Aria stood near the window, the classroom now empty.
Silence had returned.
A soft breeze slipped in through the half-open window, brushing against her face, gently moving her black hair as it fell across her shoulders.
She closed her eyes.
And everything came back.
Sona.
The first day she came to her—bright, talkative, impossible to ignore. Even when Aria had already decided not to let anyone in… Sona still did.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Without forcing.
She made space in Aria's world.
Moments flashed one after another—
Sona sitting beside her.
Sona talking endlessly when Aria stayed quiet.
Sona standing by her… even when things got difficult.
Sona convincing Danvy… Sreya… bringing them all together.
Sona choosing her.
Again and again.
Aria's fingers curled slightly against the window frame.
A sharp breath left her.
Sona had gone through so much…
Because of her.
A tear slipped down quietly.
"…It's for your good," she whispered, her voice breaking just a little.
"I should do it."
A pause.
"I should do it."
Again.
Like she was trying to convince herself more than anyone else.
"I should do it…"
"You shouldn't."
The voice came from behind.
Firm.
Clear.
Aria's eyes snapped open.
She turned immediately.
Rithul.
Leaning against the door, arms crossed, watching her.
His gaze moved over her slowly.
Her messy hair.
Her dull, tired blue eyes that had lost their usual sharpness.
The faint dark circles beneath them.
The small imperfections on her skin that showed how little she had been taking care of herself.
Even her uniform—once always neat—was now creased and careless.
He noticed everything.
"…What happened to you?" he asked.
Aria's expression hardened instantly.
The softness disappeared.
She turned cold again.
"None of your business."
Rithul didn't react immediately.
He just looked at her for a moment—
Then let out a quiet, almost amused breath and pushed himself off the door.
He walked a few steps closer.
Aria raised her hand slightly.
"Please," she said flatly. "I'm not in the mood to talk."
"Really?" he asked. "Or you're just avoiding everyone now?"
She didn't answer.
Instead, she walked back to her seat and sat down, flipping open her book, her pen moving aimlessly across the page.
But she was listening.
"Do you really think distancing yourself from everyone in KHSS will help you?" he continued.
Silence.
"I'm just trying to protect them," Aria said , her voice low. "If they come near me… it'll only cause more problems."
Rithul tilted his head slightly.
"Maybe," he said. "But do you really think this is the solution?"
Aria's grip on her pen tightened.
He stepped closer.
"You're not protecting them," he added. "You're just hurting them faster."
That hit.
But she didn't show it.he continued. "And others… they were finally starting to accept you."
Aria suddenly stood up.
Cutting him off.
"One day, I'll leave," she said firmly. "I'll go to GHSS."
Her voice didn't shake this time.
"And when that happens… I don't want them to get hurt because of me."
Rithul studied her for a second.
"Are you 100% sure about that?" he asked.
"Yes."
No hesitation.
No pause.
Just certainty.
A small silence fell between them.
Then—
"Come with me somewhere," he said.
Aria frowned.
"No."
Immediate.
Rithul exhaled softly.
"Please," he said. "Just once."
Aria closed her eyes for a second.
Tired.
Annoyed.
Conflicted.
Then she let out a slow sigh.
After a while—
Aria found herself sitting inside Rithul's car.
The engine hummed softly as the city moved past them.
But inside—
Silence.
Heavy.
Unanswered.
Rithul kept his eyes on the road.
Aria kept looking at him.
"Where are we going?" she asked again.
No reply.
"Rithul."
A pause.
Then—
"I don't know if you know this," he said finally, his voice calm. "But… do you know Sinas is the son of the chairman of GHSS?"
Aria turned towards him.
She knew a lot about Sinas—
But this…
It was new.
"…No," she said.
"The biggest fan of him… doesn't know that?" Rithul muttered.
Aria didn't reply.
She just took out her phone and searched.
A few seconds later—
It was true.
Her fingers tightened slightly.
Then—
Before she could process it fully—
Rithul spoke again.
"Do you know Zorvath is the son of our chairman?"
That hit harder.
Aria snapped her head toward him.
"What are you telling?" she asked, disbelief clear. "You're not kidding, right?"
Rithul didn't even look at her.
"Why would I joke about that?"
Silence filled the car again.
But this time—
Her thoughts were racing.
Zorvath… Rahan sir's son.
Sinas… GHSS chairman's son.
