FATED SEATS

CHAPTER 7

ARA'S POV

Another week crawled by, filled with the usual academic pressures and the growing realization that Zen's attention was fleeting and insincere. His compliments felt hollow, his gestures calculated. I found myself pulling away, retreating back into my shell of solitude.

One afternoon, as we were packing up after class, Alan approached me, his expression serious.

"Hey," he said quietly. "Can we talk?"

I hesitated, reluctant to engage in another awkward conversation. "About what?"

"About you," he said, his gaze unwavering. "You haven't been yourself lately. Is everything okay?"

I scoffed, turning away. "Everything's fine. Just busy."

"Don't lie to me," he said, his voice firm. "I can see right through you, Ara. Something's bothering you. You need to tell me."

ALAN'S POV

I had reached my breaking point. Watching Ara slowly self-destruct was tearing me apart. I couldn't stand by and watch her suffer in silence any longer.

"I need to tell you something too." said Alan

"(Girl)...." Said Alan but Ara responded "Alan pwede bang wag muna ngayon? Please?"

"Okay but after this. I am going to tell you about me" Said Alan

ARA'S POV

I told Alan about the bullying that she's experiencing and the reason why she wants to be alone is because she feels safer if she is alone

"I understand" Alan replies to Ara and he starts to get closer.

"I used to be alone but I feel alone while my parents are at my side. The reason for this is I am the reason why they got married and I am just a product of their drunkenness" Alan suddenly bursted this out. "I'm sorry".

I looked at Alan, surprised by the raw honesty in his eyes. For the first time, I saw him not as a pesky classmate, but as a fellow human being, struggling with his own demons.

"I never had friends" Said Alan

A pang of sympathy pierced through my defenses. "I'm sorry, Alan," I said softly.