CHAPTER EIGHT24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkERgIMJpKw
The event was in full swing. The students were scattered across the field, participating in different games, cheering, laughing, competing.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf5lXlRcXpE
But as Musa scanned the crowd, his eyes were drawn to one spot. She was there again.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd96smCeUBv
This time, there was no ribbon. But Musa remembered the yellow ribbon the way someone remembers an old song—not just the melody, but the feeling that came with it. The feeling of being a little out of place, of being in the middle of something but still searching for something deeper. That’s how he remembered her from last year, and he saw it now in the way she moved—hesitant, yet curious.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrc6jhjm8hl
Musa watched her from a distance, feeling that familiar flutter in his chest. Her hair was loose, not tied back with a ribbon like before, but there was still something about her, something that made him feel like he knew her, even though they had never really spoken.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS2j2TdbLBp
The yellow ribbon had become more than just a symbol of her uniqueness. It was a marker of a moment in his mind, one that lingered in his thoughts for a year. He couldn’t help but watch her, his gaze following her across the field, even though he didn’t approach. 24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5bfViGUBdu
He wasn’t sure why he hadn’t yet. Maybe he didn’t know how.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb6lryG4zu7
But he knew one thing for certain: he couldn’t let the chance pass him by again. She was here now—right in front of him. And he was going to find a way to make that connection. To finally talk to her.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡumNES8DUlE
But just as quickly as his heart raced, she disappeared into the crowd.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR39HQIx1Om
Kim24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOl1yY5YIz7
The sun is blazing overhead, casting shadows on the grass beneath my feet. My heart’s still pounding from the last race, and I’m trying to catch my breath, but I can’t ignore the feeling that something’s... off. I look around, hoping for a quiet corner to breathe, but of course, there's no escaping the noise. Everyone's cheering, laughing, running around. The annual sports day has this buzz to it, the whole school in motion, and I’m just... here. Trying not to stand out, trying to blend in like the others.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQhtLP6A2f8
But then I feel it. The eyes. On me.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaGXFyHMrIB
At first, I think it’s nothing. I’ve gotten used to them. It's not like I'm new to school anymore—I'm not a mono. But today, there's something different about the way they’re looking at me. It’s like the air between us thickens every time I walk by, their gazes following my every step.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVZdHMX0ykL
Then Seline appears out of nowhere, blocking my path with a too-sweet smile on her face. “Hey, Kim,” she says, casually like we’ve been talking for ages. “You going for the long race?”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOKfkL81jvy
I’m not sure what to say. Her breath smells like the soda I know she has just had, sweet and too strong. “Maybe... if I can get the nerve,” I reply, trying to smile but feeling like it’s forced.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9WHwsQdYno
“You’ll do great,” she says, and then her eyes flicker to my back. She leans in a little too close for comfort, like as if we're old friends and I really wouldn’t mind.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAZSWI1njvl
“You have company. He’s really cute” she says and adds as she walks away from me as if not fast enough for her laughing. “Try not to lose him like the race.”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5tlOeprLzG
I’m confused, not sure how to respond. But before I can back away, another voice cuts through the tension. I didn’t even see him approach, but now he’s standing right there, a little too close to me too. He’s got that look, the one that makes me feel like he’s studying me, picking me apart. 24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVirJASIhpv
His voice is low and casual, like he’s just making conversation, but there’s something behind it. “Don’t listen to her,” he says, tilting his head toward Seline now completely lost in the crowd. “I think you’ll blow them all away. You look like a natural athlete.”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9rPoBmvhXG
Natural? Athlete? I don’t even know how to respond. Why is he saying that? It doesn’t make sense. I’m not an athlete. I don’t even want to race. But there’s that weird flutter in my chest again—the one that makes my stomach twist, even though I know it’s all just small talk.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3LPNjBiRdy
“Thanks...” I manage to mumble, but my words feel hollow, like they don’t mean anything.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ8CnqQkRsD
