In the sparkling GHSS corridors, Ameya's heels were clicking one after another on the floor. She almost ran toward the group sitting on the sofa — Ria, Neja, Sinas, and a few of his friends were talking about something. Ria held a glass of juice, and the others had some kind of luxurious snacks in their hands.
Ria looked at Ameya and asked, "What's making you so happy?"
Ameya said, "This news is going to make you even happier than me."
Ria looked at her curiously.
Ameya showed her phone. It was a photo of Aria.
"Do you remember her?" Ameya asked.
Ria nodded. Neja, sitting next to Ria, also nodded at the mention of Aria.
Sinas's attention shifted toward Ameya now.
Ameya said, "Don't be afraid of her. She's a lesbian. I got the news from my spy in KHSS. She's in love with a girl named Ruby there."
Sinas straightened up, shocked.
"What?" he asked.
Everyone looked at him.
He adjusted his coat and said, "I have somewhere to go," and left the group. His friends followed him.
Some boys remained there, curious about the gossip.
Ameya sat next to Ria.
Ria said, "Good."
She took off her diamond necklace and handed it to Ameya.
"You've done a good job," Ria said.
Ameya smiled. "Anything for you, friend." She happily took the necklace.
Ria added, "I need one more favor from you."
Ameya looked at her curiously.
"I need all the details about that girl named Ruby," Ria said.
Ameya gave a thumbs-up. "Okay."
Then she turned to Neja and asked, "What about what I asked you? Did you get the details about Aria?"
Neja whispered, "No… give me two more days."
Ria rolled her eyes.
"Ameya, you take that job. Neja is so useless."
With that, Ria walked away.
Ameya gave Neja a disgusted stare and said,
"Look, if you want to stay here, then do whatever Ria says. Look what I got now." She lifted the necklace slightly.
"If you want things like this, and if you want your life to be settled, then be someone who belongs to GHSS. Right now, you're behaving like someone from KHSS."
Ameya said this and quickly followed Ria.
Neja sat there quietly, looking so innocent.
She took her phone and began doing something.
_______________
"No. No, no, no."
Zorvath said firmly.
Aria glared at him.
"Why not? This sports day is another chance for KHSS to shine! Why are you not agreeing?"
"No matter what you say, this is not happening," Zorvath replied.
"You don't know the reason, and I don't want to tell you now."
Aria crossed her arms. "I know—you're afraid we might fail and lose face in front of GHSS. Zorvath, come on, take it easy. Even if we don't win, it's okay!"
She stepped forward, trying to convince him.
"We just want people to know KHSS exists! After sports day, Arts Day is also coming. If we put our name out there first, more students will come to our school. Parents will see our unity… our success… our behaviour—"
"Find another way," Zorvath cut her off.
"This can't happen."
"Why not? Please?"
Aria kept pushing—begging, arguing, begging again.
For almost twenty minutes, they stood on the rooftop, arguing nonstop.
Finally, Zorvath exhaled sharply.
"Fine. Okay."
Aria lit up instantly with a smile.
"But in return," Zorvath added, pointing at her,
"you have to confirm—in front of everyone—that you're not a lesbian or gay. And you will make Sona tell the truth and clear your name."
Aria sighed. "I already know this rumor gave you a bad mood. That's not a problem to me. I'll—"
Before she could finish, Zorvath interrupted her.
"Do it. Or there's no sports day, and no arts day."
With that, he turned around and walked away.
Assembly____
Every student gathered in the auditorium as Zorvath announced.
Aria stood in front of the mic, completely unsure what to say.
She lifted the poster in her hand.
"I have a happy news to tell—"
Before she could finish, Zorvath's voice cut through the hall:
"Say the thing I told you to say first."
Aria shot him a murderous look.
She took a deep breath, put the poster behind her, held the mic again…
She opened her mouth…
Then stopped.
She thought for a second and said loudly,
"I think the one who started all this should be the one to END it."
