The house was quiet, too quiet. I could hear the faint ticking of the clock, the occasional rustling of leaves outside, but inside, there was nothing. Just silence. It was peaceful, exactly what I needed.
I had told everyone I had a headache, which wasn't entirely a lie. But the truth was, I just didn't feel like going to school. I didn't have the energy for classes, for people, for pretending everything was fine when it wasn't. So, I stayed home.
Then, a loud knock shattered the calm.
My heart skipped a beat. Who could it be at this hour? Alek was at school, so were Kai, Zane, and Marina. Could it be Mrs. Marara?
I pulled my blanket tighter around me, still in my pajamas, my hair a tangled mess. My eyes were puffy from sleep, and I felt groggy as I shuffled toward the door.
I opened it slowly-and there stood Marina.
I blinked, confused. She was supposed to be in school. But before I could say a word, she marched inside, her face set in a deep frown.
"Why aren't you at school?" she demanded, her tone sharp, almost parental.
I sighed, shutting the door behind her. "Because I'm sick," I said, my voice deliberately calm.
Marina stood with her arms crossed, eyes narrowed. "You're not sick, Zara."
Of course, she saw through me. She always did.
"I am," I lied again.
She exhaled, shaking her head. "I heard about the fight with Masha. Please don't do that again. I don't want you getting hurt."
I blinked, realizing why she was really here. She thought I stayed home because of that.
I let out a small laugh. "Wait... do you actually think I skipped school because of her? Marina, I would never-and I repeat, never-let that lemur make me run away."
Marina didn't look too amused. "Then why aren't you at school?"
"I told you, I'm sick."
"You're not sick, Zara. The truth?," She said, her voice softer this time.
I sighed. I knew she wouldn't let it go. "Fine," I admitted. "I found out that Alek has been working to support us. We're in a bad place financially. I generally don't feel good...emotionally."
Marina's expression changed instantly. "What?" she breathed. "Why didn't he tell us?"
"You know how Alek is," I muttered.
She nodded, sinking onto the couch beside me. "Yeah... he'd rather drown than admit he needs help." Her eyes drifted into the distance. "I sometimes wonder how he still manages to be top of his class." Then she turned to me. "What are you going to do?"
"I got a part-time job to help out."
"Will it be enough?"
"I hope so."
She reached over and squeezed my hand. "You know I'm always here for you, right? Whatever you need, I'll help."
I smiled softly. "I know."
She pulled me into a hug, and for a moment, I felt lighter.
Then, something clicked in my mind. I pulled back and narrowed my eyes at her. "Wait... why aren't you at school?"
Marina smirked. "I went, but I didn't see you, so I asked Zane where you were and he told me about the fight. So, I feigned illness to come check on you."
I groaned. "Marina! What if your parents find out? They'll think I'm a terrible influence!"
She ignored me, grinning. "By the way, Zane was way too excited telling me about your fight. I think he enjoyed it." She chuckled. "Did you really pounce on her like mother leopard?" she whispered mischievously.
I smirked. "I did."
We both burst into laughter.
Then Marina suddenly turned serious. "Oh-Kai was so worried about you. He kept asking if I knew where you were." She gave me a pointed look. "Even a blind man can see he's obsessed with you."
I blinked. "Who? Kai?"
"Yes, Kai," she repeated, exasperated.
I frowned. "Why would he be obsessed with me?"
Marina stared at me like I had just asked if the sky was blue. "How are you this clueless? You binge-watch soap operas all the time-haven't you learned anything?"
I gave her a blank look, unsure of what she was getting at.
She leaned in and whispered, "Kai likes you."
My eyes widened. "What? No, he doesn't!"
"How do you not see it? Everyone in class knows!"
I shook my head, my thoughts racing. "I thought he was just excited to see me-just like he is with you, Zane, and Alek. With everyone."
Marina smirked. "Trust me, he is never that excited to see me."
I opened my mouth to argue, then stopped. "Why would he like me?"
She threw her hands in the air. "Why are you asking me? Go ask him"
"He hasn't told me anything," I muttered. "For all I know, you're just misreading his kind gestures."
Marina groaned dramatically. "Oh my goodness. We're all just 'misreading' his kind gestures?" She flopped onto the couch. Then, as if she hadn't just dropped a bombshell, she casually added, "Do you have anything to eat? I'm starving."
"There must be something in the fridge. Let me check"
I walked to the kitchen, still lost in thought. As I opened the fridge, I spotted the ice cream Alek had bought me the previous night. I had completely forgotten about that. "There's some rice. And ice cream too," I called.
"Sweet!"
We spent the next hour cooking, and later settled down on the couch to eat, Marina grinned, taking a bite of ice cream. "Alek must have been distraught when he bought this for you. I can't believe he actually did it."
"Tell me about it," I said, shaking my head. "I can't believe it either."
"He's probably regretting it right now," she teased.
"You're right."
Then, I remembered something. I turned to her. "By the way... they broke up."
She didn't react at first. "Who?"
"Alek and Masha." There was silence for a minute. I watched her closely. I was keenly scanning her face to see if there was any sign of joy and glee. I don't want her to have hope anymore. She might end up getting hurt again. "She is probably going to take it out on you, promise to let me know if she does anything," I continued.
No response.
"Hey." I waved a hand in front of her face.