And then, as if on cue, another boy pops up from behind him. 24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdjLMde2RbY
“Hey, Kim, don’t you think it’s time someone taught you how to win? You should join me for the relay race. I’ll be your partner,” he calls out in a voice that’s loud enough for everyone to hear.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD3psmoeXdF
I can feel the heat rising in my cheeks. My stomach twists. I want to say something. I want to shut them down, but the words don’t come. Instead, I stand there, frozen, not knowing how to escape this conversation that feels like it’s not really a conversation at all.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJWQ1WTJd7B
“Come on, Kim, what’s the matter?” the first boy prods, stepping closer. “You scared to race in front of everyone? You’re going to embarrass yourself?”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsKCjnaqZsU
The laughter from his friend is like a dull echo in my ears. It’s not funny. Not to me. It’s like they’ve turned it into a joke, and I’m the punchline. The more they tease me, the more it feels like I’m sinking, like I’m not even me anymore. I’m just this thing for them to joke about.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDbXrbenvcx
Musa24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpyt551Ac6L
Musa stood on the edge of the field; his arms crossed tightly across his chest as his eyes followed Kim from a distance. A relay race was happening nearby, but it barely registered in his mind. His focus was on her—and the way she seemed to fit so effortlessly into the scene.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9UoLY2gUrW
She was talking to some older Form Four seniors, her laughter ringing out across the field, and Musa felt his stomach tighten. One was leaning in too close, his hand brushing against her arm in a way that felt too familiar, too comfortable. Musa tried to ignore it, tried to look at something else, but he couldn’t tear his gaze away. Every time she smiled, every time she laughed, it felt like the boys were stealing something from him. Something he couldn’t even name.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3zBi9BPk1q
He tried to tell himself it didn’t matter. She was just talking to them. It wasn’t anything. It shouldn’t bother him. But it did.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmbhfYSOMKV
Musa had watched Kim for a longtime now—he’d been aware of her, from a distance. She was always there, part of the event, but never in the spotlight. Last year, she’d barely caught his attention. 24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSvw3Zeirp0
She was just another face, one of the many in the sea of girls. But this year—this year, everything had changed. She wasn’t just another girl. She was the one. And the way she’d blossomed into someone everyone seemed to flock to—it bothered him more than he wanted to admit.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGBjVNy4vzs
She was now with a group of girls from her school. One of the girls said something to her that made her laugh again. It was a soft, easy laugh, one that made it clear they shared something—something he didn’t have access to. It was the way she leaned in, the way her eyes sparkled. Everything about her in this moment was open and alive, and Musa hated that he couldn’t be the one to make her laugh like that.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ40dZlbE3bz
The frustration simmered in his chest, tightening around his ribcage. He was used to control, used to being the one people noticed, the one who commanded attention. But with her, it was different. She had the power. It was always her choice, always her moment to share with whoever she pleased. And right now, she was sharing it with someone else.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtl4T0tNznh
He could feel the jealousy rising inside him like a slow burn. It was irrational, but he couldn’t stop it. Every time a boy leaned in a little too close, or another interrupted with some joke, Musa felt a deeper frustration. 24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwv5b8m4yG3
She wasn’t just talking to them—she was one of them. She belonged there, in that circle. And Musa wasn’t sure where he fit anymore.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt7btjXEZsx
He shifted uneasily, trying to force himself to focus on the race, to pretend like he didn’t care, but the scene on the field kept pulling him back. Kim was laughing again, her head tilted back, her eyes alight with something he couldn’t touch. The boys were all around her now—and even a few others from his class. The group seemed to close in on her, and Musa’s sense of helplessness grew. She was never alone.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7jfXHlRHD0
A voice snapped him out of his spiraling thoughts.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlXpGdRrrQ8
“Musa, you coming to the after-party?”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSFVO5ChHpc
It was Martin, one of his classmates, tapping him on the shoulder. Musa turned, his mind still half on Kim, but his attention pulled toward his classmate.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMgRtkpdG6t
