Sports Day was still going on.
The ground was filled with noise—
Cheers, whistles, students shouting everywhere.
And somehow…
I ended up playing Kabaddi.
---
I didn't want to play.
But my teacher forced me.
And now, here I was—
Standing on the ground, nervous.
"Ka-ba-ddi… ka-ba-ddi…" I whispered, stepping forward carefully.
---
Everything felt fast.
Too fast.
Hands reaching.
Players surrounding me.
Voices getting louder.
---
And then—
It happened.
---
Someone pulled my arm.
I lost my balance.
And the next second—
I fell hard on the ground.
---
"Ahh—!" I cried out.
A sharp pain shot through my knee.
---
For a moment, everything went blank.
---
When I looked down—
My knee was bleeding.
Not just a scratch.
Blood slowly forming and sliding down my skin.
---
"Are you okay?" someone asked.
"I'm fine…" I said, even though I clearly wasn't.
---
Standing up hurt.
Walking hurt even more.
But I didn't want attention.
---
Most of my friends were busy.
So in the end—
I had to go to the medical room alone.
---
I walked slowly through the corridor, limping.
Each step painful.
Each step heavier.
---
"Why does this always happen to me…" I muttered quietly.
---
"Why? What always happens to you?"
A voice came from behind.
---
I froze.
---
Slowly, I turned back.
Ethan.
---
My heart skipped.
---
"Uh… nothing," I said quickly, trying to act normal.
---
His eyes moved down.
Straight to my knee.
---
His expression changed.
"You're bleeding."
---
"It's just a small injury," I said.
---
"That doesn't look small," he replied.
---
For some reason—
I felt embarrassed.
So I tried to walk faster.
---
Bad idea.
---
"Hey—" he called, walking closer.
Before I could react—
He gently grabbed my shoulder.
---
"Aria… walk slowly."
---
"Ah… y-yes…" I said nervously.
---
He looked at me.
"Why did you start walking fast after seeing me?"
---
"I wasn't walking fast…" I said, avoiding eye contact.
---
He raised an eyebrow slightly.
But didn't argue.
---
Instead, he stepped closer.
"I'll take you to the medical room," he said.
---
"You don't have to—"
"I know," he said.
"But I want to."
---
I didn't say anything after that.
---
We started walking together.
Slowly.
Side by side.
---
"Does it hurt?" he asked.
"A little…"
---
"You should be more careful," he said softly.
---
I smiled faintly.
"You sound like a teacher."
---
He laughed.
And that sound—
Made my heart feel… strange.
---
We reached the medical room.
I stopped at the door.
"Thank you…" I said quietly.
---
He looked at me.
For a moment—
Just looking.
---
Then he smiled.
"Next time… don't run away."
---
My heart skipped again.
"I don't run…" I muttered.
---
He didn't reply.
Just smiled—
Like he didn't believe me.
---
And then he left.
---
I stood there for a moment.
Hand still on the door.
Heart still racing.
---
Even though my knee hurt…
Even though I was bleeding…
---
Somehow—
That wasn't what I felt the most.
---
Because for the first time—
He didn't just notice me.
---
He stayed.
---
And maybe…
That's what made it impossible—
To ignore him anymore.