CHAPTER EIGHT244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFidaxpJ3Kj
The event was in full swing. The students were scattered across the field, participating in different games, cheering, laughing, competing.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ddGv3wGg5
But as Musa scanned the crowd, his eyes were drawn to one spot. She was there again.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡejLVnxf4cj
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.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvD08uCEipf
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.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6a9Boxu3NW
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. 244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ83AMbkBe7B
He wasn’t sure why he hadn’t yet. Maybe he didn’t know how.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyZAbZX3aBu
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.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4JAgbCCwub
But just as quickly as his heart raced, she disappeared into the crowd.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ogFGkbDSy
Kim244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo5dQVZl14t
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.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVXafv5FJ4V
But then I feel it. The eyes. On me.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡehjlOTxnuM
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.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYvWr4yhcWW
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?”244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqLtLv8dhdX
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.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA4VWdw62O1
“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.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Shc5qcK4S
 “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.”244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiNeP7tyJpw
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. 244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQMaq2lfNQr
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.”244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIFznnAL5ZL
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.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCfN9pXEbjj
“Thanks...” I manage to mumble, but my words feel hollow, like they don’t mean anything.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoxHrwrlE0E
And then, as if on cue, another boy pops up from behind him. 244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvqmb2Cnxwp
“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.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGbNz0MhQ6V
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.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQY9p0xqHIv
“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?”244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8C0t3U18J6
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.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSccVBewpUy
Musa244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrs6oZrECV4
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.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7WlwpvJPPh
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.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ291ZxUMJIO
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.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC91Ty7hZKR
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. 244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFqSqpHKk4c
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.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi1lN1u4c0k
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.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡng5GnX4HQJ
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.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKSA58xwQ98
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. 244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLYrDviqZLC
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.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡloiIbUI2Tu
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.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVtMBuyt5zt
A voice snapped him out of his spiraling thoughts.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMrzlsLROB2
“Musa, you coming to the after-party?”244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgIp4gSmzJq
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.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv43cI2bgZk
“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.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG22od677em
“She’s always with them, huh?” Musa said before he could stop himself, his voice a little sharper than he intended.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNpC6Xk7f8D
Martin gave him a puzzled look. “Who?”244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEfHVG2eTWS
“Her,” Musa said, pointing towards Kim, his jaw tightening. “She’s always with them.”244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0XlHMNo1JA
Martin shrugged, seemingly unaware of the weight in Musa’s voice. “So? She’s cool, bro. She talks to everyone.”244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCQ8fEQmj4f
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.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYLHPAYDHVf
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.”244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgyx7h1IXdJ
But it didn’t help. Nothing helped.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Nahda6vyh
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.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV7FqOMTJ7I
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.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm0fXAnKrDc
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.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡohMYkEoWTc
It wasn’t fair.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB7e94Px8hw
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?244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYcz4GxJhUX
She didn’t even notice him standing there.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLId6p2qcYd
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.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4d9m7EXEET
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.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡse72OUgVYN
It wasn’t just about the race.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxodSGgm8fd
It was about Kim.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ7jHcxSUCu
And for the first time, Musa realized—he didn’t know how to get her to notice him.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRmuuMWW61e
Kim244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoxsPIkTGnJ
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.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0nX32pS6Za
“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.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEAEOstnh8o
I walk faster now, hoping I’ll get far enough away, but it feels like they’re still there, just behind me. 244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4LYtCI56Dt
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.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTYtosCWkoe
But I can’t stop thinking about the eyes. They follow me, even when I turn away.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdITkZw804H
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.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaMpIlPoYlm
I’ve been trying to shake off the attention all day, but it’s like a cloud I can’t escape. 244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVp5h2orxBs
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.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4vetrScmkQ
And then I see him.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡglSfC8bYtK
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.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa3rNjVcocH
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.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3YzgvUl4cl
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.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuY2FyotJRJ
I know it’s crazy. I don’t even know him. I’ve never spoken to him. But maybe that’s the point.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjDDHXckblj
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.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyw7Jsach70
Before I can second-guess myself, I take a step toward him.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ70xKnnBxy
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.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBcipKnvOYV
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.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsG4UFWbNOp
“Hey,” I say, a little too loud, a little too eager.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ81nAmFsuhO
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.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYCtfw78XBf
 “Musa, right?”. I read his name from his prefect’s tag on his blazer.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeGAiZNZyGZ
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.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvRsSs6KqWv
“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. 244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoxLKaXopoq
“Can I help you with something?”244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡek3zcdSXqK
His voice is... softer than I expected. Less guarded. It makes me wonder what’s behind that quietness. Who is he really?244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBIjxZpGs3l
“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? 244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9qdHjNXmGI
“Just felt like talking to someone who’s not trying to impress me for once.”244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIxlIu0E4fP
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.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlYYtvOm0hY
“Well,” he finally says, “I’m not good at impressing people, if that helps.”244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3deHCB29aX
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.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUBE8LPM1z0
“Well, I guess that’s a good start,” I say with a small smile. 244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs5xwFOWL6a
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.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf4wIkM1nDV
“So... what’s your deal, Musa? Why do you keep to yourself?”244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8rm2MNV9ph
He looks at me, his expression a little unsure but not hostile. “I just don’t like the noise,” he says simply. 244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4YxHVaOuqG
“There’s a lot of... distractions, I guess. And I’m not much for them.”244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYilCUrwF89
I smile, and it’s strange. It’s easy. Too easy.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKbfv9yERLX
“Yeah,” I say, my voice quieter now, almost as if I’m letting him in on something I’ve been thinking for a while. 244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsulo1AKKxw
“I get that. It’s hard to find a moment of peace with everyone always making a big deal out of nothing.”244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSBh1IMP5H2
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.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzwv9Z1sZ6I
“I’m glad you’re not like the others,” I say, before I can stop myself.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Xa3Fs4qFy
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.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh4LZ9GLKxS
“Well,” he says, finally breaking the silence, “I guess I’m glad you’re not like the others either.”244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcPpq94JKPB
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.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ec8DH4AVF
And somehow, I feel like maybe this is the start of something real.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRka6GqBIvD
*********244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy7mSyOYXRt
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. 244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjqfcT2o4BF
“Hey, Juma, I was looking for you,” she says, her tone light but pointed. 244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwWJU0WV0lA
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. 244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzTWc5niFyr
“Hey, Seline!” he calls out, his voice warmer and more animated than it’s been all afternoon.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFWQnDx72ra
Seline grins back, clearly pleased by his reaction. 244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz6zaKo6NgB
“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.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcf9jowoH37
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.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOpLaFq99q7
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.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0mmsk0o9af
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. 244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyvx4DSTA9S
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. 244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡISvghh2eqz
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.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOIctnysztH
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