The morning of that day carried a different tune, filled with serenity and light.
Ahmed woke up to the warmth of the sun's rays that crept through the window, gently touching his face like a nostalgic caress. He rose from his bed with a faint smile, the echo of Misaki's words from last night still resonating in his heart, like a sincere promise that never loses its shine.
He left his apartment heading to school, the city around him slowly waking up, resembling his heart which was filled with a strange calm and hidden happiness.
When he arrived, the schoolyard was teeming with the sounds and laughter of students, while he walked with confident steps through the crowd, searching with his eyes for a face that had become accustomed to lighting up his day.
And his wait wasn't long...
There was Misaki, standing by her book locker, arranging some of her notebooks carefully, her long brown hair swaying on her shoulders in perfect harmony with her gentle movement.
When she spotted him, she became slightly flustered, then offered a small smile that held everything that had gone unsaid.
He approached her lightly, and said in a low, warm voice:
"Good morning, Misaki."
She replied, gently closing her locker without taking her eyes off him:
"Good morning, Ahmed..."
Then she laughed shyly as she added:
"You seem to have slept well after last evening."
He smiled, and in his eyes was the sparkle of gratitude and tranquility:
"Yes... it was an unforgettable night."
They then walked the corridor together, talking about the day's classes and upcoming activities, small laughs creeping between their words like a soft melody.
Everything was simple... warm... like a small dream come true without noise.
But, as they turned into a less crowded side corridor, the sounds around them gradually faded, as if silence preceded something unexpected.
Misaki looked around in surprise and said:
"The corridor here seems very quiet today..."
Ahmed smiled faintly, but before he could reply, the quiet was pierced by the sound of strange, loud laughter coming from afar—laughter that didn't carry joy, but something else... something disturbing.
He stopped for a moment and turned his head toward the source of the sound, while Misaki followed him with an apprehensive gaze.
The quiet moment that had brought them together was about to be broken...
Unbeknownst to them, the morning that started with an innocent smile would lead them to a scene they never expected.