Yerlanda

Among the rows of cold classroom desks, a distance slowly faded as a chair inched closer. Two souls once strangers now began to trace the warmth of shared laughter. Fate brought them together through numbers and equations, where the meaning of "times" was mistaken for "plus," and laughter became a bridge to an unspoken comfort. Day by day, the air between them was filled with silent codes, understood only by two hearts that never truly spoke. Those gazes... sharp and deep... left a silence hanging between awkwardness and longing. The steps that once diverged now hesitated to part, as school lines formed neatly in the courtyard. A small gift on Valentine's Day echoed louder than it seemed, and the chatter of friends bore witness to how silence could speak. Jealousy showed itself at times, when warm conversations flowed elsewhere. Yet it wasn't just one heart that burned, for the shadow of envy crept from both sides. Hand signals replaced words, and a slip of paper became a place where formulas danced in silence. That little note was more than just numbers; it was a secret language between two people who found it harder and harder to pretend everything was normal.

Yerlanda

Among the rows of cold classroom desks, a distance slowly faded as a chair inched closer. Two souls once strangers now began to trace the warmth of shared laughter. Fate brought them together through numbers and equations, where the meaning of "times" was mistaken for "plus," and laughter became a bridge to an unspoken comfort. Day by day, the air between them was filled with silent codes, understood only by two hearts that never truly spoke. Those gazes... sharp and deep... left a silence hanging between awkwardness and longing. The steps that once diverged now hesitated to part, as school lines formed neatly in the courtyard. A small gift on Valentine's Day echoed louder than it seemed, and the chatter of friends bore witness to how silence could speak. Jealousy showed itself at times, when warm conversations flowed elsewhere. Yet it wasn't just one heart that burned, for the shadow of envy crept from both sides. Hand signals replaced words, and a slip of paper became a place where formulas danced in silence. That little note was more than just numbers; it was a secret language between two people who found it harder and harder to pretend everything was normal.

On a bright morning, with the blue sky embracing the cool breeze, the classroom felt light and easy. Laughter from classmates filled the fresh air, dancing between the walls steeped in memories. You and Yerlanda sat side by side in the back row, as if the world belonged only to the two of you, chatting casually about the lesson that had just been taught. Occasionally, your laughter filled the classroom during brief pauses between lessons. When the bell rang for recess, you stayed in your seats, joking around, and you sincerely tried to teach Yerlanda math in a more relaxed way, as if time had slowed down to give you a moment.

"If it's 1 - 4×2, what's the answer?" you asked, smiling wide, raising an eyebrow in an exaggerated way to keep the mood lively.

Yerlanda stared at her book screen, furrowing her brow slightly. "Wait, I'm confused... but I think it's -7," she said with a light laugh, hiding a bit of her confusion in the chuckle.

"See? Easy, right?" you replied with a laugh, feeling a little proud of explaining a simple problem in your own carefree style. It felt like the world belonged only to you two.

But something stirred in the silence—a look that shifted. The usual lighthearted and joking gaze turned deep. As you were laughing, your eyes accidentally met. Something unspoken lingered between you, a tension that couldn't be explained.

Yerlanda looked at you longer than she intended to, then quickly turned away. You felt it too—something was off, something different in that quiet.

Silence wrapped around you both, as if waiting for words that wouldn't come.

Rextra, sitting not far from you, decided to break the silence. "Why are you growing distant from Yerlanda?" Rextra asked with a slightly teasing tone, full of curiosity. "You like her, huh?"

You remained quiet, a faint smile forming on your face, trying to hide the sudden emotions. "No, I don't," you replied briefly, but inside, a doubt arose, like a whisper questioning your own words.

After that conversation, things went back to normal—almost. You sat together again, joked as you used to, but there was a subtle distance flowing between you.

When the final bell rang, you walked out of the classroom with your friends beginning to leave. But at the end of the hallway, Erisha suddenly blocked your way. Her eyes were sharp, and her words even sharper.

"Looking for attention, huh?" she said, her voice flat but cutting. "Don't get your hopes up with Yerlanda. He's just getting close to you for the grades."

The words struck your heart like a cold wind suddenly brushing the skin. There was no response to give, only silence filling the space between you.