Undercover High School

Chapter 3 – The Girl from the Circuit

Monday greeted the city with a pale sky and a faintly damp breeze. Amid the growing traffic, Alister’s black motorcycle cruised steadily toward school. This time, he wasn’t in a rush. No swollen eyes from staying up late. No lingering bruises from his hidden work behind the screen. Just him, and a calm morning.

When his motorcycle rolled into the schoolyard, a few students glanced in his direction, but none dared to greet him. Alister was not the type who invited conversation—or wanted it.

His footsteps echoed through the hallway, now filled with chatter and laughter from high school students.

Grade 12 Science Class 2 was already half full, students lounging in their chairs as they waited for the teacher. When Alister opened the classroom door, several heads turned immediately.

“Yo, Al! Not late for once, huh?” said Genta, a classmate sitting near the back.

Alister gave a small nod and walked to his seat without saying a word.

But he paused briefly when a girl with wavy long hair and a perfectly tailored uniform waved at him.

“Alister~” Victoria called out sweetly, her voice loud enough to catch nearby attention.

She stood by her desk with a flirtatious smile, clearly trying to draw his focus. But as always, Alister simply gave her a cold look and sat down without responding.

Victoria’s smile faltered slightly—but she didn’t give up. She winked before returning to her seat.

Alister opened his notebook, as if nothing unusual had happened.

The door opened with a soft creak. Students straightened in their chairs instinctively, already knowing who was about to enter. Sure enough, a woman in a pastel blue blouse and low heels stepped in gracefully.

Miss Clara.

The young teacher, always neat and elegant, walked to the front of the class with a small, polite smile. But to the observant eye, that smile seemed a bit forced today. A little too controlled.

Her gaze scanned the room. But when it landed on the middle row—where Alister sat—it lingered. Her expression subtly shifted: deeper, more cautious… and longer than usual.

Alister, as usual, responded with his signature calm. No smile, no nod. Just a neutral expression that betrayed no emotion. As if nothing had happened between them. No rescue. No fear. No surge of adrenaline. Just… another normal morning.

Clara took a slow breath and turned to the whiteboard, writing the day's lesson with a black marker.

“All right, class. Today we’ll continue with the topic we discussed last week.”

Her voice was steady and professional. But now and then, her eyes drifted back to that same desk—back to Alister, who was now jotting notes with his head slightly bowed. Her gaze wasn’t just curious… it was a mix of fascination and confusion.

Who are you really, Alister? she wondered.

Trying to focus, Clara continued with the lesson—until a knock at the door interrupted her.

Everyone turned. Clara, in the middle of writing a formula, paused and turned around.

At the door stood Ms. Rini, the homeroom teacher, accompanied by a girl with neatly tied long hair and a calm, confident face.

“Sorry to interrupt, Miss Clara. I’d like to introduce a new student who’ll be joining your class starting today,” said Ms. Rini warmly.

Clara smiled and nodded. “Of course. Come in.”

The girl stepped forward—and instantly captured the room’s attention. She stood tall at the front of the class, speaking clearly and confidently.

“My name is Yoona. I transferred from Arjuna High. I’m excited to be here. Please take care of me.”

Some students whispered in admiration. A few girls exchanged wary looks.

But Alister?

At first, he didn’t even look up. His pencil kept dancing across a sketchbook page. Until… that name.

Yoona.

His head lifted slowly—and time seemed to freeze.

It was her.

The girl on the navy-black sportbike. The full-face helmet, the deadly speed, the flawless maneuvers that stole the spotlight at the circuit. The mysterious racer who took the position that should’ve been his.

Alister stared longer than usual. There was surprise in his eyes, though hidden behind his usual blank expression.

As if she could feel it, Yoona scanned the room—then her eyes met Alister’s. Their eye contact lasted only seconds, but the atmosphere shifted instantly. A strange tension hung between them.

Clara noticed the moment and glanced briefly at Alister before resuming her role.

“All right, Yoona, you can sit in the empty seat next to Alister,” said Clara.

Immediately, all eyes turned to them.

Yoona nodded and made her way to the seat. Alister didn’t react—he merely slid his notebook slightly to the side. As Yoona sat down, the faint scent of her perfume reached him. But neither of them said a word.

Clara resumed teaching, filling the board with numbers and explaining the logic behind each formula. Her calm voice and the marker's squeak filled the room once more.

Meanwhile, Yoona slowly turned toward Alister. She observed him—the quiet guy beside her, seemingly disinterested in everything—only making her more curious.

“Hey, I’m Yoona,” she whispered softly, extending her hand.

Alister glanced at her briefly. Blank stare. No smile. No reaction. He turned back to the front, as if her hand had never been there.

Unbothered, Yoona retracted her hand and gave a small grin. “Just trying to break the ice. Since we’re seatmates and all.”

Alister finally spoke, without looking at her.

“Alister.”

One word. Short. But enough for Yoona to nod, satisfied.

“Alister, huh…” she murmured, as if etching the name into memory.

She pulled out her stationery and notebook. Her movements were calm but confident—not like a nervous transfer student. She looked perfectly at ease in a new environment.

From the corner of his eye, Alister noticed her notebook. Filled with doodles, motorbike sketches, and even a few engine modification diagrams. His grip on the pencil in his hand instinctively tightened.

Clara continued lecturing, but Alister had already lost focus.

For the first time in a long while… someone had truly distracted him.

Yoona.

The girl from the circuit.

The mysterious newcomer now sitting beside him, wearing a knowing smile—as if she held a secret the rest of the world didn’t.

And for reasons he couldn’t explain… Alister was completely intrigued.

***