"You don't have to hate someone to leave them. You just need the right reason."
[Scene: Lyserra Academy – Friday Afternoon – Music Wing Balcony]
Samuel leaned on the balcony rail, earbuds in, watching the grey clouds roll in. His hoodie sleeves were half-tugged over his palms, the way he always wore them when he didn't want to be noticed. The courtyard below was buzzing with whispers — Tony's betrayal was still the topic of the day.
He hadn't spoken to Tony since yesterday. Just a single "hope you're okay" text. Left on seen.
The group chat was a graveyard. James hadn't typed a word in hours. Riven hadn't replied to anything.
Samuel sat with that silence. He always had.
[Scene: Arisa Appears]
"You always hide up here, huh?"
Samuel blinked. Pulled out one earbud. Arisa was standing behind him, her voice soft like falling rain.
"I didn't mean to intrude," she added, stepping beside him. "I just... needed air."
She wore a loose cardigan, her hair tied in a soft bun. No makeup. No pretense. She looked tired.
"Everyone's losing their minds," she sighed. "I didn't want to be a part of the circus."
Samuel nodded slightly. "Yeah. Me neither."
They stood in silence. Just the wind.
[Scene: The Vulnerability Begins]
"Can I tell you something?" she asked.
He looked at her, unsure.
"I know you all think I'm the manipulative one. The one who messed with Tony, who started everything..."
She looked down.
"But I was scared. I still am. Riven... he doesn't talk. Not really. He just controls."
Samuel's eyes narrowed slightly.
"He doesn't control us."
She met his gaze, calm.
"Doesn't he? You ever disagree with him? Ever tell him no and he still smiled at you the same?"
Samuel looked away.
She stepped closer. Not aggressively. Just... near.
"You're the only one who actually listens. I've seen it. You're quiet, but you care. You're not just another loud voice."
Her hand brushed his.
"I just needed someone to see me."
He didn't move.
[Scene: The First Touch]
Arisa sat beside him on the narrow balcony bench. Her shoulder touched his.
She spoke softly. About her father. About never being enough. About being terrified of being seen as a joke.
Samuel didn't speak much. But his chest ached.
She leaned into him.
"You make me feel safe," she whispered. "Even now."
She turned her head slightly. Just enough.
Their lips brushed. Light. Almost not a kiss.
"Don't tell anyone," she whispered against his cheek. "Not even Riven."
She stood and left.
He sat there frozen.
[Scene: Saturday – Late Night – Group Chat Silence]
Samuel scrolled.
Riven had sent a single message.
"Meeting tomorrow. Noon. Don't flake."
Samuel left it on read.
His hands shook.
Arisa had texted him earlier:
"Still thinking about yesterday. About you."
His reply sat unsent.
[Scene: Sunday – Riven Waits Alone]
Noon. Empty rooftop.
Riven sat on the railing. Shades on. Arms crossed.
No Tony.
No James.
No Samuel.
He exhaled. Pulled his phone.
Last chat:
RIVEN: "Don't flake." SEEN: 11:23 AM
No reply.
He pocketed the phone. Smiled faintly.
"Two dogs down." "The quiet one next. Cute."
[Scene: Arisa – Alone in Her Room]
She stared out the window. Rain tapping the glass. Samuel's hoodie lay folded on her desk.
She texted him again:
"It gets easier once you let go. I promise."
Then she deleted the thread.
"One left."
"You don't have to hate someone to leave them. You just need the right reason."
[Scene: Lyserra Academy – Friday Afternoon – Music Wing Balcony]
Samuel leaned on the balcony rail, earbuds in, watching the grey clouds roll in. His hoodie sleeves were half-tugged over his palms, the way he always wore them when he didn't want to be noticed. The courtyard below was buzzing with whispers — Tony's betrayal was still the topic of the day.
He hadn't spoken to Tony since yesterday. Just a single "hope you're okay" text. Left on seen.
The group chat was a graveyard. James hadn't typed a word in hours. Riven hadn't replied to anything.
Samuel sat with that silence. He always had.
[Scene: Arisa Appears]
"You always hide up here, huh?"
Samuel blinked. Pulled out one earbud. Arisa was standing behind him, her voice soft like falling rain.
"I didn't mean to intrude," she added, stepping beside him. "I just... needed air."
She wore a loose cardigan, her hair tied in a soft bun. No makeup. No pretense. She looked tired.
"Everyone's losing their minds," she sighed. "I didn't want to be a part of the circus."
Samuel nodded slightly. "Yeah. Me neither."
They stood in silence. Just the wind.
[Scene: The Vulnerability Begins]
"Can I tell you something?" she asked.
He looked at her, unsure.
"I know you all think I'm the manipulative one. The one who messed with Tony, who started everything..."
She looked down.
"But I was scared. I still am. Riven... he doesn't talk. Not really. He just controls."
Samuel's eyes narrowed slightly.
"He doesn't control us."
She met his gaze, calm.
"Doesn't he? You ever disagree with him? Ever tell him no and he still smiled at you the same?"
Samuel looked away.
She stepped closer. Not aggressively. Just... near.
"You're the only one who actually listens. I've seen it. You're quiet, but you care. You're not just another loud voice."
Her hand brushed his.
"I just needed someone to see me."
He didn't move.
[Scene: Deeper Strings]
They sat together, back against the wall. Rain began to patter on the roof. Arisa pulled her knees up to her chest, like a child. She told him stories.
About the first time she was publicly humiliated in primary school. About her mother calling her a burden. About the night she cried herself to sleep alone in the dorms, the first week of school.
Samuel listened.
"You ever feel like you're just... existing so someone else can feel powerful?" she asked.
He nodded slowly.
"I used to think Tony was the one being used. But Riven... he knows exactly what he's doing. He's charming. Everyone laughs, and they think that means love."
She leaned against Samuel. Her voice dropped to a hush.
"But you don't laugh loud. You listen. You're steady. I trust you."
Her fingers found his again. Intertwined.
"I wish I had met you first."
She said it like a secret, like she wasn't supposed to.
He looked at her. This close, he could see the cracks in her voice, the redness around her eyes.
Arisa leaned in. Kissed his cheek first. Then paused.
Then kissed his lips.
Soft. Deliberate.
When she pulled away, her breath trembled against his skin.
"Don't tell anyone," she whispered, one last time. "Not even him."
And just like that, she slipped out the door, leaving the echo of her scent behind.
[Scene: Saturday – Late Night – Group Chat Silence]
Samuel scrolled.
Riven had sent a single message.
"Meeting tomorrow. Noon. Don't flake."
Samuel left it on read.
His hands shook.
Arisa had texted him earlier:
> "Still thinking about yesterday. About you."
He typed:
"We shouldn't have... right?"
She replied instantly:
> "It wasn't wrong. It was real. Just between us."
[Scene: Sunday – Riven Waits Alone]
Noon. Empty rooftop.
Riven sat on the railing. Shades on. Arms crossed.
No Tony.
No James.
No Samuel.
He exhaled. Pulled his phone.
Last chat:
RIVEN: "Don't flake." SEEN: 11:23 AM
No reply.
He pocketed the phone. Smiled faintly.
> "Two dogs down." "The quiet one next. Cute."
[Scene: Arisa – Alone in Her Room]
She stared out the window. Rain tapping the glass. Samuel's hoodie lay folded on her desk.
She texted him again:
> "It gets easier once you let go. I promise."