Chapter 2
1323 Words
Alya, who was sitting beside Zara, began to notice the change in her best friend's expression. Zara wasn't like usual. There was no bright smile, no cute laughter like always. She simply sat there quietly, staring blankly at the table.
"Zara?" Alya called softly as she gently touched her shoulder.
Zara flinched slightly and lifted her face to look at Alya.
"Are you okay?" Alya asked, her voice full of concern.
Zara quickly nodded and forced a smile onto her lips. "I'm okay," she said, trying to hide the storm raging inside her chest.
Valentina, who had been excited just moments ago, turned to look at Zara, who now seemed slightly calmer. Zara swallowed slowly before asking in the calmest tone she could manage.
"His name... what is it?" Zara asked, her eyes fixed on Valentina.
Valentina thought for a moment before answering cheerfully, "Oh! His name is Aidan Reza! Isn't that a cute name? It sounds a bit... exotic. But it really suits his face. Unique!"
Zara fell silent. Her chin trembled slightly, and her heart began to pound rapidly.
Aidan... Reza...
He... transferred here?
The surroundings suddenly felt blurred. The voices of her friends seemed distant, as if everything had become muffled.
That name.
That face.
Those eyes.
Impossible...
Zara looked down, her fingers gripping the fabric of her shirt tightly. Why did he appear only now? Why didn't he send any news at all... all these years?
Yet beneath those questions, another feeling slowly crept in, a long-suppressed longing... beginning to rise again.
Rachid, Valentina, Alya, and Aisyah exchanged glances. Their expressions were no longer cheerful. They all noticed one thing, the Zara they knew, the bright and cheerful girl full of laughter, had gone completely silent.
Aisyah, who was sitting across from Zara, looked at her with worried eyes. Slowly and carefully, she spoke.
"Zara, are you really okay? You look like... something's wrong."
Zara quickly lifted her head, trying to find the strength to look normal again. But her smile wavered, only half-formed.
"I'm okay... really," she replied, trying to convince them.
But they knew she was hiding something.
Valentina gently held Zara's arm. "If there's anything... you know you can tell all of us."
Zara nodded slowly. She wanted to tell them, but... not now. She wasn't ready. Inside her heart, one name kept repeating endlessly, Aidan Reza.
Suddenly, the school bell rang loudly, breaking the atmosphere in the cafeteria. Students began standing up, preparing to head to their classes. Zara snapped out of her thoughts.
"I have to go! I can't be late, or the teacher will punish me," she said hurriedly while packing her lunchbox.
With quick steps, Zara stood up and gave her friends a small wave. "See you later!" she said with a thin smile before running out of the cafeteria.
Valentina sighed while glancing at her wristwatch. "I should go too. Bye, guys!" she said before walking away.
Alya and Aisyah, still busy finishing their food, scrambled to stand up. "Val, wait!" Aisyah shouted as they ran after her.
Rachid remained seated, calm as ever. He shrugged. "Well... whatever," he muttered before standing up, picking up his tray, and leaving.
The cafeteria slowly quieted down. Empty tables. The sound of footsteps echoed through the corridors.
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The afternoon sun began to lower behind the school building. In the hallway still filled with students heading home, Zara leaned against her locker, occasionally glancing at her wristwatch.
Not long after, familiar footsteps approached from the end of the corridor. Rachid walked casually as usual, his backpack slung over one shoulder, his expression relaxed.
Zara quickly waved with a sweet smile. "Rachid!"
He smiled and approached her, leaning against the locker beside hers.
"Have you been waiting a long time?" he asked, staring straight ahead. "Where are the others?"
Zara shook her head. "Just a few minutes. They probably went to the restroom... you know, Alya, Aisyah, and Valentina. They like hanging out there after class."
Rachid chuckled. "Typical."
Zara continued smiling, greeting juniors who passed by. "Hi!" she said, giving small waves.
But quietly, Rachid glanced at her from the side. His expression grew slightly serious.
"Zara... why were you so quiet earlier in the cafeteria when Valentina was talking about that new student?"
Zara froze for a moment.
"You're usually the most excited one... but earlier you were just... silent. That's the first time I've seen you like that."
Zara's smile immediately disappeared. She looked at him, but Rachid still avoided her gaze, giving her space.
"I... I..." she stammered.
Rachid finally looked at her with a small, sincere smile. "It's okay if you don't want to tell me. I'm not forcing you," he said gently.
Zara fell silent. Her chest felt heavy, yet at the same time, relief washed over her. Rachid... understood. No longer explanations needed. And that made her appreciate him more than she expected.
Soon, the atmosphere grew livelier as Alya, Aisyah, and Valentina appeared at the end of the corridor.
"Have you been waiting a long time?" Alya asked.
"Very long. Like two hours," Rachid replied with a straight face.
Zara immediately elbowed his stomach. "Stop lying! We just waited a few minutes, hehe."
"Ow! That hurts, you know..." He then looked at the girls. "Why were you guys so long?"
Valentina rolled her eyes. "You don't need to know. Busybody."
A mischievous smile appeared on Rachid's lips. "Or are you on your peri–"
Before he could finish, Valentina grabbed his ear and twisted it hard.
"Ouch! Hey! That hurts!"
"Remember, a lot of people can hear you," she hissed sharply.
"Sorry... sorry... don't do this to me..."
Alya, Aisyah, and Zara burst into laughter. Zara even held her stomach from laughing too hard. Their playful teasing was what kept their friendship colorful and alive.
But in the middle of the laughter, Zara overheard a conversation behind her.
Three girls were walking past, talking loudly.
"Did you know there's a new student? He's super handsome!"
"Really?"
"Yeah, but I heard he's arrogant, cold, quiet. Very introverted."
"Cold? I don't care. I still want him. If he becomes my boyfriend, that's fine with me. Hehehe~"
They giggled and walked away.
Zara remained silent.
She flinched when someone touched her shoulder. Aisyah smiled softly. "Let's go home."
Zara nodded. "Okay."
They walked out of the school building together. Zara stayed slightly behind, trying to calm her racing thoughts about Aidan. She shook her head, trying to push away the questions.
Meanwhile, Rachid was still rubbing his red ear, muttering complaints, while Alya happily unwrapped her favorite lollipop.
As soon as they stepped out of the main entrance, they spotted someone sitting on the stairs with his back facing them.
Rachid immediately grinned mischievously, clearly planning to scare him.
Zara noticed and shook her head. Valentina shot him a sharp look as if saying, "Don't you dare."
Rachid instantly raised both hands in surrender.
They giggled softly.
Suddenly, the boy sitting on the stairs turned around. He had heard their voices and was now staring at the five of them.
Simultaneously, they all gave him sweet smiles, except Rachid, who looked slightly disappointed that his prank had failed.
Valentina stepped forward. "Hey, Alistair! Have you been sitting here too long? Sorry we came out late. We stopped by the restroom for a bit."
Alistair, their senior from the United Kingdom, immediately stood up politely. He seemed well-mannered but slightly shy. At fifteen, he was older than all of them.
"Morning, Alistair," Alya said, raising her hand.
Zara smiled warmly. Rachid stepped forward and patted Alistair's back.
Alistair nodded with a small smile. "You guys are late, huh?"
Zara nodded. "Yeah, just a bit. Some things to take care of."
He raised an eyebrow. "I see. Well, let's get going then."
They all nodded. They knew Alistair wasn't the type to talk much, he preferred moving straight to the point.
- Writer
