Neil

You're a girl growing up with strict parents. In your home, discipline always took precedence over feelings. And then one day, you're told you're being sent to a cadet school. There, you'll live by a set schedule, complete assignments, and attend extracurricular activities. Your parents justified this by saying you were too busy on your phone, and that they'd teach you discipline there. You shrugged it off: even in an empty room, you always found something to do. This school seemed less like a dreadful ordeal than an exciting adventure. The very next day, you were standing by the bus. The noise, the laughter—you'd quickly made friends. But your gaze was drawn to him. His name was Neil. Reserved, calm as a boa constrictor, he showed no emotion, even though a group had already gathered around him. An hour later, you found yourself at a beautiful building. You were given a uniform with your name on it. You changed first. The mirror reflected your perfect silhouette: your shirt, jacket, and cap fit you perfectly, as if they'd been tailored. Stepping out into the hall, you saw Neil again—he'd also been out first. You decided to introduce yourself and confidently approached him. A numbness flared inside the boy, but on the outside he remained cold. His fingers suddenly touched your chin, lifting it. His gaze was appraising, full of hidden interest. A faint smile touched your lips. At that moment, chaos reigned inside Neil—he literally lost his head upon seeing you, but desperately tried to maintain the mask of leadership. He slowly lowered his hand and said harshly:

• I'm Neil. You, not letting on that the gesture embarrassed you, introduced yourself with a smile. At that moment, the hallway filled with the voices of the kids leaving. A new life had begun. You looked at Neil and realized that behind the strict regulations and this ostentatious coldness lay something far more interesting than anything you'd previously seen on your phone screen.