It took Darek half an hour to reach the school. He parked his car in the VIP section and began walking toward the school building. At the same time, Olivia was walking outside the building when her best friend called out her name. Startled, she turned to see her friend.

“What is it, Sandy?” she asked, her attention diverted and causing her to accidentally bump into the wall. But it was not a wall but a famous celebrity Darek Marshall. Sandy, who was following closely behind Olivia, was struck with shock and excitement upon seeing Darek. Unable to contain her enthusiasm, she exclaimed, “OH MY GOD! Darek Marshall is here!”

Her exclamation drew the attention of everyone around, as her voice echoed with a mixture of disbelief and excitement. As the attention of the crowd focused on him, Darek felt annoyance gnawing at him.

“Don’t you have eyes? Can’t you see where you’re going? Or do you think you have eyes behind your head?” he snapped in a mixture of anger and irritation, pushing Olivia away from him. The force of his response caused those around to instinctively create some distance, not wanting to provoke his ire any further.

“I’m so... sorry,” Olivia stammered, her voice filled with both surprise and trepidation. She watched Darek as he huffed in frustration and walked into the school building, his irritation palpable. Sandy looks at Olivia with concern and approaches her friend.

“Olivia, are you okay? Are you hurt?” she inquired with genuine worry for her well-being. Olivia opened her mouth to respond, but before she could say anything, the school bell rang, interrupting their conversation and signalling the beginning of classes.

“Let’s go, school is about to begin,” Olivia said, quickly ushering Sandy along with her to their class. Just as another bell rang, their professor entered the hallway, Darek accompanying him. The moment they stepped into the classroom, all eyes turned toward them.

“OH, MY GOD!!!!!!!!! O.M.G.!!! The top model in New York is here,” one excited female student exclaimed, her voice carrying a mixture of shock and exhilaration.

“He’s even hotter than he was in the magazine,” another girl whispered to her friend, their faces tinged with awe.

The professor took control of the attention, addressing the class with a calm authority. “I don’t think there’s any need for me to introduce you to everyone since you are a celebrity,” he said to Darek, his tone acknowledging Darek’s fame.

“But still, I would prefer it if you introduce yourself to everyone,” he continued, his words causing hushed anticipation to fall over the classroom.

The room grew quiet as all eyes turned to Darek, awaiting his words. The air was thick with curiosity and a certain level of disbelief, as they hung on his every word and movement.

“Hello everyone, I’m Darek Marshall. I’m 17 years old and a singer and model featured in NY magazines. I’ll be in your care. I hope you won’t annoy me with constant requests for autographs and photographs,” Darek introduced himself to the class, his tone a mixture of politeness and a hint of weariness.

“Wow, even his voice is amazing,” one of the female students swooned dreamily. “Of course it is, he was a singer after all,” another girl added with a knowing nod.

“Tsk, how annoying,” Darek muttered under his breath, his frustration evident as he noticed some of the female students becoming starstruck in his presence.

Addressing the situation, the professor intervened, “You can take your seat beside Maher,” he directed Darek, pointing to an empty seat in the middle of the classroom.

Darek settled into his seat, and the professor began his lecture. However, despite the lecture’s progression, the majority of the class’s attention remained fixed on Darek, their curiosity piqued by his presence. Their glances and stares were like an invisible spotlight, an unwavering focus on the celebrity in their midst.

Amid this sea of interest, Olivia stood out as an exception. Her concentration was solely on the professor’s teaching, her dedication to learning undeterred by the celebrity aura that now graced their classroom.

Though Darek found the attention and gazes from his fellow students irritating, he chose to ignore them. He engaged fully in the lecture, absorbing the content as best as he could. The desire to excel academically was as strong as his ambition in the world of entertainment.

As the bell rang, signalling the end of the class, the dynamics shifted. Students seized the opportunity to close the distance between them and Darek. Their every move seemed orchestrated, a synchronized effort to be closer to the celebrity figure. Darek’s movements were like a magnet for their intrigue, as they followed him closely, hanging on every action and word as if hoping to unlock the secrets of his stardom.

During the lunch break, Darek found himself surrounded by students eager to befriend the new celebrity in their midst. They were surprised to see him unpacking a homemade lunchbox. “I thought he’d order from some famous restaurant or get food from the canteen,” one student murmured to himself. “Who would have thought he’d bring homemade food?” another chimed in.

“I was even ready to go buy food for him if he asked someone to,” a student shared with his friend. “Same here,” his friend agreed. “Everyone would have rushed to the cafeteria to buy food for him,” one of the boys added who was forcefully dragged by his friend uninterested to befriend Darek.

Their comments continued, oblivious to the fact that Darek could clearly hear their whispered words. He felt the urge to snap at them, frustrated by their prying eyes and comments, but he suppressed his anger. Aware of the impact it could have on his reputation, he decided to address the situation calmly.

“Guys, I know it’s quite a novelty to have a celebrity studying in the same school and class as you,” he began in a composed voice, his smile masking his true feelings. “But, don’t you think it’s a little rude to stare at someone while they’re eating and make comments about their eating habits?” he pointed out, his calm tone laced with a touch of firmness.

The students seemed taken aback by Darek’s response. Their chatter ceased, and a sense of embarrassment and realization seemed to wash over them.

“Besides, I think you should focus on having lunch instead of me if you don’t want to miss lunchtime. We only have 20 minutes left before the lunch break is over,” Darek gently reminded the students, redirecting their attention back to their meals.

As the students dispersed to have their lunches, Darek saw an opportunity to find a peaceful spot for his own meal. He decided to head to the rooftop, seeking solitude away from the curious gazes and whispers that had surrounded him throughout the day. However, as he reached the rooftop, he discovered someone else already there, enjoying their lunch.