After school, Aria slipped into her room, dropped her bag on the table, and collapsed face-first onto her bed.
Her mind spun, replaying the day's events. But no matter how hard she tried to think about other things—the cheers, the announcement, Danvy's tears—one moment pushed its way to the front.
His words.
She rolled onto her back, staring at the ceiling. "I can be whoever I want to him—his wife, his girlfriend," she muttered under her breath, repeating what Zorvath had told her. "I didn't even say I wanted to be his girlfriend. Huh… then wife? What a joke." She pressed her palm over her eyes. "But doesn't he hate me? Was it a confession? Too fast? What even was that?"
Questions pumped through her head, rapid and restless. Without thinking, her hand reached for her phone.
Like every other night for years, her thumb almost automatically typed in Sinas. She had always searched for his updates, his videos, his posts, waiting for any message from him. It had become a habit stitched into her bones.
But tonight, something broke that rhythm. Her fingers hesitated—and instead, she tapped Zorvath's account.
Scroll after scroll, she read through his posts, forgetting about Sinas entirely.
Then her heart lurched.
Zorvath's story showed the moment from earlier: she and her friends, arms wrapped around each other, the crowd clapping around them. But he had added his own title in bold letters:
"4 idiots,1 frame and infinity drama"
Her stomach dropped.
Aria slammed her phone down on the bed, staring bitterly at the wall. "Of course he hates me. Not a confession at all. Fool. He's just making fun of me."
Muttering curses under her breath, she pulled the blanket over herself, burying her face, still fuming at Zorvath's smirk that she couldn't even see.
NEXT DAY __
Scene: Lunch Break – KHSS Classroom
The lunch bell rang, and chatter filled the air as students unwrapped their food. Aria sat in her classroom with her three closest friends—Sona, Sreya, and Danvy—huddled around her desk. They opened their lunchboxes, sharing bites the way they always did.
Between mouthfuls of rice, Aria leaned forward, her voice lowered in excitement. "I was thinking… now that the sports ground is open, why don't we reopen the café too?"
Sona's eyes widened. "The café?"
"Yes," Aria said firmly. "It's already there, waiting for us. We can use it as a small business. People will come for snacks, tea, coffee—it can be our place, run by us. We'll solve the financial side of things by earning through it. That way, it won't just be a café—it'll be KHSS's café."
Danvy clapped her hands together, grinning. "That's brilliant, Aria! It'll give everyone something to look forward to after class."
Sona nodded eagerly. "And we can decorate it! Finally, a place that doesn't look like a battlefield."
Even Sreya smiled, though her eyes held a glint of caution. She twirled her spoon once before asking, "But… what about investment?"
Aria blinked. "Investment?"
Sreya leaned closer. "Yes. What are you going to put in? We'll need money to buy ingredients, pay for supplies… to keep the café running. Do you have that kind of money?"
The question hit like cold water.
Aria froze, her chopsticks hovering in the air. She had been so swept up in the idea that she had only thought about the recipe book and the space itself. Reality was harsher: without money, there could be no café.
"I…" Aria's voice faltered. She forced a smile, waving it off. "We'll… figure something out."
But the truth was, she hadn't figured out anything.
The rest of the lunch passed with laughter and encouragement, her friends filling the silence, but Aria barely tasted her food.
---
Afternoon – School Grounds
After lunch, the students spilled back outside. Some played football on the freshly reopened grounds, others buried themselves in books.
But Aria? She sat at her desk, her mind elsewhere. The question echoed again and again. Do you have the money to invest?
Her eyes remained distant, her hands unmoving. She didn't even notice when the class shifted around her.
From across the room, Zorvath noticed. His sharp gaze lingered on her for a moment—her unusual silence, her refusal to even glance his way. But instead of stepping closer, he simply turned and walked out, letting her be.
---
Night – Aria's Room
Back home, Aria tossed her bag aside and sat at her desk. The weight of Sreya's question pressed heavier than any textbook.
She flipped open her notebook, scribbling lists, possibilities, numbers. Ingredients. Pricing. Daily costs. Alternatives. Page after page filled as she searched for a way forward.
Hours slipped by unnoticed. Her phone buzzed now and then, but she ignored it. The world outside dimmed into silence.
