When School Life Got an International Update
When I heard that a new friend from overseas was coming to study at our school, my brain had two reactions:
“Wow, international friendship arc unlocked.”
“Do I need to suddenly become interesting now?”
Not gonna lie, I was curious. Like very curious. The kind of curious where you suddenly start fixing your posture for no reason.
So yeah, it started when the principal announced that a student from Japan would be joining our school for two weeks. Two weeks only. That is like a limited-time event character in a game. If you miss it, gone forever. And I was excited. Not jumping around excited, but internally screaming a little bit.
Especially me, a high school student who is supposedly very cute and funny (according to myself and my imagination), not tall but still hoping gravity will one day show mercy. crying in height issues
The moment he appeared, the whole girls’ section suddenly entered “main character energy mode”.
Smiles everywhere.
Hair suddenly looks better than usual.
People suddenly remember they have lips to smile with.
Why? Because a Japanese guy who looks like he came straight out of a K-drama walked in.
I swear the school hall turned into a Netflix teen series for 3 minutes.
And then plot twist.
He speaks Malay.
Yes. MALAY.
My brain literally said:
“Wait… is this DLC content or real life?”
His name is Wataru Iwashita. 18 years old. From Japan. Apparently more “senior” than us because he is already in college.
Suddenly, everyone felt like babies emotionally.
Someone in my head asked:
“Can we call him oppa?”
And immediately, I slapped my own brain. Wrong continent, bro. Calm down.
Then the biggest surprise.
He joined our class.
Our class.
The place where:
- Someone always laughs for no reason
- Someone always becomes a stand-up comedian without permission
- Someone always looks like Einstein before an exam
- And someone is always confused but vibing
Basically, chaos, but with chairs.
On the first day he enters class, everything changes.
Suddenly, everyone becomes a journalist level 100.
“Where are you from?”
“What food do you eat?”
“Do you like Malaysia?”
“Do you know durian?”
“Do you survive spicy food?”
Someone almost asked his blood type, I swear.
It was not a classroom anymore. It was a press conference with school uniforms.
Even I started questioning my own personality, like:
“Am I too quiet, or are they just extremely alive?”
About him.
Wataru is from Tokyo, Japan. Studies in Nagano.
Very friendly. Very chill. Very “I will smile at you and you will forget your problems” type of person.
His dad works in government, mom is a volunteer.
He came to Malaysia to learn about the culture and language for a year.
Meanwhile me:
I travel to the kitchen and sometimes the living room if I’m feeling adventurous.
Language situation?
Chaos.
We mix Malay, English, broken sentences, hand gestures, facial expressions, and pure guessing.
Sometimes it feels like:
“Charades but international edition.”
And somehow it works.
Also, he is learning languages like a machine. Even Jawi.
Me? My Jawi looks like cursed ancient writing that archaeologists would argue about.
After a few days…
The selfie era begins.
Suddenly, everyone becomes an influencer.
Phone out. Pose ready. Confidence unlocked.
Even people who normally say “I don’t like photos” suddenly become full-time models.
I joined, too, obviously. For memories. Definitely not for hype. hehe
Then English class moment.
The teacher asks about Wataru. Catherine gets called to sit near him.
Suddenly silence.
Like, even the air stopped gossiping.
Then he says:
“I will remember you.”
BRO.
That sentence felt like the final episode of a drama series with emotional background music that doesn’t exist but still plays in my head.
Everyone suddenly:
“Wait, is this a romance arc???”👀
No one knows. Not even the teacher.
 |
Selfie era |
 |
Catherine & Wataru |
 |
Wataru & 5SN1 |
RANDOM REFLECTION (because my brain suddenly got emotional)
Honestly, people come into our lives like:
- update patches
- limited events
- surprise characters
- sometimes chaos NPCs
Some stay long. Some stay short.
But somehow, all of them leave something behind.
Even if it’s just laughter, confusion, or random memories that make no sense at 2am.
And I think that’s kind of beautiful in a weird way.
Life is not always serious. Sometimes it’s just:
“Why did this happen?”
and
“Okay, I guess I’ll remember this forever now.”
With chaotic love,
-nni
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