** November arrived gently that year.

The mornings carried a fair of coolness, while afternoons remained warm, accompanied with a soft breeze that wandered through the open classroom windows. The color of the leaves in trees were now a bright orange, like warm tea.

The photography classroom was tucked away at the end of the second-floor hallway. It was a rather peaceful room, with tall windows, wooden desks, and shelves filled with old photographs and forgotten magazines.

He always preferred sitting by himself, minding his business and work as always. Not because he disliked people— bit because he hasn’t been particularly good at approaching them, except his only other 4 friends.

Conversations often felt like something he had to prepare for, especially those with girls. He was quiet, reserved, and sometimes mistaken for being indifferent.

But..there was this girl in his photography class. She was so similar in some ways he didn’t even had noticed in himself. the quietness, matureness, just..alike.

She sat a few rows infront of him, staring out in the courtyard and field where students played sports and others watered the school plants as a chore.

She entered without much notice, carrying a small notebook and a camera strap resting against her shoulder. Her eyes wandered briefly around the classroom before settling on an empty desk a few rows ahead of his. He returned his attention to the window. He hadn't thought anything of it.

Not yet.

Their teacher began explaining the first assignment of the semester. They were to work in pairs, photographing ordinary things that held a certain beauty to them. When the teacher called their names together, he lifted his head.

She slowly turned her head and gave him a soft curious look, then went back to do her work. The next day after, they had to sit next to their pairs— she entered the classroom and had approached the empty seat behind him.

“hi” she said in a soft tone

“hello.” he replied dryly already looking down at his notebook and began writing.

It wasn't much of an introduction. Neither seemed particularly interested in forcing a conversation, and so they returned to their things.

Outside, the breeze moved gently through the courtyard trees.

Neither of them knew that this rather unremarkable afternoon would eventually become a memory they would both look back on fondly.