The One Who Remembers
As long as i'm with you
Mornings in their town always began in a rush. Students gathering in uniforms, Car honking impatiently, and vendors calling out for early customers. In the middle of that noise, Aria thrived. She walked with steady strides, the kind of presence that made people part way without her asking.
People often looked at her as someone who had it all together. Aria was the girl who knew how to lead a group project, how to speak her mind in class without faltering, how to make friends in every corner of the schoolyard.
Teachers admired her confidence. Friends admired her strength. Even strangers could feel the ease with which she moved, as though she was certain of her place in the world.
But certainty was a lie. Beneath the surface, Aria’s skin felt like a prison she could not escape. Every smile she wore in front of others was laced with a private bitterness, every victory soured by an inner voice that whispered she was unworthy.
She could not explain it, not even to herself. For reasons she could not name, she despised her own being. And though no one else saw it, the hatred lived in her like a quiet, stubborn flame.
Still, Aria carried on. Her friends crowded around her during breaks, pulling her into their laughter. She told stories, cracked jokes, gave advice. If she hated herself, she refused to let the world see it.
But there was one person who saw through her anyway. 𝘼𝙞𝙖𝙝.
Aiah’s presence was a comfort everyone gravitated toward. She was the kind of girl who remembered people’s birthdays, who offered her shoulder when someone cried, who carried responsibilities no one her age should have had to bear.
At home, she was the eldest daughter, the one her siblings leaned on when their parents fought, the one her mother called for when bills piled up, the one who carried the invisible weight of keeping everyone together.
At school, she was the friend who always knew when someone was hurting, even when they smiled. The one who stayed up late to help with projects, even if it meant sacrificing her own rest.
Aiah’s strength was the kind that went unnoticed until you leaned on it. Then you realized she had been holding you all along.
But even Aiah had her limits. There were nights when she collapsed on her bed, wishing just once that someone would take care of her. Nights when she cried quietly into her pillow, not wanting to let anyone know she was breaking too.
And in those moments, Aria was the one who found her.
It was strange how the two of them fit together. Aria, the leader who hated herself, and Aiah, the caretaker who was often too tired to care for herself. They balanced each other in ways no one else could.
Their classmates joked that the two were inseparable, like halves of a whole. Some even whispered they were more than friends, but neither paid attention to the rumors. Their bond was something beyond labels.
With Aria, Aiah could stop being “the strong one.” With Aiah, Aria could stop pretending she loved herself. They didn’t need to explain it to anyone—it was enough that they understood each other.
One afternoon, they sat by the church steps, watching the sun bleed into the horizon. Children played tag nearby, their laughter ringing through the air.
Aria
You know what’s funny?
Aria said, her tone unusually quiet.
Aria
Everyone thinks I’m so sure of myself. But sometimes, I feel like I’m wearing someone else’s life. Like this isn’t me.
Aiah leaned back, stretching her arms.
Aiah
You’re overthinking again. People love you because you’re you.
Aria smiled faintly, though it didn’t reach her eyes.
Aria
Maybe. Or maybe they only love what I show them.
Aiah didn’t press further. She knew Aria well enough to recognize the walls she built when conversations got too close to the truth.
Instead, she changed the subject.
Aiah
What if one day you just… disappeared? Like, poof, gone. What do you think would happen?
Aria
People would move on. That’s what people do.
Aiah shook her head. She tapped her chest lightly.
Aiah
Not me. I’d know. I’d feel it here.
Aria looked at her for a long moment.
Aria
Then how would you know if I came back? Let’s say, in another body, another face. Would you recognize me?
Aiah
You’re getting weird again. But fine. You’d have to prove it. Tell me something only we know. Our secrets. Our rants. The things we hate about people but never say out loud.
They both laughed, the sound echoing against the stone walls of the church. To anyone else, it was just a silly conversation between friends. But to them, it felt like something unspoken had been sealed in that moment.
