RELIVING THE MEMORY
1565 Words
PE days were usually just a chaotic excuse to sweat and pretend you were fit. But this one? This one felt different. The school had decided to pair up different classes for an inter-class volleyball match, and the energy in the field was almost electric. Students crowded around the open courts, chatting, laughing, and tying their laces with the kind of excitement only a break from class could spark.
Kai looked annoyingly good in his sportswear. Black joggers, fitted white T-shirt, sleeves rolled just high enough to expose lean muscles that screamed, "I do push-ups at night."
Rivy and I stood in a corner of the field watching the match lineup.
"Ugh. Ariel is doing the most again," Rivy muttered, arms crossed.
I glanced in the direction she was glaring at. Ariel tall, caramel-skinned, hair in a flawless bun, lashes longer than my attention span was stretching way too dramatically and laughing at everything Kai said like he was the reincarnation of Kevin Hart.
"I mean look at her," Rivy continued. "Drooling over Kai like he's a bottle of cold Fanta. Desperately trying to get paired with him. She's so annoying."
I smiled at her, amused. “You’re so pressed.”
“Pressed? Babe, I’m cooked and served,” she snapped. “She’s a senior and she still acts like she’s in middle school.”
I kept smiling but inside, my stomach was playing jump rope. Ariel was cute. And confident. And already talking to Kai like she belonged in his story. Jealousy crept in like smoke under a locked door, but I ignored it.
While Rivy kept ranting, Nathan approached me casually, bouncing a volleyball in his hand.
“Hey Nia,” he said, flashing a small smile.
“Hey,” I replied.
“We need one more person on our team. Want to join?”
“Oh,” I blinked. “Are you sure? I’m not that great.”
“You’ll be fine,” he said. “You’re fast. That’s enough.”
I agreed, and that was how I found myself placed in the opposite team—against Kai’s team. Ariel immediately grinned when she realized she and Kai were paired together.
The match began. The ball flew back and forth with impressive intensity. Kai spiked it effortlessly, Ariel cheered extra loud, and Rivy muttered curses under her breath every time Ariel clapped too close to Kai.
“You see that?” she hissed. “She did a fake jump just to land beside him like they’re in some volleyball romance anime.”
I laughed but missed a serve. “Focus, Rivs.”
“Oh please, I’m focused on exposing fake energy.”
But even I had to admit: Ariel played well. She served strong, moved gracefully, and Kai actually gave her a high-five once. That stung a little.
Halfway into the match, while waiting for a substitution, Nathan walked over again, smiling softly. “Hey Nia, want water?”
I nodded. “Thanks.”
He handed me the bottle. “You play well. Didn't know you were the sporty type.”
I grinned. “I’m not. I'm just trying not to embarrass myself.”
Nathan chuckled. “You're doing great.”
Rivy raised a brow behind him, mouthing Someone has a crush. I rolled my eyes and returned to the court.
Our team lost barely but the game ended with good spirits, claps, and the usual post-match chatter.
I excused myself to use the ladies, wiping sweat from my forehead. The corridor behind the field was mostly deserted, shaded by trees and near the back fence.
As I turned the corner, Axel a senior notorious for being "touchy" with girls leaned against the wall.
I tried to walk past, but he stepped into my path.
“Where you rushing to?” he asked, grinning.
“I just need to”
He grabbed my wrist lightly. “Why are you always frowning I just want to talk”
“Let me go,” I said, trying to pull away.
But then he pushed me against the wall. One hand pressed into my side, the other slipped under my shirt, grazing my stomach. My whole body froze.
“Chill ,” he whispered, leaning closer. “You Will like it.”
He tried to kiss me.
Tried to drag me toward the girls’ bathroom.
I panicked.
Four years ago. A cousin’s friend. A family party. Locked door. Same smell of sweat and cologne. Same fear. Same helplessness.
“Stop!” I cried, but it came out choked.
Thirty seconds passed like thirty years.
Then
“Nia?”
Nathan’s voice rang out. I could barely breathe.
Axel froze. Nathan ran over, yanking him back. “What the hell?!”
