Unseen strings
1108 Words
The exam was finally over, and Cynthia stepped out of the lecture hall with a scowl on her face.
“That was hell,” she muttered, adjusting her bag.
Athena, walking beside her, looked over. “Didn’t you study?”
“I did,” Cynthia replied, her tone clipped. “It just… wasn’t what I expected.”
Athena frowned. “I’m sorry. If yesterday hadn’t happened, we could’ve revised together.”
Cynthia rolled her eyes, clearly not in the mood for sympathy.
Athena knew better than to push. Everyone in school knew she was brilliant, but rubbing it in Cynthia’s face would only make things worse.
She glanced at the clock. “Come on. The next teacher will be here soon.”
She turned to lead the way—only to bump hard into someone.
“Oh—sorry!” she gasped, stepping back.
It was Jake. He had his head down, phone in hand, but now he looked up—and those eyes hit her like a wave. Deep. Intense. Playful.
Athena’s cheeks turned pink. He gave a crooked grin, and suddenly, she forgot how to breathe.
“You good?” he asked.
She nodded quickly, heart fluttering. Before she could say more, Cynthia tugged her arm, snapping her back to reality. The school bell rang, pulling them into the next class.
The next period was math. As always, the room was half-asleep until the teacher fired off questions.
No one had answers—except Athena. She gave sharp, precise responses, earning nods from the teacher and a few glares from students. She’d been topping the class since day one, not by charm or popularity, but by effort. It wasn’t something she flaunted, but everyone noticed.
Partway through the lesson, the door opened.
The principal walked in.
Every student stood.
His presence was rare. When he entered a classroom, it meant something important.
“I’ll make this brief,” he said, his voice steady. “An opportunity has come up. Our school’s been selected to send three student ambassadors to the United States. It’s a fully funded program—your airfare, accommodation, everything will be handled.”
The room buzzed with excitement.
“But,” he continued, “selection won’t be random. There will be an internal screening. First, all interested students will take an exam. The top ten will move on to the next phase: personality assessments and character evaluations.”
He paused, letting the weight of the announcement sink in.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance,” he said. “Don’t waste it.”
Then he left, and the class exploded with chatter.
Lunch break came. Mira and Livia were strutting across the courtyard, still talking about last night’s party.
Cynthia turned to Athena. “Wait for me at our spot, yeah? I need to ask Mira something real quick.”
Athena gave her a look. “Don’t stay long.”
“I won’t.”
Athena headed to their usual bench under the tree and sat, digging into her snack. She’d barely taken a bite when she noticed someone walking toward her.
Jake.
Of course.
Her chest tightened.
He flashed a smile and sat beside her like it was the most natural thing in the world.
“Hey,” he said.
“Hi,” she replied, trying to stay calm.
They started talking—light stuff at first, but then it got deeper. Jake talked about the pressure at home, how his parents are constantly putting pressure on him to succeed, but it seemed too hard. The constant comparison with other kids is what drives him crazy each time.
“I envy people like you,” he said. “You just… get it. You’re smart. You make it look easy. I'm sure you will make it to the top of the list.”
Athena gave a small smile. “It’s not easy. But I’ve had to grow up fast.”
Jake leaned back. “You’re different. I like that.”
The way he said it made her blush." Let's be friends," he continued," May you do me the honor and give me your number?"
Just like that, her mood dropped.
She looked away. “I… don’t have my phone.”
Jake blinked. “What happened?”
She told him, briefly, about how her phone was stolen—and how it had money meant for her mom’s medication.
His expression shifted. “That sucks. I’m so sorry.”
Before he could say more, Cynthia appeared out of nowhere.
“There you are,” Athena said. “You took long.”
Hello Cynthia, Jake greeted then stood up and gave them a small nod before walking off.
As he left, Cynthia eyed her. “What was that about?”
“Nothing. Just… talking.”
“Looked like more than ‘just talking’.”
Athena sighed. “Drop it, Cynthia.”
Cynthia held her gaze a moment longer, then looked away.
Later that evening, Athena was home helping her mother with dinner. She hadn’t stopped smiling since she got back.
“What’s with the goofy grin?” her mother teased.
Athena covered her face with both hands. “There’s this boy…”
Mrs. Caroline burst into laughter. “My baby has a crush! Tell me everything.”
And Athena did. She told her about Jake—his smile, his voice, the way he made her feel like someone special.
Mrs. Caroline listened, smiling gently. “Just promise me one thing. Let him respect the amazing woman you’re becoming. No one’s worth your tears.”
Athena nodded. “I know, Mama.”
Meanwhile, at Cynthia’s house, she was playing chess with Keren when her phone buzzed again. The same unsaved number.
The call came through for the third time. With a groan, she stood and answered, stepping onto the balcony.
“I told you not to call me anymore,” she snapped.
A beat of silence.
“In your dreams. That night was a mistake. Don’t read into it,” she hissed, then hung up.
She returned inside, face unreadable.
Keren glanced up. “That call again?”
“Mind your game,” Cynthia replied with a tight smile.
They continued playing.
The door creaked open, and their mom walked in. "Welcome mother", they greeted her and helped her with the bag she was carrying.
After helping her with some chores around the house, Cynthia went up to her room and closed it as usual. She thought about the ambassadorship, but she knew that she did not have the academic power to appear on that list of ten.
"I know what to do." She thought and then smiled mischievously.
- Writer
