The rain had stopped by morning, but the sky was still grey.
Lina walked slowly along the muddy road leading to the village school. Her shoes were old and worn, the soles thin from years of use. Each step made a soft squishing sound in the wet dirt.
She held her books tightly against her chest.
The school building appeared ahead, a simple two-story structure with faded paint and cracked windows.
To most people, it was nothing special.
To Lina, it had always been everything.
She paused outside the gate.
Students were laughing, chatting, and rushing toward their classrooms. Their voices filled the air with a warmth Lina suddenly realized she would soon lose.
Her fingers tightened around her books.
Just one more day, she told herself.
She walked into the classroom quietly.
The teacher hadn't arrived yet. Students filled the room with their usual noise.
"Lina!"
A cheerful voice called out.
It was Sarah, one of her classmates.
"You skipped yesterday. Are you sick?"
"I'm fine," Lina replied with a small smile.
"You missed a surprise math test."
Lina blinked in surprise.
"A test?"
"Yeah, and Adrian got the highest score again."
As if summoned by his name, Adrian Cole looked up from his desk across the room.
Their eyes met.
Adrian's expression changed immediately. He stood up and walked toward her.
"You didn't come yesterday," he said.
His voice was calm, but Lina could see the worry in his eyes.
"I had to help my mother."
Adrian frowned slightly.
"You could have told me."
Lina shrugged gently.
"It wasn't a big deal."
Adrian didn't look convinced.
He glanced at her worn uniform, then at the tired look on her face.
"You look like you didn't sleep."
"I studied."
"That's a lie."
Lina laughed softly.
"You're becoming very good at calling me out."
Adrian crossed his arms.
"That's because I've known you for ten years."
Ten years.
They had grown up in the same classroom.
Studied together.
Competed for the highest scores in exams.
Adrian was always second.
Lina was always first.
"You missed the math test," Adrian said, pulling a notebook from his bag.
"I wrote down all the questions for you."
He handed it to her.
Lina stared at the pages.
Perfect handwriting.
Every equation carefully explained.
Her chest tightened.
"Thank you."
Adrian leaned closer.
"You can still take the test after school. I'll help you study."
Lina looked away.
"There's no need."
Adrian noticed the change in her voice.
"What do you mean?"
For a moment, Lina didn't answer.
The classroom suddenly felt smaller.
Heavier.
"I'm not coming back tomorrow."
The words came out quietly.
But Adrian heard them clearly.
"What?"
Lina forced a calm smile.
"I'm leaving school."
Adrian stared at her like he had misunderstood.
"You're joking."
"I'm not."
"Why?"
Lina looked down at the desk.
Because they couldn't pay rent.
Because her mother was getting sicker.
Because school fees cost more money than they had.
But saying those things out loud felt humiliating.
So she simply said,
"I have to work."
Adrian shook his head immediately.
"You're the smartest student here."
"That doesn't change reality."
"You can get scholarships."
"Not fast enough."
Adrian ran a hand through his hair, clearly frustrated.
"There has to be another way."
Lina looked at him gently.
"Adrian… some people get to choose their future."
She paused.
"And some people don't."
The bell rang loudly, signaling the start of class.
But neither of them moved.
Adrian spoke again, his voice lower this time.
"If money is the problem… I can help."
Lina's expression hardened instantly.
"No."
"You didn't even hear what I was going to say."
"I don't need your charity."
"It's not charity!"
A few students turned to look at them.
Adrian lowered his voice.
"I just don't want you to give up your future."
Lina looked at him quietly.
Then she asked something unexpected.
"Adrian… have you ever been hungry?"
He blinked.
"What?"
"I mean really hungry."
The kind where your stomach hurts so much you can't sleep.
The kind where you pretend you already ate so someone else can have the last bowl of rice.
Adrian didn't answer.
Lina smiled sadly.
"I thought so."
She picked up her books.
"This is my last day."
Adrian suddenly grabbed her wrist.
The contact surprised both of them.
His voice was tense.
"Then come back tomorrow."
"I can't."
"Then the day after."
"Adrian!"
"Or next week!"
Lina gently pulled her hand free.
"It doesn't work like that."
Silence fell between them.
Adrian looked like he was fighting something inside himself.
Finally, he spoke.
"I like you."
The words hung in the air.
Lina froze.
"I've liked you for a long time," he continued.
"I was going to tell you after graduation."
He laughed bitterly.
"But I guess life didn't wait for that."
Lina's heart beat faster.
She had always known.
But hearing it out loud still felt different.
"Adrian…"
"If you leave," he said quietly, "I might never see you again."
Lina looked at him.
For a moment, she imagined a different life.
A life where she stayed.
Where she finished school.
Where maybe… she and Adrian could have something real.
But that life belonged to people who had money.
Not to her.
So she stepped back.
"You'll forget me."
Adrian shook his head immediately.
"No."
Lina smiled softly.
"Then that's your first mistake."
The teacher entered the classroom.
Students rushed to their seats.
But Lina knew something had already ended.
Because tomorrow…
She would no longer be a student.
Tomorrow…
She would begin searching for a life where money mattered more than dreams.
And Adrian Cole would become nothing more than a memory from the past.
Or so she believed.