CHAPTER 6: ROOFTOP HOURS
The school building was almost empty.
Most students had already gone home, leaving the hallways quiet except for the distant sound of cleaning staff moving around.
On the third floor, a classroom door slowly opened.
Mira stepped out dramatically.
"I am starving."
Kai followed behind her.
"You said that twenty minutes ago."
"Because I was starving twenty minutes ago."
Jaden walked past them calmly.
"That problem remains unsolved."
Behind them, Liora was still inside the classroom packing her camera.
Polaroid photos were scattered across the desk.
Evren stood beside the table, organizing them carefully.
"You know," he said, "we were supposed to finish selecting photos ten minutes ago."
Liora held up another picture.
"But look at this one!"
He glanced at it.
It was a photo of Kai yawning in the middle of class earlier that afternoon.
Kai looked offended.
"Delete that."
"It's perfect," Liora said.
"You look like you're experiencing an existential crisis."
Jaden leaned over to inspect the photo.
"Accurate."
Kai grabbed his bag.
"I hate this project."
Mira stretched dramatically.
"Can we go somewhere with food now?"
Liora closed her camera bag.
"Wait."
Everyone groaned.
"Five minutes," she promised.
Kai looked suspicious.
"That's exactly what you said an hour ago."
But Liora was already walking toward the hallway.
Evren sighed and picked up the equipment bag.
"Where are we going?" Jaden asked.
Liora pointed toward the staircase.
"The rooftop."
Mira's eyes lit up.
"Ooooh dramatic."
Kai frowned.
"Why?"
"You'll see."
A few minutes later, the group stepped out onto the school rooftop.
The evening sky was painted in soft shades of orange and purple.
City buildings stretched endlessly in the distance.
A cool breeze drifted across the rooftop.
For a moment, everyone stopped talking.
"…Okay," Kai admitted quietly.
"This is actually nice."
Mira leaned against the railing.
"Why have we never come here before?"
Jaden shrugged.
"Probably because we usually go home like normal people."
Liora walked toward the edge of the rooftop with her camera already in her hands.
The city lights were beginning to turn on one by one.
Click.
The Polaroid flash lit up briefly.
Evren stood a few steps behind her.
"You're addicted," he said.
"It's called dedication."
Mira suddenly grabbed Kai's arm.
"Stand over there."
"Why?"
"For a photo."
Kai looked horrified.
"No."
Too late.
Click.
Kai groaned as the photo printed.
"This is character assassination."
Jaden smirked.
"You look confused in every photo."
"That's because I'm surrounded by chaos."
The group started arguing again.
But Liora had moved slightly farther toward the corner of the rooftop.
She lifted the camera toward the skyline.
The city looked peaceful from up here.
Almost like a different world.
Click.
Another photo printed.
Behind her, Evren quietly walked closer.
"Let me see."
She handed him the Polaroid.
The image slowly developed in his hand.
City lights.
Soft evening sky.
A peaceful moment frozen in time.
"…Not bad," he admitted.
"Not bad?" Liora repeated.
"That's high praise coming from you."
Evren shrugged.
"Don't get used to it."
The others were still arguing behind them.
Mira was accusing Kai of ruining every group photo.
Kai was blaming Jaden.
Jaden looked completely uninterested.
Liora laughed softly.
Then she sat down on the rooftop floor.
Evren hesitated for a second before sitting beside her.
The breeze moved gently through the quiet rooftop.
For a moment, the chaos behind them faded into background noise.
Liora leaned back slightly, looking up at the sky.
"Do you ever think about it?"
Evren glanced at her.
"Think about what?"
"This is our last year here."
He didn't answer immediately.
She continued staring at the sky.
"It feels weird."
"Why?"
"Because everything's going to change soon."
Evren followed her gaze upward.
The sky was slowly turning darker.
Students had said the same thing many times before.
Last year.
Last memories.
But hearing Liora say it made the idea feel strangely real.
She spoke again.
"Next year everyone will probably go to different places."
Mira suddenly yelled from the other side of the rooftop.
"KAI MOVE YOUR HEAD!"
Kai yelled back.
"I AM NOT MOVING MY HEAD!"
Liora laughed quietly.
Then she looked at Evren again.
"Do you think we'll still hang out like this?"
Evren looked at her for a moment.
Then he answered calmly.
"Probably."
"Probably?"
He shrugged slightly.
"Unless you replace us with cooler friends."
She bumped his shoulder.
"As if."
Evren allowed himself a small smile.
Behind them, Mira suddenly ran toward them holding a new Polaroid.
"GROUP PHOTO!"
Kai groaned loudly.
"No more photos."
"Too late."
Liora stood up again.
"Wait, let me take it."
She positioned the camera on the railing.
The five of them squeezed together in front of it.
Mira was grinning.
Kai looked mildly annoyed.
Jaden looked unimpressed.
Liora smiled brightly.
And Evren stood quietly beside her.
Click.
The flash went off.
The photo slowly printed.
Everyone crowded around as the image appeared.
Mira pointed excitedly.
"This one is good!"
Kai sighed.
"Fine."
Jaden nodded.
"Acceptable."
Liora looked at the photo carefully.
Five friends standing together on the rooftop.
Evening sky behind them.
A simple moment.
But somehow it felt important.
She gently placed the Polaroid into her bag.
Evren noticed.
"You're saving it?"
"Of course."
"For the project?"
She smiled slightly.
"Maybe."
The sky had turned dark now.
City lights glowed far below.
The group finally began heading toward the staircase.
Mira stretched.
"Food time."
Kai nodded immediately.
"Finally."
Jaden followed behind them.
Liora and Evren walked last.
For a moment, Evren glanced back at the quiet rooftop.
Just a normal evening.
Just another memory.
But somehow, moments like this always felt like they mattered more than they realized.
Beside him, Liora suddenly nudged his shoulder.
"Ren."
He looked at her.
"What."
"You're carrying the camera bag again tomorrow."
Evren sighed.
"I knew it."
She laughed.
And the sound echoed softly down the empty staircase.