“Yeah, I’ll be there,” he muttered, barely processing the question. His eyes darted back to Kim, who was now talking animatedly with another boy, once again leaning toward her. It never stopped.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2tkc4sue4x
“She’s always with them, huh?” Musa said before he could stop himself, his voice a little sharper than he intended.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiAZ55Xs78e
Martin gave him a puzzled look. “Who?”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJXcJSA8QTs
“Her,” Musa said, pointing towards Kim, his jaw tightening. “She’s always with them.”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfse19iuQCa
Martin shrugged, seemingly unaware of the weight in Musa’s voice. “So? She’s cool, bro. She talks to everyone.”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZeLPJ4PjAS
Musa felt the frustration surge again, but he bit back his words. “She’s never alone,” he said quietly, more to himself than to Martin.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4aYo3esuOe
There was a long silence as Martin processed the words, his expression unreadable. “Well, what do you expect, man? She’s popular. You know how it is.”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfslNlBItTX
But it didn’t help. Nothing helped.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡklM9q4zHY2
Musa’s gaze flicked back to Kim. She was still surrounded by the boys, still laughing and enjoying herself, and it felt like something deep inside him was twisting. He couldn’t even get close. Every time he tried, another boy stepped in between them, another voice stole her attention. It was like she was untouchable, a person he could observe but never reach.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzj5MnpFaB6
The thing was, he wasn’t used to not being noticed. He had always been in control, always the one who could make an impression. But with her, everything was different. She was always surrounded by someone. There was never an opening.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡalNwQNxhAY
And now, watching her laugh with her new friends, seeing the way they shared some private joke, Musa felt a surge of resentment. He wanted to be the one to make her laugh like that, to be the one to have her attention. But every time he tried to get close, he was shut out.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoLP15rfFiu
It wasn’t fair.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFlhcf1U3EV
He wanted to walk up to her, pull her away from the boys, make her see him—really see him. But it was impossible. She was always surrounded, always with them. And the worst part?24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdLa1kIuRH3
She didn’t even notice him standing there.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQXcGZ8Tlcj
Musa turned away, his body tense with the frustration that had been building all afternoon. He could feel the heat of it creeping into his chest, his hands clenched into fists at his sides. He didn’t know what to do with it.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGM3WL3KUCW
And so, he walked away, pushing through the crowd, trying to shake off the feeling of being left behind. But it stayed with him. The jealousy. The frustration. The unanswered longing.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWlUdXh4zQf
It wasn’t just about the race.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTTHx1MQAiu
It was about Kim.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLuRmImm5u2
And for the first time, Musa realized—he didn’t know how to get her to notice him.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcecILXdYfw
Kim24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjnynQprOmW
I try to laugh it off. Fake it. But I can’t do it. I feel like they’re all waiting for something. For me to crack, to give them a reason to keep going. And I don’t want to give them that.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT8tImFxXY4
“I... I think I’ll go back to my friends,” I mutter, stepping away from them, not looking back. But it doesn’t matter. They keep watching me, following my every move.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd6TguqZrQZ
I walk faster now, hoping I’ll get far enough away, but it feels like they’re still there, just behind me. 24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjLUnhNCfNE
I quicken my pace, head down, trying to disappear into the crowd of girls sitting by the bleachers. I want to hide. I want the ground to swallow me whole.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWNJBmGNB4U
But I can’t stop thinking about the eyes. They follow me, even when I turn away.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAbZukHrx9D
It’s getting to that point where I can’t stand the noise anymore. The boys, their constant attention, the way they think they’re so clever, so cool, all because they can throw compliments my way or say some silly joke that they think will make me laugh. I’m tired of it. I just want someone to talk to me for who I am, not for the way I look, not for the way I laugh.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsZDmOVcGbW
