Life of a christian

The next morning, Riley woke up feeling a different kind of nervous—today was his first day at his new school...

He had prepared everything for today—even writing a script to introduce himself to his classmates—but he was still anxious. Taking a deep breath, he reached for his Bible, flipping through the pages in search of comfort. His finger stopped on a verse: Joshua 1:9. Reading the words, he felt a wave of calm wash over him. With renewed determination, he finished getting ready. After breakfast, Carl arrived and drove him to school.

He waved his hand at Carl before turning to walk toward the school. The building was massive, and the sheer number of students moving around made his chest tighten. The crowd brought back painful memories—ones he had tried so hard to forget. But he took a deep breath and kept walking.

The hallways were eerily empty. "Everyone must already be in class," Riley thought, his footsteps echoing against the walls. When he reached his classroom door, he stopped, his breath hitching. A cold sweat formed on his palms as his mind spiraled into overdrive. The weight of his past anxieties pressed against him, and he felt frozen in place.

What if they hated him? What if they bullied him? What if they laughed at him the moment he introduced himself? Every worst-case scenario played out in his head, gripping him with fear. He hesitated, his hand hovering over the doorknob, unsure if he had the courage to step inside.

On the other side of the door, the students were chatting amongst themselves, their voices blending into a dull hum.

"Everyone, please quiet down," the teacher, Ms. Hanna, announced. "We have a new student joining us today."

She turned toward the door. "Come in, Riley."

Hearing his name, Riley's heart pounded so hard it felt like it might burst from his chest. His fingers curled into fists, attempting to steady his trembling hands. The weight of all the staring eyes sent a wave of heat rushing to his face, making him feel even more exposed. His hands trembled as he pushed the door open, stepping inside with hesitant, unsteady movements. The classroom fell silent, dozens of curious eyes locking onto him. A lump formed in his throat, making it nearly impossible to speak. His carefully rehearsed introduction evaporated, leaving only scattered words in his mind. He opened his mouth, but no sound came out. Panic began creeping in, tightening its grip around him.

While Riley was overwhelmed with nerves, the students in the classroom had only one thought: He's adorable. His fluffy white hair, porcelain skin, and striking blue eyes shimmered under the sunlight streaming through the window. The soft pink blush on his cheeks only added to his innocent, almost ethereal appearance, making him resemble a delicate, wide-eyed rabbit caught in an unfamiliar place.

Riley desperately tried to recall the introduction he had memorized, but it was as if his mind had been wiped clean. The words that had once been so carefully rehearsed now eluded him, leaving him stranded in silence. His blush deepened, spreading across his face until he felt as though he had turned into a human tomato. His throat tightened, and when he finally forced himself to speak, his voice came out in a stuttering whisper, barely audible over the expectant hush of the classroom.

"H-Hello... m-my name is R-Riley," he stammered, his voice barely above a whisper. His face burned with embarrassment as he quickly lowered his head into a deep, formal bow, nearly at a full ninety-degree angle. He stayed frozen like that for a few seconds, desperately hoping the ground would swallow him whole.

"Sphuhh..." The awkward sound Riley made was the final push needed for the classroom to erupt into laughter, spreading like a chain reaction. His face burned with embarrassment as he clenched his fists, feeling completely exposed under the weight of their amusement.

Noticing his discomfort, the teacher, with a sympathetic expression, gestured toward an empty seat at the back of the classroom. Riley didn't hesitate—he quickly walked over and sat down, exhaling softly. The fact that no one was sitting near him brought a sense of relief. The last thing he wanted was to be forced into small talk with a stranger. For now, he was content to stay unnoticed in his little corner, hoping to blend into the background.

However, his hopes were short-lived. A boy sitting a few seats away turned around and grinned at him. "Hey, new kid. That was some entrance," he said, amusement twinkling in his eyes. "I'm Ethan. What's your deal?"

Riley stiffened, unsure how to respond. He glanced down at his desk, fiddling with the edge of his notebook. "Uh... just new here," he mumbled.

Ethan chuckled. "Well, obviously. Where you from?"

Riley hesitated before answering, "Korea."

Ethan raised an eyebrow, impressed. "Whoa, that's cool. Do you speak Korean?"

"Yeah," Riley said, his voice still quiet.

"Nice! You gotta teach me some words sometime." Ethan leaned back in his chair, looking entirely at ease, as if he'd already decided they were going to be friends. "So, do you play any games? Or are you more into books?"

Riley blinked. No one had ever asked him things like this before. He had spent most of his time alone, reading and studying, never really engaging in casual conversations. He swallowed, then whispered, "I read a lot."

Ethan nodded. "Cool, cool. Maybe you can recommend me something."

Before Riley could respond, the teacher clapped her hands to get the class's attention. Ethan gave him one last friendly nod before turning back around, leaving Riley staring at the back of his head, processing what had just happened.

For the first time, someone had talked to him like a normal person. And maybe... just maybe... making a friend wasn't as impossible as he thought.