As the sun dipped lower, painting their faces in fading light, Aria thought quietly to herself
Aria
“If I ever disappeared, it wouldn’t matter where I ended up. As long as Aiah could still see me, maybe I wouldn’t be lost after all.”
Author: Be kind. I promise I’ll do my best to finish this story—I won’t let myself get lazy. I’ll keep updating it. Also, all the pictures I use are not mine, credits will be in the comment box, so please check them out. Thank you for reading.
The 4 of Us Again
The morning light filtered through Aria’s curtains, spilling across her desk cluttered with notebooks, pens, and an unfinished snack from the night before. It was the kind of morning that promised nothing extraordinary
With a groggy sigh, she reached for her phone. The glow of the group chat was the first thing she saw, a familiar routine that made her mornings feel less lonely.
Aria typed with heavy fingers
Aria
💬 Are we meeting up before class?
Predictably, there was no answer from Kael. He was never awake this early.
Aiah’s reply came almost instantly
Aiah
💬 Yes. Let’s grab breakfast at the convenience store.
Kayden was next, his tone playful as always.
Kayden
💬 I’m broke. Aria, cover me please.
Aria smirked and typed back
Aiah reacted with laughing emojis while Kayden replied with a dramatic gif. Their group chat always began with this kind of banter—lighthearted, comforting in its consistency.
Kael’s silence was no surprise. Aiah already knew he was still asleep, probably buried under his blanket, immune to alarms.
Sometimes she called him again and again, her patience thinning as he mumbled half-awake excuses. He was always late, but somehow it never felt like carelessness.
Kael had that balance about him—quiet, measured, steady. When it came to Aiah, especially, he was careful with how he handled their relationship.
People admired him for it. He was the kind of boyfriend most girls would want. respectful, thoughtful, and confident enough to show both strength and softness.
Their relationship had its arguments, like any other. But Kael and Aiah both believed the same thing
“what belonged to them stayed between them.”
That principle made everything easier for the group. Unlike other circles where a couple often caused friction, their friendship remained whole.
Aria sometimes teased Kael mercilessly about his obsession with coffee. He couldn’t go a day without it, and he dragged them to every new café he discovered.
Aria
If Aiah ever leaves you, you’ll just end up marrying a cappuccino.
Kael had only smiled faintly, sipping his drink without a word. He knew Aria’s sharp tongue carried no real malice.
Still, there was always a subtle rivalry between them. Both wanted to be Aiah’s number one.
“the person she leaned on most.”
The competition never poisoned their friendship; if anything, it anchored it.
Kayden, meanwhile, played a completely different role. He was the group’s comedian, always ready to make a fool of himself just to make them laugh.
His humor never failed to break tension. Even when the day felt heavy, Kayden could always lighten it.
But there had been a time when his laughter had hidden something deeper. For nearly a year, Kayden had quietly carried feelings for Aria.
He never confessed. He knew her too well, knew how fiercely she guarded the boundary between friendship and romance.
He feared losing her more than he wanted to admit how he felt. So he swallowed it down until the feelings dulled, fading into nothing but memory.
Now, what remained was uncomplicated friendship. Clean, simple, and enough.
Everyone else in the group knew, of course. Everyone except Aria.
And perhaps it was better that way. The balance they had now was too precious to disturb.
Kayden carried on, his laughter louder than his old heartbreak, his friendship steady enough to mean more than any romance ever could.
As Aria packed her bag, her phone buzzed again.
Aiah
I’m waiting outside. Hurry up.
She slung the strap over her shoulder and stepped out, greeted by Aiah’s familiar figure at the gate.
Aria
Kael’s still asleep, isn’t he?
Aria said, locking the door behind her.
Aiah
Of course. I even called him before I left. Nothing.
Aria
Your boyfriend’s basically a snooze button.
Aiah said, though her laugh betrayed her amusement.
They walked together, the crisp morning air brushing their faces.
At the corner, Kayden came jogging toward them, his hair still messy and his backpack barely zipped.
he asked, already grinning.
Aria shot back, elbowing him.
