dating? Are you two together?”

Mistaking her sister’s concern for curiosity, Victoria shook her head, “Not even. I wouldn’t dream of dating at such a crucial time in my life. We just work together on some school committees, so we talk more often.” Property © 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.

Mara’s world quaked once again.

Victoria’s words struck like a bolt from the blue, shattering Mara’s illusions. She couldn’t absorb another word Victoria said. Her world had crumbled into ruins in a second.

Why was fate so cruel to her? The boy had been placed before her only to be taken away. He was supposed to be hers; she had met him first!

“Mara, are you listening to me?”

After finishing her skincare routine, Victoria called to her sister several times, but Mara seemed lost in a daze, oblivious to the sound of her voice.