Love Before Graduation

Sometimes some moments in life are so slow and deep that even the sounds seem far away. Today was also such a day. That play of Suhina still seemed to be echoing from somewhere far away - like a forgotten scream, which now seemed a burden to hear.

I quietly collected the books, put my bag on my shoulder and walked out of the classroom avoiding the crowd.

Away from the crowd, away from the noise, all I needed was some freshness.

Sometimes a person just needs a little space for himself... just a little.

Reaching that old stone wall behind the school, I found myself in a strange relief.

The same wall, the same cold breeze... but today everything was a little heavy.

As if there was some unknown burden on the heart.

I leaned against the wall, slightly turned my head back and felt the cold breeze on my cheeks.

How many times had it happened that this place had silently absorbed my unspoken pain within itself?

Today too, there was the same hope.

Just then, I heard the sound of soft footsteps from behind.

I opened my eyes.

And saw him... Arin.

The same Arin, who often looked different even in the crowd.

He was different today too.

He stopped after coming some distance.

He had a notebook in his hand, the same old tiredness in his eyes... and perhaps, a little restlessness.

"You are here... I did not see you," there was no special emotion in his voice.

As if it was just a statement... no complaint, no grievance.

Still, he remained there.

He did not move, nor turn away.

I also turned my eyes away.

"I am not hiding," I said casually, as if it did not matter.

He did not say anything.

Just opened the notebook and started writing something with the pen.

As if it did not matter whether I was there or not.

But then... that pain pierced again in some corner of my heart. Suhina's words, the lies in her eyes, all reared their head again.

"She was lying," I said softly, playing with the thread on the sleeve of my sweater.

Arin's pen stopped.

He didn't look at me... still, his silence screamed.

Sometimes silences can be heard... very clearly.

"I know," he said. That's it.

But that one sentence lifted a huge burden.

My breaths deepened.

I turned a stone in the dirt with my feet.

No words were needed.

Sometimes silence is the greatest solace.

"Okay," I whispered.

He was still writing something in his notebook, his head bent.

The wind was blowing his hair... and I was wondering, why does fate bring us to the same crossroads again and again, when neither of us wants it to be so?

Then I heard Nami scream from a distance—

"Aira! Chips or death—choose one!"

I smiled. Very slightly.

As if some old memory had suddenly touched my heart.

And then I moved away from the wall and walked away.

Arin did not say anything.

He was lost in his own world. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

I did not look back, but I felt—

A soft smile had bloomed on the corner of his lips.

Hidden, silent.

As if he also knew... that some things cannot be understood by saying, but only by feeling.

Arin—a strange boy.

One who speaks in silence.