Their bickering was so normal, so ingrained in their friendship, that even passersby turned to smile at their energy.
Inside the convenience store, Aiah and Aria picked up rice meals while Kayden stacked instant noodles and chips on his tray.
Aria
You’re going to kill yourself eating like that
Kayden
Better to die happy
Kayden said between exaggerated slurps.
Aiah
You two argue like siblings.
Aria
That’s because he’s unbearable
Kayden countered smoothly
Kayden
that’s because she enjoys it.
Kayden
Their laughter rang out, spilling into the ordinary morning air, familiar as their own reflections.
damp hair, coffee in hand, apology written in his faint smile—the group felt whole again, four threads knotted tightly into a bond that made the ordinary feel unshakably safe.
Aria
Name: Aria Cortiz
Age: 19 years old
Aiah
Name: Aiah Gonzales
Age: 19 years old
Kayden
Name: Kayden Jacob
Age: 20 years old
Kael
Name: Kael Covey
Age: 19 years old
Author’s Note: Once again, I want to clarify that the pictures are not mine. I’ll be giving proper credits or links to where the pictures came from in the comment box. Thank you, and have a nice day!
Exhausting
The hallway smelled faintly of chalk and floor polish, buzzing with voices as students shuffled to their classrooms. The four of them had split after breakfast, promising to regroup for the big debate later.
Aria dropped into her seat, rolling her shoulders as if that alone could release the stiffness already gathering there. Her desk was scattered with notes and highlighted papers—evidence of nights spent reviewing arguments until her eyes blurred.
Aiah leaned over from the row behind, chin propped on her hand.
Aiah
You didn’t sleep, did you?
Aiah’s voice was soft but firm, like a warning cloaked in care.
Aria
I’ll manage. I always do.
Kayden, sliding into the seat across the aisle, grinned as he tossed his bag down.
Kayden
If she passes out mid-argument, I call dibs on finishing her lines.
Aria
You don’t even know the topic🙄
Kayden
Exactly. Makes it more fun.🤩
He twirled his pen like he was auditioning for comedy, drawing a few chuckles from their classmates.
Kael, who had been silent at the window seat, finally spoke.
Kael
This isn’t a joke. If she fails, the whole team fails.
His tone was clipped, eyes on his notes.
Kayden raised his hands in surrender.
Kayden
Relax, soldier. I’m just keeping the mood light.
Aria smirked faintly but said nothing. Kael’s bluntness wasn’t cruelty—it was his way of refusing to let her slip under the weight she carried.
Their Prof, Sir Daniel, entered the room, silencing the chatter with his calm authority. h
Sir Daniel
Debate team, AVR now. Everyone else, group work.
The words sent a ripple through the room. Whispers followed Aria as she stood, notebooks clutched against her chest.
Mika, a classmate, muttered just loud enough.
Roxanne
Of course. Who else would they choose?
Aiah slipped beside Aria, shooting the girls a look that cut off further comments.
Aiah
Ignore them. You’ve earned it.
Aria managed a small smile.
Aria and her group made their way to the stage.
Beside them, the opposing team was already seated—polished, prepared, and smirking with quiet confidence.
Aria settled at the table, flipping through her notes. The words blurred for a moment, her mind drifting like static.
The debate began. Marco, the opposing speaker, launched his opening with sharp precision.
Aria’s pulse raced as she rose for her turn. Her voice steadied as it filled the room, slicing through points one by one.
Aria
Today, we discuss silent wars—battles waged not with guns, but through corruption, neglect, and the choices that leave ordinary people to suffer. Hunger, poverty, and death are silent casualties, while political greed persists unchecked. And yet, the decisions of citizens also shape these outcomes, often worsening the crisis despite good intentions
Applause followed, but she barely heard it. All she felt was the burn in her throat and the tightness in her chest.
Aiah’s supportive nod caught her eye. That small gesture pulled her back, a reminder that she wasn’t standing alone.
