THE SOUND BETWEEN US
1271 Words
Chapter 14 — The Sound Between Us
After school, the classroom emptied slowly.
The echo of chairs scraping the floor mixed with chatter fading into the hallway.
Kaal and Reo were still there, remaining seated, his notebook open but untouched. His pen rested motionless between his fingers.
Arka had left earlier for basketball practice, so he didn't disturb Kaal and Reo, but even now, Kaal could still feel the lingering warmth of the seat beside him.
It was ridiculous. Utterly ridiculous.
Why can’t I stop thinking about him?
Every time Arka smiled, teased him, or leaned a bit too close, Kaal’s heart betrayed him—fluttering wildly, refusing to listen to logic.
He had told himself so many times that Arka was just a distraction, a loud, annoying student with too much energy and too little sense.
And yet…
The corner of his lips softened.
He’s trying though.
Ever since their tutoring began, Arka had been showing up on time. Taking notes. Actually listening.
Even the way he’d grin when he got something right—it was infuriatingly endearing.
Kaal sighed and started packing his things.
“This is bad. I’m starting to sound like him.”
⸻
When he reached the school gates with Reo, Arka was there, waiting—still in his uniform, holding a convenience store drink.
“Hey, you took forever!” Arka waved. “I thought you had already gone home.”
Kaal blinked. “You’re still here?” He noticed the smile in his lips slightly faded when he saw Reo.
“Practice got canceled. Rain’s coming,” Arka said casually, offering him a bottle of iced tea. “Here, I got two.”
Kaal hesitated. “You didn’t have to.”
“I wanted to.”
The words were simple, but they made Kaal’s heart skip. He took the bottle carefully. “Thanks.”
Reo said goodbye to them, and they started walking together under the cloudy sky.
The wind carried the faint smell of rain and chalk dust, mixing into something oddly nostalgic.
“Hey,” Arka said after a while. “You’re not mad about this morning, right?”
Kaal shot him a sharp look. “I was humiliated in front of the whole class, if you remember.”
Arka scratched his cheek. “Okay, yeah, that part was… bad. But you gotta admit it’s kinda funny now.”
“Funny?!”
“You were so red!”
Kaal groaned. “I was red because of you! You said—ugh—unnecessary things!”
Arka grinned, completely unrepentant. “But they were true.”
Kaal stopped walking, glaring at him. “Stop it.”
The smile on Arka’s face softened just a little. “Okay, okay. I’ll stop.”
There was a quiet pause. The sound of thunder rumbled far away.
Kaal looked away, his voice lowers now. “Just… don’t make things weird in front of people, alright? I don’t want them to misunderstand.”
“Do you?” Arka asked suddenly.
Kaal turned sharply. “What?”
“Do you care that much about what they think?” Arka’s tone was gentle but curious. “About us?”
Kaal opened his mouth to reply—but no words came out.
He didn’t even know what “us” meant anymore.
He looked down, gripping his bag strap tighter. “It’s not about that. I just…”
“Don’t want to admit you like me?” Arka teased softly.
Kaal’s head snapped up. “I don’t—!”
Arka burst into laughter. “Kidding! Kidding. Don’t glare like that.”
Kaal sighed, trying to calm his pulse. “You never take anything seriously, do you?”
Arka smiled quietly this time. “If I didn’t, I wouldn’t be here right now.”
Kaal froze.
He looked up, and for the first time, Arka wasn’t smiling with mischief. His gaze was calm. Honest.
"So, what did you do with Reo earlier?"
Before Kaal could say anything, the first raindrops fell.
“Ah, great,” Arka muttered, pulling his jacket over his head. “We better find a place to hide.”
They ran toward a nearby bus stop.
The rain fell heavier, drumming against the roof above them.
Kaal’s hair was damp, a few strands sticking to his forehead. Arka reached out instinctively, brushing them aside with his fingers.
Kaal froze.
The world went completely silent except for the sound of rain.
Arka’s voice dropped low. “You’ll catch a cold if you keep letting the rain hit you like that.”
Kaal’s breath caught.
Why does he have to say things like that?
He quickly stepped back. “I can handle myself.”
Arka chuckled softly. “Yeah, I know.”
They stood there in silence for a while.
Cars passed by, splashing water across the road. Kaal’s reflection wavered in the puddles—alongside Arka’s, side by side.
Arka tilted his head toward him. “So, what did you do with Reo?” he asked him again.
Kaal looked at him in instand "Study. What else?"
"Hmm..." Arka nodded and went silent.
Kaal’s heart skipped. He looked at Arka, who smiled softly at him—genuinely, this time.
“Why don't you like him?” Kaal muttered.
Arka grinned. “Because it makes me scared you like him instead of me."
Kaal sighed, sitting down on the bench. “You’re unbelievable.”
“I’ve been called worse.”
They both laughed quietly, and for a brief moment, it felt easy again.
The rain softened outside, turning into a steady drizzle.
Kaal opened his bottle and took a sip. The cold tea grounded him somehow. “You should head home before it gets late.”
Arka hummed. “You too. But…” He leaned forward slightly. “Can I walk you home?”
Kaal hesitated. “No need. You live the other way.”
“I don’t mind.”
“Still, no.”
Arka smiled, resting his chin on his palm. “You’re cute when you pretend not to want company.”
Kaal turned away, rolled his eyes. “I said no, Arka.”
“Alright, alright.” Arka laughed softly, raising his hands in surrender. “But if you get home soaked and catch a cold, I’ll say I told you so.”
Kaal rolled his eyes but couldn’t help smiling faintly. “Fine. Then I’ll say it’s your fault for distracting me.”
“Deal,” Arka said, standing up. He glanced outside and held out his hand. “C’mon, it’s slowing down. Let’s run for it.”
Kaal stared at the offered hand for a few seconds before finally taking it.
Warm.
Firm.
Too familiar for comfort.
They ran through the drizzle, laughing under their breaths, shoes splashing on wet pavement. By the time they reached the gate to Kaal’s street, both were breathless and soaked.
Arka wiped water from his face, grinning. “See? Made it alive.”
Kaal smiled despite himself. “Barely.”
Arka looked at him for a moment—really looked. “You should laugh more often, Kaal.”
Kaal’s expression softened, and for a fleeting second, they stood there, caught between rain and silence.
“Goodnight,” Kaal said finally.
“Goodnight,” Arka echoed.
But as Kaal walked away, Arka’s voice called out, half-playful, half-serious:
“Don’t forget—you still owe me that reward if I ace the test!”
Kaal didn’t turn around.
But the corner of his lips curved upward as he whispered to himself,
“i***t…”
And yet, the word felt softer than before.
- Writer