By the time she shut the last reference tab and closed her book, it was nearly midnight. Her eyes were tired, but her lips curved into a small, determined smile.
She had an idea.
Not just a wild dream this time, but a plan—one that could make the café real without sinking her in debt.
Exhaling in relief, she leaned back in her chair, hope glimmering in her chest as she whispered to herself, "This might actually work."
With that, she turned off the light, ending the day with a rare, hopeful smile.
Next day __
Scene: KHSS Courtyard – Morning
The corridors echoed with hurried footsteps as Sona and Sreya dashed through, their voices overlapping in excitement.
"Attention, everyone! Gather in the courtyard in five minutes!" Sona shouted.
"Something new is about to happen—don't miss it!" Sreya added, her tone teasing enough to spark curiosity.
Their words spread like wildfire. Students peeked from classrooms, some grumbling, others intrigued.
Within minutes, the courtyard buzzed with movement.
A few students sighed in relief, thankful to skip another boring class.
Some muttered about unfinished homework.
A handful weren't in the mood to study anyway.
Others grumbled about money troubles back home—fees, books, travel costs.
Conversations overlapped like a marketplace, full of complaints and restless energy.
And then, silence fell.
All eyes shifted as Aria walked into the courtyard.
Her steps were steady, her uniform perfectly neat, her smile calm but commanding. The usual chatter dissolved—there was something about her presence that made even the most rebellious fall quiet.
She glanced around once, then spoke clearly:
"Some of you are worried about your financial matters. And our school… well, it also struggles with the same. For example—look around. We don't even have a mic set for announcements. That's why my friends had to shout through the corridors just now."
A ripple of laughter broke the tension.
Aria continued, her tone firm but warm:
"There are many things in KHSS that need fixing. But since there are no officials to take care of it, we—the students—have to step up. And we have been stepping up, haven't we?"
She let the silence stretch, then smiled again.
"For that reason, I've found a way."
At this point, almost all batch leaders had gathered around: Leo, Ruby, Mirzand, danvy, Rithul, Lolan. Their presence gave the moment weight.
And then—a shadow moved on the rooftop.
Zorvath, hands in his pockets, walked down the stairs at an unhurried pace. His sharp eyes flicked toward Aria, curiosity tugging at his expression.
The crowd shifted, waiting. Something was about to begin.
Aria's voice rang out, calm yet powerful enough to carry across the restless courtyard.
"We are going to start a café. You know it already—it's the Café Corner. Of course, it's famous, and no, it's not some broken-down business. The owner of the café is someone I know. Right now, she isn't in good health, and she trusts us. She's happy to let us take over. And if we work hard, I am certain we can make the café more famous than ever before. With everyone's unique and brilliant ideas, we can spice up the Café Corner and bring it to the next level."
Her words sent a ripple through the crowd.
At first, there was a murmur—curiosity, doubt, excitement—all colliding together.
Then came the louder voices.
A boy from the back shouted, "We're just students! Who do you think you are? Don't you have sense? We don't have the courage or the money to start a business!"
Others joined in, echoing his words.
"She's dreaming!"
"Do you think running a café is child's play?"
But then another voice rose, sharp and defensive.
"Wasn't it all of us who kept complaining about financial matters? Our fees, our supplies, even small things for the school? Did anyone else bring a solution? No. And now that Aria has one, you don't have the courage to support her?"
The words stung, fueling the arguments.
"Yeah! She's offering something practical!"
"You're just scared!"
"Don't talk big if you can't even stand up for yourself!"
The courtyard buzzed with heated debate—students defending, attacking, questioning, answering.
Through it all, Aria stood steady. Her smile never wavered as she raised her voice once more.
"The initial investment—I will take that part. I don't need you to worry about it. What I do need is your support. If you believe in this and have the courage to join me, then come to the hall after lunch. We'll have another meeting there. For those who don't have the courage—it's completely okay. Nobody will force you."
Her words landed with finality. She didn't argue, didn't shout, didn't flinch.
And then, with her usual calm, she turned and walked away.
Behind her, the courtyard was alive with voices—some still defeating her idea, some furiously defending it, others caught in the middle, unsure which way to lean.
But one thing was certain—Aria had shaken KHSS.