The second round tested her more. Marco struck again, dismantling her earlier argument with confidence that drew gasps from the audience.
Aria tightened her grip on the podium. Her counter came sharp, but the words clawed their way out like they weighed tons.
Aria
These silent wars are fought in classrooms, markets, and homes. The innocent die in silence, and yet our political systems remain unaccountable. We cannot ignore that the consequences of both leadership and citizen choice have real, deadly weight.
Aria’s rebuttal ended strong despite the tremor in her voice. The applause this time was louder, the victory more decisive.
The team won the round. Relief swept the group, but Aria only sank into her chair, drained beyond measure.
Aiah brushed her arm lightly.
Aiah
You did it. I’m proud of you.
Kael’s voice came next, low but firm.
Kael
You wasted energy on defense. Conserve it next time.
The words stung, but Aria nodded. With Kael, even criticism carried an odd kind of faith.
Kayden stretched dramatically.
Kayden
Well, you didn’t faint. Better than I expected.
Aria threw him a tired glare. He only grinned wider.
Sir Daniel approached, laying a hand on her shoulder.
Sir Daniel
You carry too much alone. Start training your team to share the weight.
she replied, though her chest told her she wouldn’t.
The rest of the day blurred into errands: organizing booth layouts, signing club forms, settling minor conflicts between classmates.
Mika
Aria, can you handle this?
Mika asked sweetly, handing her another set of papers.
Aiah
You don’t have to say yes every time.
Aria
It’s easier if I just do it
Aria didn’t answer, scribbling her name on the forms.
By mid-afternoon, she was still running between classrooms. Kayden eventually found her crouched by the printer, hair falling over her face.
Kayden
Aria, you planning to live here?
Aria
Shut up. I’m almost done.
Kael appeared behind him, arms crossed.
Kael
She’ll collapse at this rate.
Aria snapped, though her shaking hands betrayed her.
Aiah arrived moments later, holding a bottle of water. She pressed it into Aria’s palm.
Aria sighed but obeyed, the cool water easing her throat.
Aiah
Some things are easier if you let someone else help.
For once, Aria let the words sink in.
The sun dipped low by dismissal, painting the hallways in warm gold. Students streamed out, laughter bouncing off walls.
The four of them walked together, Kayden humming some ridiculous tune to fill the silence.
Kael
You’re exhausting, you know that?
Kael muttered to Aria, not unkindly.
Aria
Takes one to know one
she replied, lips twitching.
Aiah nudged her playfully.
Aiah
At least you’re not boring.
They all laughed, though Aria’s was thinner than usual.
At home, her room greeted her with silence. She dropped her bag, staring at the unfinished notes scattered on her desk.
She sat before the mirror, staring at her reflection longer than she should have.
The face that stared back looked familiar but wrong—like someone else was wearing her skin.
She blinked, but the unease clung stubbornly.
A sudden downpour rattled against her window, harsh and unannounced.
Thunder rolled, vibrating through her chest.
She pressed her forehead against the glass, watching raindrops race down like fragments of time she couldn’t hold.
For a moment, she imagined herself vanishing into that rain, dissolving unnoticed into the storm.
Aiah
💬Rest. You did so well today. Don’t push yourself.
A small warmth flickered in Aria’s chest. If nothing else, she had Aiah’s steady presence.
Kayden
💬Don’t die. Who else would yell at me?
Aria rolled her eyes, though the corner of her lips curved faintly.
Kael’s message arrived last
Kael
💬Don’t repeat today. Learn from it.
The contrast between their voices was stark—but each in their own way had reached out.
As the storm raged on outside, Aria whispered to herself
Aria
“wonder how long mornings like this will last.”
Sir Daniel
Name: Daniel Alexander
Age: 42
Mika
Name: Mika Sussanè
Age: 19
Author’s Note: Thank you for reading! Disclaimer: The photos used are not mine. All credits go to the original owners. I’m unable to share the links here as it’s not allowed. Thank you!
Download NovelToon APP on App Store and Google Play
