As I opened my eyes, a faint chill lingered in the air, but inside the house, the usual morning chaos unfolded. My brother and sister rushed to get into their uniforms, while Papa sat at the table with a newspaper—though his mind was clearly on his tiffin. From downstairs, Mummy's voice echoed, "Wake up quickly, you'll be late!"
Rubbing my eyes, I sat up and thought—some mornings never change.
But today, something was different.
The conversations from last night still lingered in my mind. I couldn't understand why I had said such harsh words to Rei, not even myself. But maybe… maybe this was for the best.
The day moved forward in a blur. By the time we reached school, the assembly hall was already filled with students, their chatter blending into a low, familiar hum. Nami stood right next to me, while Suhina was behind us.
"What's wrong with you?" Nami's voice carried a hint of concern as she leaned slightly toward me.
"Let's talk in class," I replied, avoiding her gaze.
She wasn't satisfied with that. "At least tell me if you're okay first," she insisted.
I gave a small nod, barely lifting my head in response.
Before I could say anything else, Suhina's voice came from behind. "Why do your eyes look so swollen?"
She rarely showed concern, but every now and then, she surprised me.
"Umm… maybe I just didn't sleep well last night," I murmured.
Before they could ask anything further, the morning prayer began, and we all joined in. The familiar rhythm of voices filled the hall, but my mind remained elsewhere, tangled in the thoughts I had spent the whole night trying to suppress.
When we finally reached the classroom, I took my usual seat near the window, and Nami slid in beside me. The moment we sat down, she turned to me, wasting no time.
"Tell me what happened."
I exhaled, bracing myself. "Yesterday evening, after you left…" My voice came out softer than usual.
Nami narrowed her eyes. "After I left, what?"
She must have sensed my hesitation because before I could continue, she pressed on. "You didn't even call me after reaching home. What happened?"
I hesitated for a second before finally admitting, "I ran into Rei yesterday, Nami."
A flicker of surprise crossed her face. "Rei?" She repeated, her voice slightly louder than before. "And?"
My throat tightened as I recalled the encounter. "He asked me again, Nami. He wanted to know if I loved him or not."
Her expression shifted instantly. She had been expecting something, but maybe not this. "And what did you say?"
I clenched my hands into fists, my gaze dropping to the desk. "I… I spoke to him in a really harsh tone."
Nami's brows furrowed. "What exactly did you say?"
Should I even tell her? What if she thinks I'm being stupid? What if she agrees with Rei?"
A bitter smile played at my lips as I repeated the words that had been replaying in my mind all night:
"A person always desires what they can't have. And they never value what's already theirs. I, too, am a victim of this nature. You are mine, yet not mine, and I am yours, yet not yours."
The moment the words left my lips, Nami went silent.
She stared at me, processing my confession. I could see the flicker of something in her eyes—understanding, disappointment, maybe even pity. But she didn't say anything right away. The silence between us stretched, the weight of my words hanging in the air like an unfinished sentence.