“Mind your business,” Axel snapped.
Then Kai appeared, expression hard. “You again?”
Axel backed off, irritated. Nathan stood in front of me. Kai grabbed Axel’s collar. “Try that again and you’ll regret it.”
“Get off me.”
Kai pushed him. “Go report me. I dare you.”
Kai looked at me, then at Nathan. “Stay with her.”
He turned and bolted toward the staff block.
Minutes passed. I could barely speak.
Kai returned with two teachers. One of them looked furious.
They took Axel aside immediately. Questions were asked. People were called. Axel’s face fell when he realized he wasn’t getting out of this one.
Kai gently took my arm. “Let’s go.”
Nathan walked with us. I couldn’t stop shaking.
They sat me in a quiet corner.
“I’ll go get Rivy,” Kai said and ran off.
Nathan sat beside me silently. I curled into myself.
Minutes later, Rivy arrived and dropped everything. “Nia?”
I broke.
She pulled me into her arms.
“I’ve got you,” she whispered. “You’re safe now. You’re not alone.”
The school dealt with Axel. He was reported, questioned, and eventually suspended for two weeks.
But the damage lingered.
Rivy followed me home. We walked in quietly.
“I’m not telling anyone,” I said.
“You need to.”
“I can’t.”
She did.
Elijah exploded. “What’s his name? Where’s my bat?”
Jeremiah looked ready to punch a wall. “I’ll find him. Don’t care about the rules.”
Mum locked the door and hid the key. “Nobody is going anywhere.”
I ran upstairs. Rivy and my mum came up minutes later.
They didn’t speak much.
They just held me.
Rivy left later that evening.
My mum stayed. “You are not alone. You survived it again. That is strength.”
I didn’t come down for dinner.
Downstairs, I heard murmurs. My dad’s low voice. My brothers’ heated whispers. My mum’s soft crying talking about how worried she was
Later that night, I lay awake, eyes burning.
My phone buzzed.
Kai [9:14 PM]:
Are you okay? Do you want to talk? I’m here.
Nathan [9:17 PM]:
Hey Nia, it’s Nathan. Got your number from Rivy. Just wanted to say I’m really sorry about what happened. You didn’t deserve that. I hope you’re okay.
Tears spilled.
Rivy called.
“You’re okay, right?” she asked.
“Barely.”
“You’re stronger than barely. I know it.”
I sniffed. “You gave Nathan my number?”
“Duh. He likes you. And you kinda smiled when he talked to you.”
“Rivy!”
“What? Am I lying?”
I could almost hear her grin.
“Besides,” she added, “I figured you might need more people around you who actually care. And that guy? He seems genuine.”
I sighed. “It just feels weird. Like... everything was fine and then suddenly it wasn’t.”
“I know. But Nia, what happened wasn’t your fault. You didn’t ask for it, and you sure as heck didn’t deserve it.”
Silence.
“I hate that it brought back those old memories,” I whispered.
Rivy’s voice softened. “I know. Four years, and it still lingers. But you’re not that girl anymore. You have people now. People who would burn the whole school down for you.”
I laughed faintly. “Elijah was ready to. Literally.”
She snorted. “Honestly, your brothers are built different. I’d pity anyone who crosses you again.”
“I just... I don’t want this to define me.”
“It won’t,” Rivy said firmly. “It’s part of your story, yeah, but not your whole story. You’re still the girl who paints magic, who writes in that brain dump notebook like a poet, who had the guts to sit with her longtime crush and his entire squad.”
I smiled. “You remember all the dramatic stuff.”
“It’s my job as your best friend.”
More silence. But it wasn’t heavy this time.
“I’m glad you came to find me,” I said softly.
“Always. You’d do the same for me.”
“Yeah. In a heartbeat.”
She paused. “You wanna stay on the call while you fall asleep?”
I hesitated, then nodded even though she couldn’t see it. “Yeah. That’d be nice.”
“I’ll even hum for you.”
“Please don’t.”
We both laughed.
The pain didn’t vanish.
But for a moment, I remembered I was loved.
- Writer
