The entire school was buzzing with energy as the Culture and Art Festival approached. Banners fluttered in the corridors, rehearsals echoed through classrooms, and every corner of the school vibrated with laughter and excitement.
Sara spotted Wail standing near the notice board, leaning casually like he ruled the world.
Sara (walking up to him):
"So… you're really not taking part in the festival?"
Wail (smirking):
"Maybe I am. Maybe I'm not."
Sara (crossing her arms):
"Why are you always so confusing? Can't you ever be honest about your feelings?"
Wail (coolly):
"Girl, I'm Wail Shah. I don't get confused. I always know what I'm doing."
Sara (rolling her eyes):
"Yeah… great Wail Shah. By the way—how are your wounds? Still hurting?"
For a moment, his gaze drops. His fingers tighten slightly around the strap of his bag.
Then he lifts his chin, his expression unreadable.
Wail:Hurting? Me?" (He scoffs)
You forgot—I'm cold-hearted. That's what people say, right? A heartless guy, pro at playing with feelings. And heartless people don't feel pain… Sara."
He gave a bitter smile and turned away.
Sara stood frozen. Her eyes welled up with tears, one silently slipping down her cheek.
Ahmed (suddenly appearing):
"Hey Sara! You okay? Are you… crying?"
Sara (snapping, voice trembling):
"Just go to hell!"
Ahmed (blinking, confused):
"Whoa... what did I even do?"
---
Scene: Festival Sign-Up & Spark of Memories
Everyone was gathered around the monitor, busy writing their names for the upcoming festival. The excitement was loud, contagious. Just then, Zayan walked over to Zara, a soft smile playing on his lips.
Zayan: "Hey."
Zara: "Hello."
Zayan: "So… you really decided not to participate in the festival?"
Zara paused, then gave him a small, genuine smile.
Zara: "No… I will participate. Someone once told me—'just be you, and try hard enough to shine.'"
Zayan's face lit up.
Zayan: "Ooh, that's the spirit, girl! I knew you could do it. There's nothing Zara can't do."
Zara looked at him, her smile fading into a curious gaze. His words… they felt familiar—like something she had heard long ago—but from where? From whom?
A soft silence stretched for a moment.
Zayan (teasing): "So? Let's go, Queen."
She shook off the strange feeling, smiling again as they both walked over to the monitor and signed their names.
Just then, the teacher entered the class.
Teacher: "Alright students, take your places. I have an announcement—starting today, there will be no regular classes. All students will report to the auditorium for festival preparations."
The whole class erupted in cheers and excitement.
Students (shouting): "YEAHHHHH!!"
---
Scene: School Hall — Festival Rehearsal
The school hall buzzed with excitement. Students gathered in clusters, laughing and chatting.
Ahmed (grinning): Bro, I'm so happy today.
Zayan: What happened? Did your girl come back?
Ahmed: Maybe! But mostly I'm hyped for the festival—especially the food stalls!
Boy 1: You and your food obsession! By the way, Zayan, where's Wali ?
Zayan: No idea. He vanished after class.
Suddenly, the teacher clapped her hands, calling for attention.
Teacher: Okay everyone, exciting update! We've added a new category this year — Couple Dance!
The students erupted in cheers.
Ahmed: Oh wow! I hope I get to dance with my crush.
Zayan (raising an eyebrow): Who?
Ahmed (dreamily): Sara...
Suddenly, a cup of hot coffee splashed onto Ahmed's shirt.
Ahmed (yelling): Bro! What's your problem?! That's burning!
Wali (smirking): Don't cry like a baby. Go wash it.
Ahmed: You're the king of devils, you know that?
Wali gave him a proud, unapologetic grin.
Zayan: Wait, you're actually taking part in the competition?
Wali (coolly): Yep.
Boy 2: No way, now it's gonna be wild. The boss is here.
He pointed at Wali , who gave a confident nod.
Wali : Of course.
Teacher: Now listen—boys will come up one by one and pick a slip of paper. The name written is your partner.
One by one, the boys came forward to pick their partners.
Ahmed (reads the slip): Oh yes! It's Sara!
Sara (groaning): Not again!
Ahmed gave Wali a triumphant look like he just won a trophy.
Zoya (muttering nervously): Please God, not Wali . Anyone but not him.
