The rooftop door creaked open.
Sona hurried in first, her breath uneven. She dropped down beside Aria, her hands instantly reaching for her shoulders.
"Aria… are you okay? Please, say something," Sona whispered, her voice soft with worry.
Sreya and danvy
followed close behind, kneeling opposite her. "We were so scared when you locked yourself up here. You don't have to go through this alone."
But Aria sat still, her face calm, her eyes empty of emotion. She didn't cry, didn't smile, didn't even blink much. She just sat there, unmoved, as though their words drifted past her without weight.
Heavy footsteps soon filled the silence. Zorvath's circle appeared—Rithul, Mirzand, and Aswin among them. Their presence shifted the air, sharp and tense.
Aswin stepped forward, his face taut with guilt.
"Aria… I'm sorry," he muttered, the words stumbling. "I shouldn't have accused you like that. I said it without thinking. I was wrong."
For the first time, Aria moved—but not to respond. She simply stood, brushing past them, her footsteps carrying her toward the edge of the rooftop. She leaned against the railing, her eyes fixed on the distant view of GHSS.
The sight of her staring so long, so silently, at the rival school twisted something inside Zorvath. His jaw tightened, his anger flaring.
In a sudden motion, he strode to her and grabbed her arm, pulling her back toward the group.
"Stop looking there," he snapped. "Look here—at us. At this school."
Aria turned sharply toward Zorvath.
"Why should I?"
For a moment, Zorvath was stunned. He took a step back.
This wasn't the Aria he knew—the quiet, sweet, composed girl everyone had seen.
Her tone had changed.
Her eyes burned red.
Was she about to cry… or explode?
No one could tell.
She pointed down toward the students below.
"Look at them!" her voice cracked. "Why? Tell me—why should I care?"
Her breath grew uneven.
"Why should I stay here? I was just trying to help them. I was trying to show them the truth… and this is what I get?"
Her voice rose, breaking through the silence.
"This is what you give me?"
"I don't have any reason to stay here. Not a single one. So tell me—why?"
Her gaze locked onto Zorvath.
"You call yourself the most powerful king of Room Zero, Zorvath… so what did you do?"
She took a step forward.
"What did you do when students here—kids—thirteen, fourteen years old… people younger than us… were smoking and drinking?"
Her voice trembled, but didn't weaken.
"What did you do?"
Zorvath had no answer.
She turned sharply to Mirzand.
"And you? You're supposed to be the backbone of Room Zero."
Her eyes filled with anger.
"When you introduced me to this place, I didn't expect it to be this disgusting… this cruel."
She let out a bitter laugh.
"Room Zero… what a perfect name. Because that's exactly what it is."
"Enough!" Zorvath snapped.
But Aria didn't stop.
She fired back immediately—
"Who are you to tell me to stop? Don't ever try to control me. I know what I want."
She turned to leave—
—and then she saw Sona.
Sona stood there, silently crying. Tears streamed down her face.
For a second, Aria froze.
Her expression softened.
Just a little.
But she said nothing.
She grabbed her bag, wiped her tears quickly, and walked past everyone—leaving the rooftop.
Silence followed.
Everyone's eyes slowly turned toward Zorvath.
He stood there, fists clenched, holding back something dangerous
As soon as I stepped out of KHSS, after facing all those stares, murmurs, and whispers across the entire campus, I felt exhausted.
I kept thinking about what happened on the rooftop.
I completely lost it.
Was I too much?
Why did I create such a scene?
After all… I was planning to leave for GHSS.
Now it feels like I won't even be able to step back into KHSS for the next two months.
How am I supposed to survive here?
No… I'm not going back.
I turned around and looked at KHSS one last time.
I won't endure this anymore.
I don't want to.
The only thing that makes me sad… is Sona.
Maybe we can stay in touch even after I move to GHSS.
I really wish she could come there too.
If I get a chance, I'll try my best.
Sreya and Danvy are nice too…
but KHSS matters more to them than I do.
Of course, that's how it should be.
But Sona… she's different.
There's something special about her.
It feels like we've known each other forever… like sisters from another life..
And today....
I made so many mistakes.
Each one could be a new lesson… but I destroyed a book there.
The whole of Room Zero.
Was I too cruel?
Now everyone will see me as that girl—the one who reports everything to the teachers.
I had someone like that in my previous class.
The only difference is…
she complained about small, obvious things.
And I complained about something serious. Something dangerous.
Wasn't I right?
Or… was I too much?
What must they be thinking about me?
…
Wait.
Why do I even care what they think?
Authors pov ___
Aria walked along the roadside, lost in her thoughts.
A car slowed down beside her.
She turned—and froze.
Sinas.
He rolled down the window, his gaze steady on her.
"Get in."
Aria hesitated. "No… it's okay. I can walk."
Sinas studied her for a second.
"You don't look okay," he said calmly.
"I'm fine," she replied quickly.
"Yeah?" he leaned slightly, opening the door from inside. "Then get in and prove it."
Aria frowned. "That doesn't even make sense."
A faint smirk appeared on his lips. "Exactly. So stop arguing and get in."
She still didn't move.
Sinas sighed softly, then his tone dropped—firmer now.
"Aria."
She looked at him.
"I'm not leaving you on the road like this. Get in."
There was no pressure… but there was no room to refuse either.
After a brief pause—
She got in.
The door shut.
Silence.
Sinas started the car.
For a few seconds, neither of them spoke.
Then—
"Long day?" he asked, casually—but watching her reaction.
Aria looked out the window. "Something like that."
He didn't push immediately.
"Hmm," he murmured. "You look like you fought a war."
That made her glance at him.
"Not a war," she said quietly. "Just… people."
Sinas let out a soft chuckle. "That's worse."
A small silence followed.
******
On the roadside, Zorvath and Rithul stood watching the car disappear.
Rithul scoffed. "Not going to do anything?"
Zorvath didn't move.
"That girl…" Rithul continued, shaking his head, "she's walking straight into his trap. Fool."
Silence.
Zorvath's jaw tightened slightly.
Rithul glanced at him. "What? Don't tell me you're just going to stand here."
Zorvath finally spoke—low, controlled.
"I don't want anyone else to end up like that."
Rithul's expression changed just a little.
Zorvath's eyes were still fixed on the road.
"Not again."
A pause.
Then he turned, his voice sharper now.
"Discipline KHSS. Fix Room Zero."
Rithul raised an eyebrow. "And her?"
Zorvath's expression darkened.
"…I'll handle her."
He started walking.
"I have a lot to do."