I’ve been trying to shake off the attention all day, but it’s like a cloud I can’t escape. 24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaOhslhv2oF
They hover around, they follow me, they’re all so eager to prove something—like I care about any of it. I’m so tired of it.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3dNLjoI7GQ
And then I see him.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5osGlCSaFd
I’ve seen him before, of course. He’s impossible not to notice—always hanging out in the back, never really mixing with the crowd. He’s quieter than the others, more distant, like he’s not even interested in being a part of the show everyone else is putting on. I’ve watched him a few times, mostly from a distance. He doesn’t speak much. Never shows up in any of the usual circles, never joins in with the boys who think they own the place.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB2KBkmJdXe
Something about that sticks with me. Maybe it’s the way he’s always out of place. Maybe it’s the way he doesn’t care to get attention; how different he is from the others. I don’t know. But now, after hours of feeling like I’m trapped in a cage with all these boys trying to outdo each other, I find myself staring at him across the field.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ125GhWeqCf
There’s something about him. Maybe it’s the fact that he’s so... different. So away from all of this. He’s just standing there by the edge of the crowd, his hands in his pockets, not trying to impress anyone. The more I look at him, the more I realize that, out of everyone here, he’s the one who hasn’t bothered me at all.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0pVyds94Er
I know it’s crazy. I don’t even know him. I’ve never spoken to him. But maybe that’s the point.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn47DksPzFy
I’ve had enough of the constant noise, the boys who think they can pull my attention by talking about their games or how fast they run. I don’t want any of that. I want something real. I want... something different.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW9RdE0wN99
Before I can second-guess myself, I take a step toward him.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm0GqDLn1xj
His back is to me, but I know he feels the shift in the air. Maybe it’s because I’m one of the few people brave enough to walk through the crowd without glancing away, trying to look busy while I hide away. But I’m not hiding anymore. Not today. Not anymore.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQDw21e0cMr
When I reach him, he doesn’t turn around right away. For a moment, it’s almost like he’s pretending he doesn’t see me. But I know he does. He knows I’m here.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVPADW9B00t
“Hey,” I say, a little too loud, a little too eager.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrWv9xJh4qo
It sounds forced in my own ears, but I don’t care. I’m here for small talk after all. I’m here because I’ve decided I don’t want to be that girl anymore. The one who’s always on the receiving end of unwanted attention.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzY3VfdxJne
“Musa, right?”. I read his name from his prefect’s tag on his blazer.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNJ7OBqWxi8
He scans around, slowly, like he’s not entirely sure if I’m talking to him or someone else. There’s a flicker of recognition in his eyes, but then it fades. He seems surprised, almost confused. I don’t care. I’m tired of the way the boys in this school have all been so quick to chase me around. Musa is different. He doesn’t play those games.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtaaabfQ8ET
“Yeah, that’s me,” he answers, his voice low and hesitant, like he’s trying to figure out why I’m standing in front of him, like he’s trying to understand why I’m talking to him. 24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmLBdv7lztD
“Can I help you with something?”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpgTnFojx8n
His voice is... softer than I expected. Less guarded. It makes me wonder what’s behind that quietness. Who is he really?24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlcNkiVGKqK
“I don’t know,” I say, and I can feel the words hanging in the air. I shrug, trying to play it cool, but deep down I’m surprised at myself. What the heck am I even doing? 24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3DbCXI3OBd
“Just felt like talking to someone who’s not trying to impress me for once.”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ByIg002Cv
His brow furrows slightly, and for a second, I think he’s going to say something defensive, like he’s not the type to be just another guy after me. But then he looks away for a brief second, like he’s thinking it through.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkjykKnuPaA
“Well,” he finally says, “I’m not good at impressing people, if that helps.”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh0QbThBVOD
I laugh, genuinely surprised. He’s not even trying to make a joke. It’s just... honest. And that’s kind of refreshing. A little weird, but refreshing. I can’t remember the last time someone said something that didn’t feel like a performance.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYazybDBcJX
“Well, I guess that’s a good start,” I say with a small smile. 24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZNRpReEwOj
For the first time today, I actually feel like I’m in control of the conversation, like I’m not just a piece of the show. I can feel the weight of the boys’ stares fading into the background. For a moment, it’s just us, standing here.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyJTX7zZz4x
“So... what’s your deal, Musa? Why do you keep to yourself?”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqHo8RfGnqd
He looks at me, his expression a little unsure but not hostile. “I just don’t like the noise,” he says simply. 24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2qNY6YnxrT
“There’s a lot of... distractions, I guess. And I’m not much for them.”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcwGMS3VM9z
I smile, and it’s strange. It’s easy. Too easy.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3kXLfN4qFy
“Yeah,” I say, my voice quieter now, almost as if I’m letting him in on something I’ve been thinking for a while. 24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvl7jjKrAXs
“I get that. It’s hard to find a moment of peace with everyone always making a big deal out of nothing.”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwEggSCRrV7
He nods, as if he understands what I’m talking about. It’s the first time today I’ve felt like someone actually gets it—gets what I’ve been feeling all along.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9dAxRRdeC3
“I’m glad you’re not like the others,” I say, before I can stop myself.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFCmXqiagBw
Musa doesn’t respond right away, but there’s something in his eyes now. Maybe he’s a little more at ease, or maybe he’s just as surprised as I am that we’re actually talking.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOD439V2gY5
“Well,” he says, finally breaking the silence, “I guess I’m glad you’re not like the others either.”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFxe2ilVPAU
It’s funny. I don’t even know why I chose him, but here I am, talking to him like he’s someone I’ve known forever. No pretenses. No games. Just two people, both tired of all the noise.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLICbLq9S6D
And somehow, I feel like maybe this is the start of something real.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlpglab2osq
*********24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFg3wBeVDC4
Before she can answer, Seline appears at Kim’s side, her eyes flicking quickly from Kim to Juma. She barely acknowledges Kim, focusing instead on Juma. 24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8of8RSG9kB
“Hey, Juma, I was looking for you,” she says, her tone light but pointed. 24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLIj5KNOXYe
Juma glances at Kim, then back at Seline, a little uncertain. Kim expects Juma to stay reserved, but instead, his face lights up with a smile that Kim hasn’t seen before. 24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ52uor65qx8
“Hey, Seline!” he calls out, his voice warmer and more animated than it’s been all afternoon.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhP39RiGxZq
Seline grins back, clearly pleased by his reaction. 24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh85LEvSYfF
“Did you see the relay? I thought you’d be at the finish line cheering,” she teases, nudging his arm like it’s the most natural thing in the world.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZxtgVeUGVW
Kim feels a flicker of confusion. She hadn’t expected Juma to be so happy to see Seline-she thought their conversation was going somewhere. Now, watching the easy way Juma and Seline interact, Kim suddenly feels like an outsider, unsure where she stands.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ36zfTU6w7J
The conversation shifts; Seline and Juma start talking about something only they seem to understand, leaving Kim on the outside. Kim feels herself fading into the background, suddenly the third wheel in her own conversation.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ33yJLvI2nf
The field is a mess of color and noise. It’s sports day, and everyone’s out here-boys and girls clumped together in little groups, some cheering, some sprawled on the grass, others just gossiping or messing around. 24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6z8TetHvFg
There’s a race happening somewhere, but half the crowd isn’t even watching. They’re too busy with their own drama, their own games. All around them, the field buzzes with the excitement and social energy that sports days bring, drawing people together and sometimes pulling them apart. 24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp0hygxCgul
For Kim, the moment is a reminder that in these big, lively groups, connections can shift in an instant-and sometimes, you’re left wondering where you really belong.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqJBaHAZ2tA
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ83hayOJ5QD
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