Writers 
MY NEW FRIEND
Episode 1
The first day of the new semester was unusually noisy. Students filled the school corridors, laughing as they reunited with old friends. In SS2 Blue, everyone was busy choosing where to sit.
"Don't sit beside her."
"She never talks."
"I heard she's proud."
The whispers spread across the classroom. At the last bench by the window sat Ella. Her books were neatly arranged. Her eyes remained fixed on the blackboard. She ignored every whisper. One by one, students chose seats far from her. The space beside her remained empty. Just then, the classroom door opened. A tall boy walked in carrying a backpack. His name was Ethan. He was a transfer student. The teacher smiled. "Class, this is Ethan. He's joining us this term."
The class welcomed him warmly. "Find an empty seat," the teacher said. Ethan looked around. Every seat was occupied. Except one. The last bench. Beside Ella. The classroom became quiet. Someone whispered, "Poor guy."
Another student laughed. "He doesn't know. Without asking questions, Ethan walked to the back and sat beside her.
"Hi," he said with a smile. "I'm Ethan." Ella didn't respond. She simply continued reading her notebook. The class burst into laughter. "Dude, she won't answer you." "She never talks to anyone." Ethan ignored them.
A few minutes later, the teacher began teaching Mathematics. Halfway through the lesson, she wrote a difficult equation on the board. "Who can solve this ? Silence. Nobody raised a hand. Then... Ella quietly stood up. She walked to the board and solved the entire problem perfectly.
The teacher smiled proudly. "Excellent." The class clapped. As Ella returned to her seat, Ethan looked at her with admiration. "You're brilliant." For the first time. A tiny smile appeared on Ella's face. It lasted only a second. But Ethan noticed. When school closed that afternoon, heavy rain began to fall. Students ran for cover.
Ethan noticed Ella standing alone under the classroom roof. She had no umbrella. He walked over "You can share mine." Ella looked at him. "You don't even know me." Ethan smiled. "I don't have to know everything about someone before choosing to be kind." Ella hesitated. Then, for the first time that day. She stepped under the umbrella with him. Neither of them knew. That one simple walk home. Would change both of their lives forever.
The rain poured heavily. Students crowded under the school corridors, waiting for it to stop. Some laughed. Others called their parents to come and pick them up. Ethan stood quietly, holding his umbrella. Ella remained beside him, staring at the rain. Neither of them spoke for a while. Finally, Ethan smiled. "I don't think this rain plans to stop anytime soon." Ella gave a small nod. "It doesn't look like it." It was the first full sentence Ethan had heard her say. He couldn't hide his surprise. "So... you do talk." Ella looked at him and almost smiled. "Only when I have something to say." Ethan laughed. "I'll take that as progress."
For the first time that day, the silence between them felt comfortable. "Which way are you going?" Ethan asked.
To be continued