(Arista's POV)
If someone ever asks me what the loudest thing in the world is, I won't say thunder or firecrackers or Sana's sneeze.
It's a Monday morning hallway after a long, peaceful weekend.
I barely stepped inside when three different people yelled my name.
"Aristaa!"
"Arista, LOOK—"
"Aristaaa, run—"
And because I value my life, I chose the calmest-looking person and walked toward her.
Which was my mistake, because the calmest one was Zoe, and Zoe being calm is usually a sign of incoming disaster.
She grabbed my arm dramatically.
"Arista… guess who I saw."
I blinked. "Who?"
Her eyes widened like she expected me to collapse.
"Derek. The Derek. YOUR Derek. OUR Derek. Former Derek. First-crush Derek. The one who tore your love letter like it was a math worksheet!"
I sighed. "Zoe. He tore it and then my friends gave the pieces back to me. Don't remind me."
She patted my shoulder. "It builds character."
Before I could argue, Meera appeared, holding her textbooks like a tired librarian.
"Guys. Please. Not so loud. Derek is literally behind us."
"WHERE?!" Zoe and I said at the same time, but for completely different reasons.
I turned around slowly—
And there he was. Taller. Sharper jawline. Same eyes, though. The eyes that used to slide past me like I didn't exist.
Now?
They landed on me.
And stayed.
My heart did something, but it wasn't attraction. It was more like irritation mixed with PTSD and old humiliation sprinkled on top.
I turned away immediately.
No way was I letting my brain restart that chapter.
---
Walking to Class
Advi joined us halfway, swinging her bag dramatically.
"Took you long enough," she said. "You didn't reply to my good-morning text. I was fully ready to walk alone."
"You live three buildings away from me," I said. "You could've knocked."
"I don't knock before 8:15 a.m. I'm not that desperate."
Same-old Advi.
We walked together toward Class A, and the closer we got, the louder it became.
Someone was chanting.
Someone else was beatboxing.
Someone else was threatening to fling a water bottle out the window.
Yep. My class.
I stepped inside just in time to see Jayden standing on a chair narrating fake news.
"BREAKING NEWS!" he shouted. "Kaelor from Section C has—"
He saw me and froze.
Then smirked.
"—has entered the building."
Sana popped up behind me. "He didn't enter any building, idiot. He just crossed the garden. My classroom window literally faces him."
I hated how fast my head snapped toward her.
"He what?"
Sana raised an eyebrow. "Relax. He was late. Again. He argued with the guard. Again. He almost tripped over the basketball. Again."
I tried not to smile.
Tried.
Failed.
---
Flashback: Section C
Sometimes this happens—
My mind drags me back to those days in Section C, before I moved to Section A.
When Kaelor was the noisy kid who joked too loud, disrespected teachers, and probably didn't even know I existed beyond the roll call.
When I was too busy drowning in Adi-drama, mom's expectations, dad's scolding, and Sarvin's needs to even look at him properly.
Funny how someone can be right in front of you…
And you only notice them after they're gone.
---
Back to Present
"Okay," Zoe said, snapping her fingers. "Focus. New topic. Derek."
"No," I said instantly.
"Yes," Meera said gently.
"ABSOLUTELY YES," Jayden yelled from across the room.
I groaned. "He doesn't matter anymore."
Zoe gave me a pointed look. "He stared at you like he realized what he lost."
I crossed my arms. "He never had anything to lose."
Just as I said that, someone walked past our door.
Kaelor.
Headphones around his neck, hair slightly messy, walking like he owned the corridor.
He didn't look inside.
He didn't even know I saw him.
But my stupid heart did that horse-running thing again.
---
Lunch Break
I sat with Mira, Sana, Zoe, and Advi—my entire personal circus.
Sana was describing a fight in Section C earlier.
"—and then Kaelor told Devin that he plays football like a confused flamingo, and then Devin threw his water bottle at him, but it missed and hit the fan, and—"
I choked on my sandwich.
"Devin?"
"Yeah," she said casually. "Kaelor's friend. The tall one. He sits behind him. He got into a stupid fight."
I frowned.
Why did Devin's name matter so much?
"Nothing serious," Sana added. "But… I think Devin likes someone."
"Who?" Zoe asked.
Sana flicked her eyes toward me.
"NO," I said too loudly. "Absolutely not. No one likes me."
"Uh-huh." Zoe smirked. "Tell that to the way Devin keeps staring during assemblies."
I nearly dropped my food. "HE WHAT?!"
Before they could answer, Meera changed the topic.
"So Arista… how's Sarvin?"
My shoulders softened a little.
"He's good," I said quietly. "We built this big puzzle yesterday. Dad didn't scold me once. It was… peaceful."
The girls smiled.
Everyone knew Sarvin was the one place my heart always felt safe.
---
After School
I walked home with Advi, both of us too tired to talk at first.
Then she nudged me.
"So. Kaelor, huh?"
"I hate you."
She laughed. "Relax. I know you'll probably ignore this crush like you ignored half your problems last semester."
"That's the plan."
But the universe didn't care about my plans.
Because as we reached the crossroad where she turned left and I walked straight…
Someone called my name.
I turned.
Derek.
Hands in pockets. Cheeks slightly red—either from cold or nerves.
"Arista," he said softly.
My stomach twisted.
"What?"
He swallowed.
"I… noticed you today."
"I noticed you tearing my letter in eighth grade," I replied.
He winced.
Good.
"I want to—"
"Don't," I said quickly. "I'm not interested."
He exhaled, frustrated.
"But… you've changed."
"So did the weather. Doesn't mean we need to talk."
I turned away before he could say anything else.
But my heart was pounding—
Not because of Derek.
Because I suddenly realized something:
Why did I sound like I was defending someone else?
---
Later That Night
I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling.
Weekend was over.
New week, new chaos, new overthinking.
Derek noticed me.
Devin maybe likes me.
Kaelor doesn't even know I breathe the same oxygen.
And I?
I don't know what I feel.
Actually, that's a lie.
I do.
But I'm not ready to say it.
Not yet.