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!
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