And—
The two chairmen…
Brothers.
Aria leaned back slightly, connecting everything.
So the rivalry—
Wasn't just between schools.
It was deeper.
Family.
Old.
Unresolved.
And now—
She was standing right in the middle of it.
"There's a lot you don't know," Rithul said quietly. "And maybe… you shouldn't."
Aria turned toward him.
Confused.
"Then why are you telling me this?"
Rithul didn't answer.
The car slowed.
Then stopped.
"I don't know if I'm doing the right thing," he said.
A pause.
"But I know one thing—"
His voice dropped.
"If I don't stop you now… you're going to end up like them."
Aria frowned.
"Like who?"
Rithul didn't answer.
Instead—
He nodded ahead.
Aria followed his gaze.
Both of them sat there, staring at the building in front of them.
Old.
Silent.
Heavy.
Aria's eyes slowly moved to the board.
And she read it.
Shelter Home.
Aria stepped back slightly.
"Shelter home…" she repeated, her voice shaking.
Confusion filled her face.
She turned toward Rithul.
"Why are we—"
Before she could finish—
Rithul had already stepped out of the car.
He leaned slightly toward the window.
"Come," he said. "I'll show you."
Something about his tone—
Calm.
But heavy.
It made something uneasy rise inside her.
Still confused, Aria stepped out.
She looked around.
The place felt… abandoned.
Almost empty.
There was a small shed nearby, and the shelter itself—
It was in poor condition.
Old walls.
Faded paint.
Neglected.
She hesitated for a second—
Then followed behind him.
Rithul walked ahead without stopping.
Like he knew this place.
Like he belonged here.
He reached the gate and pushed it open.
It creaked loudly—
The rust and damage making the sound sharp in the silence.
Aria flinched slightly.
Both of them stepped inside.
Aria's eyes moved everywhere—
Scanning.
Observing.
Trying to understand.
But Rithul—
He just walked straight.
No hesitation.
No curiosity.
Like he had seen all of this before.
They reached the entrance of the building.
A woman in a white sari stood there.
She looked at Rithul and smiled warmly.
"It's been a long time," she said.
She wasn't too old.
Maybe middle-aged.
Her hair was neatly tied back with a ribbon.
Her sari was simple, full-sleeved, with a collar—worn modestly.
Her eyes were kind.
She glanced at Aria and gave her a gentle smile.
Inside, two more women sat at a small reception desk.
They looked at Aria—
Then at Rithul.
A little confused.
Rithul gave a small smile and shook his head slightly.
That was enough.
They exchanged looks and smiled softly.
"This is my friend," Rithul said calmly. "I just came to show her something."
"Of course," the woman said warmly. "Go inside. They were talking about you the other day. They'll be happy to see you."
Rithul nodded.
Then—
He held Aria's hand.
And led her inside.
As they walked deeper—
The air changed.
Heavier.
Colder.
Aria's uneasiness grew.
Then—
A loud cry echoed from upstairs.
A girl.
Screaming.
Aria froze.
Fear rushed through her.
She moved closer to Rithul instantly.
Without thinking.
Rithul paused.
Then gently pulled her hand away—
And instead placed his hand around her shoulder, pulling her slightly behind him.
Protective.
Steady.
Aria felt it.
That strange sense of safety.
Like—
A brother.
They walked further.
And reached a room.
Aria stepped inside.
And stopped.
Beds.
So many beds.
Like a hostel.
But—
Most of them were empty.
And the ones that weren't—
Aria's breath caught.
Girls.
Young.
Very young.
Some looked her age.
Some even younger.
And then—
She saw it.
Babies.
In their hands.
Some girls were pregnant.
Some were injured.
Bruises.
Bandages.
Broken expressions.
Aria's fingers curled tightly.
Her chest felt heavy.
She turned slowly toward Rithul.
He just looked at her.
Quiet.
Not explaining.
Not interrupting.
Just letting her see.
Aria couldn't speak.
She didn't even try.
Her eyes moved again—
And stopped on one girl.
About her age.
Sitting on a bed.
Still.
Her hair was messy.
Her eyes empty.
Beside her, a nurse was trying to make her take medicine.
"You need this," the nurse said softly. "It's not good for your child if you skip it."
The girl didn't respond.
Didn't move.
Then suddenly—
She lifted her face.
Aria froze.
Her face—
Bruised.
Damaged.
Broken.