She blinked, snapping out of her thoughts. "What?"
She hadn't heard a word I said.
I frowned. "What are you thinking about?"
"Nothing," she said quietly. Her fingers twitched in her lap, betraying the thoughts she was trying to push away. "Just... wondering why."
"Why it ended?" I pressed.
She nodded, her gaze distant.
I sighed. "Probably because of what Masha did to you."
Her lips parted slightly, like she wanted to say something, but no words came.
I saw it, the one thing I didn't want to be there-the flicker of hope she was trying so hard to suppress. It was there, plain as day.
***
I felt a tap on my shoulder, followed by a familiar voice.
"Hey, stranger. Where did you disappear to?"
I turned around-it was Kai. He looked happy, grinning from ear to ear. That's when I noticed something I hadn't before-a single dimple on his left cheek. Had he never smiled this wide around me before? Or had I just never paid attention?
"I was home yesterday," I said, shifting slightly. "Wasn't feeling too well."
His smile softened, and without hesitation, he reached out, placing the back of his hand gently against my forehead. "Are you feeling better now?"
His touch was brief, barely there, but it sent a strange warmth through me. I pulled back slightly, nodding. "Yeah."
But even as I said it, my mind was elsewhere, tangled in thoughts of what Marina had told me yesterday. Her words still lingered, heavy and unanswered, like a song stuck in my head that I couldn't quite remember the lyrics to.
"After class?"
"Huh?" I blinked, my thoughts snapping back into place.
"Our painting session," Kai said patiently, amusement flickering in his eyes.
"Oh... right. Yeah. See you there."
"Don't keep me waiting like last time," he teased before turning to leave.
But before he could disappear, Zane suddenly appeared beside me, startling me to the core, his voice lower than usual.
"Am I the only one who notices the bruises on Kai?" he asked, his brows furrowed. "What is he? An underground fighter?"
A chill ran through me. "I've seen one, but... there are more?"
Zane nodded. "Yeah. New ones pop up almost every day. Have you ever asked him about them?"
I shook my head. "No. He's never mentioned anything."
Zane sighed. "Can you try asking him?"
I hesitated. "Why me?"
"Because he might actually tell you the truth."
I let out a dry laugh. "Why would he? You're a lot closer to him than I am."
Zane smirked, but there was something softer beneath it. "Yeah, but he likes you. He might actually open up to you."
My heart stilled. Again. Like I was hearing it for the first time, "what?"
Zane let out an exaggerated sigh. "Haven't you noticed the way he looks at you? I swear, I'm over here witnessing the most heart-wrenching, movie-worthy stares, and you don't even notice?" He shook his head. "I have never been so disappointed in you, Zara." He said, dramatically waving his hands.
And just like that, he walked away, leaving me standing there with my thoughts spiraling.
I turned slightly, catching Marina watching me with an all-too-familiar expression-the one that said, Told you so.
Still reeling, I sat down beside her. She barely glanced up from her math book.
"Don't forget to ask him," she said, flipping a page. "I've noticed the bruises too."
"I only saw one. I didn't know it was that serious."
"It might be," she murmured, finally looking up. "And if it is, we'll have to act fast."
Something in her voice made my stomach tighten.
My heart began to race, my hands trembling slightly. I clenched them into fists, trying to steady myself. Marina must have noticed because her voice came, soft and reassuring. "He's probably just working at some dangerous job. Don't overthink it."
♡♡♡
They say everyone has a soulmate somewhere on this vast planet. Some are lucky enough to find theirs, while others wander from one heartbreak to another, always searching, always longing. For a moment, I believed I had found mine. But the universe, in its quiet yet merciless way, reminded me that I was holding on to someone who was never meant to be mine.
Still, the time I spent with him lingers in my mind like a favorite song, playing softly in the background of my memories. If only I had known how fleeting it would be, I would have held on tighter, cherished every second and carved more time out of the universe, just for us.
I remember our first date vividly-Kai took me to a restaurant two hours away from home. He drove me on his motorbike, the wind rushing past as I held onto him tightly, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat beneath my fingertips.
To this day, I swear it was the most beautiful place I had ever seen. Maybe it was the magic of a first date, or maybe it was the way everything felt surreal, like a dream I never wanted to wake up from. The restaurant had a garden, and I remember fish gliding gracefully above and below us.
The food was delicious, the atmosphere was enchanting, and everything felt just right-until Kai, with memory like Alek's, realized he had forgotten his wallet. We were stranded, far from home, unable to look for help, and unwilling to let anyone know about our secret relationship and the little rendezvous.
And then, in a reckless, thoughtless way, we made a split-second decision-to run. But of course, after finishing what was on our plate. It was ridiculous, absurd even, but when you are sixteen, nothing ever seems too crazy. The waiter chased after us, yelling, and we, breathless, shouted back that we would return to pay. He was an older gentleman, and soon, his footsteps faded behind us. We never looked back.
I have no bad memories of Kai. He was never anything but light in my life. He would make me laugh until my stomach hurt. He was a ball of sunshine, especially when he was with me. And though life took us in different directions, I can only hope the world has been kind to him and that his heart has healed from the wounds the universe so cruelly inflicted.
He is someone for whom I wish nothing but endless happiness. I can only hope the universe makes up for all the pain it has caused him and lead him to his soulmate, even if it's not me.