Nate & Nessa: New Guy

‘Hey, everyone, we have a new face in the class today. Let’s give him a warm welcome!’ the teacher announced, and the classroom erupted in applause. Along with the applause came the whispers and excited chatter among the students. ‘Oh wow, he’s seriously good-looking!’ ‘He could totally be a model.’ ‘I wonder if he’s single...’ ... Nessa, however, remained unperturbed by the commotion. She focused on applying her mascara, her big eyes enhanced by a pair of blue cosmetic contact lenses, her eyelashes fluttering like a Barbie doll’s. She checked her reflection in the handheld compact mirror and nodded in satisfaction. But just then, a clear voice broke through the noise. ‘Excuse me, is this seat taken?’ Nessa looked up, and there he was—the new student. The morning sun cast a golden glow behind him, making it hard to see his face clearly. He was tall, with a school bag casually slung over his shoulder, and his white T-shirt seemed to radiate under the sunlight. ‘No,’ Nessa replied, givin