She signaled with her hand.
Zorvath nodded.
Within two seconds, three boys dragged Sona to the front like she was a criminal caught in a movie scene.
Sona yelled,
"No, no, no! It wasn't ME who spread the rumor! I only told ASHWIN!"
She pointed at Ashwin, who was trying to sneak out of the auditorium like a lizard escaping a cat.
But he was caught.
Red-handed.
Red-faced.
Red-everything.
Then came the confession session.
Sona confessed.
Ashwin confessed.
And Leo, the digital gossip spreader, was also dragged forward by his collar.
Leo said proudly,
"I only forwarded the message 27 times."
Most students didn't even believe the rumor in the first place.
Some were bold.
Some were clueless.
Some were dramatic.
And several broken hearts were magically repaired.
Among the heart-fixed group stood lolan and Riswan, wiping imaginary tears off their faces.
Aria cleared her throat and said, "Since this mess is over… I have something else to break."
The entire auditorium went silent.
All eyes turned to her.
She continued calmly, "Since our café is growing and needs time to bloom, I was thinking—why waste our free time?"
She paused dramatically. "Let's use it."
"How?" she asked.
A student from the back yelled in pure panic, "PLEASE—no extra classes! We already suffer enough!"
The hall burst into laughter.
Aria raised her hand. "Okay, okay. Request accepted. No extra classes."
Everyone sighed in relief.
"But," she added casually, "Instead, I'll cut one class."
The hall froze again.
"And from today onwards—"
she smiled sweetly,
"—it's half-day school."
For two seconds, silence.
Then—
The auditorium EXPLODED.
Cheers. Whistles. Claps. Someone almost cried.
Some students stared at her like she was a goddess. Some looked confused, like they didn't trust their ears.
At the corner of the hall, Zorvath stood completely still, staring at Aria like he had just lost control of the universe.
Aria raised both her hands quickly. "Okay, okay—cool. Let me finish. Let me finish."
The noise slowly died down. The hall went quiet again.
All eyes turned back to her.
This time, they were excited. Curious. Suspicious.
Aria took a breath and said, "Instead of wasting time, we'll be doing sports and arts activities."
The hall went blank.
"We're going to start practicing for the upcoming Sports Day and Arts Day," she added.
Silence.
Complete silence.
Aria smiled nervously. "Are you happy? It's good for our health, good for our school—and it's part of our grand comeback."
No reaction.
Not a clap. Not a cheer.
Students just stared at her like she had spoken in another language.
A few students slowly stood up and began walking out of the auditorium.
Aria's smile faded.
Her eyes moved to Zorvath. He was watching her… and the students… quietly.
A boy shouted from the crowd, "Did YOU even agree to this?"
Zorvath walked to Aria and placed his hand firmly on her shoulder.
Aria tried to move away. He didn't let her.
"Yes," Zorvath said loudly. "And there will be no change in this decision."
The hall murmured.
"Every student here will participate," he continued. "No exceptions."
A girl stood up angrily. "You know everything that's going on! Then why are you—"
"SHUT UP."
Zorvath's voice echoed through the auditorium.
"There's a reason behind everything I do," he said coldly. "And we're not going to stay scared, hiding in holes forever. Understand?"
No one spoke.
With that, Zorvath turned and walked out.
Aria remained standing on the stage, stunned. Confused. Alone.
One by one, students left—some angry, some whispering, some shooting looks at Aria like she had betrayed them.
She tried to stop Sona.
"Sona—wait—"
Sona didn't even turn back. In a low, bitter voice she said, "You know nothing, Aria. Please leave us alone. Can't you just mind your own business?"
That hurt more than the shouting.
Aria lowered her head. She picked up her backpack and turned to leave.
That's when she noticed—
One boy still sitting there.
Calm. Silent. Unmoved.
Rithul.
Still in his seat. Still watching.
Waiting.