Love Before Graduation

Arin was never one to get into drama. It seemed like a bad habit to him. Like some kind of filth that he would avoid at all costs.

When Suhina had cornered him, feigning concern about Aira, he hadn't said a word, just brushed it off in an instant. "Not my problem." That was his line. Always.

But now, outside the classroom, he was standing against the wall, his eyes searching for something. His eyes were searching for Aira.

Aira was standing with Nami, gesturing with her hands, her voice echoing with a full voice, as if telling her own story. Her laughter came out uninhibited, like a sound that cut through the din. Some smiled, some teased.

Typical Aira. Loud, reckless, uncontrollable.

Still...

He kept looking at her.

"Brother, are you listening or not?"

Jayan's voice shook her. Arin turned to see Jayan's eyes wide with suspicion.

"Yeah," he replied, as if trying to sort out what he was saying.

"No, you weren't listening. You were staring at Aira."

Arin raised her eyebrows without saying anything. "No, I wasn't staring."

Jayan smiled and bowed, "Caught, brother."

"I don't know," arin interrupted him.

Jayan laughed and shook his head, "You don't waste time on useless things. Then why Aira?"

Arin had no answer to this. And that bothered her.

Outside, a dead tree was in front of her eyes—still standing as it was, bare. he didn't look at it much.

The bell rang, and everyone started returning to their seats. Aira and Nami were the last to slip in, when the teacher entered through the door.

Arin never cared who sat where. But today, her eyes were drawn to Aira.

Then—

Bang!

Her water bottle fell, rolling to arin's feet.

Aira mumbled something in annoyance and bent to pick the bottle up.

Then came that moment.

When she looked up, their eyes met. Just for a moment—but something unspeakable rose in her big eyes, like a storm, dimming their usual brightness for a while.

Then the moment was over—Aira smiled. "Are you going to help or just keep looking pretty?"

Arin rolled her eyes, sliding the bottle from her foot to her. "You dropped it, you pick it up."

Aira frowned and picked up the bottle in a rush.

But as class continued, arin's attention kept getting distracted.

To her.

Suhina had said that Aira had changed.

Could it be that Suhina was half right—and she was the only fool to notice all this?