Teacher: Next… Wali.
Wail (reads): Zara.
Zoya immediately hugged Zara.
Zoya: Thank God I'm safe.
Zara (stunned): What the hell? Why him again?
---
Scene: Couple Dance Rehearsals Begin
Teacher: Okay, okay—everyone go stand with your assigned partners!
Wali (grinning): Oh, we meet again…
Zara (calmly): Yeah, but this time as enemies, not lovers.
Wali (smirking): Boom. Couple dance with my beloved enemy? Sounds spicy.
Teacher: Alright students, but there's a twist. You won't be allowed to touch your partner. You must dance from a mirror distance. This will show how strong your chemistry is without physical contact.
Ahmed (muttering): But I hate chemistry…
Wali : Then build physics, bro.
The entire class bursts into laughter.
Teacher (suppressing a smile): Okay, okay, quiet down. Let's begin with Wali and Zara.
Zara looked nervous as she stepped forward. Wail turned toward her, softening his tone.
Wali (gently): Girl, don't be nervous. Just look into my eyes—and forget, just for a moment, that I'm your enemy.
As the music played, they began dancing.
Though no hands touched, every move matched like a reflection. Zara's gaze locked into Wail's—something about the way he looked at her, steady and sure, made the whole world blur around them. The room faded; it felt like just the two of them.
Ahmed (whispering): How can someone be so chill with his ex?
Boy 1: He's Wali Shah, bro—he's a pro at playing people.
Meanwhile, in the corner, Zayan watched them, frozen. His grip on a glass tightened unconsciously.
CRACK.
The glass shattered in his hand, blood dripping from his palm.
Zoya (alarmed): Zayan! Your hand—you're bleeding!
Zayan (snapping out of it): Ah... don't worry. It's nothing. I'll clean it.
He left silently, holding his bleeding hand.
Teacher: Well done, Wali and Zara! The rest of you—aim for that level of energy and coordination.
---
After the rehearsal...
Zoya: Zayan, are you okay?
Zayan (softly): Hm...
Zoya: So... you still love her, don't you?
Zayan paused, lips parted—but before he could respond, Sara appeared suddenly and grabbed his arm.
Sara (hurriedly): Zayan! Please, come with me—now!
Zayan (startled): Where? What's wrong?
Sara: I'll explain on the way—just come!
She pulled him away, leaving Zoya staring, worried and confused.
Scene — Wail & Zara Emotional Confrontation
---
Zara noticed Wali walking through the corridor, his head low, lost in his own world. She suddenly stepped in front of him.
Wali (startled):
"Girl—are you a ghost?! You nearly gave me a heart attack."
Zara (confident, firm):
"We need to talk."
Wail (shrugging):
"I don't want to."
Zara grabbed his arm tightly.
Zara:
"Do you even have a heart?"
Wali (smirking):
"Nope. I have a motherboard."
Zara (frustrated):
"Wali ! Why is everything a joke to you? Can't you just act… normal?"
Wali (coldly):
"Excuse me, but can you explain what you actually want?"
Zara's voice cracked. Tears slipped down her cheeks.
Zara (broken):
"Wali … did you ever really love me?
Was everything fake?
Your promises… your words… your eyes — were they all just acting? Just a drama?"
Wali smiled bitterly and stepped closer.
Wali (ice-cold):
"Yes. It was all fake — my words, my feelings, even my eyes.
Just like our so-called dance practice today."
Zara (devastated):
"How can you do this, Wali ? You're hurting me.
No—you're still hurting me.
I can't take it anymore.
I'm done, Wali . I'm done."
Wali raised his eyebrow, voice low but sharp.
"I didn't do anything wrong, Zara.
I just gave you a taste of what you gave Ali.
Remember?"
Zara (snapping):
"Wali ! Why don't you understand?
I didn't do anything wrong with him — that accident… it wasn't my fault!"
That's when it happened.
Wali 's rage boiled over.
He stepped forward — fast.
Too fast.
He slammed his hand on the wall beside her head — his other hand gripping her wrist.
Their faces inches apart.
His breath harsh. His eyes burning with fury.
Wali (shouting):
"Don't act innocent with me, Zara Jahangir!
The wound you gave me — it didn't just break my heart.
It broke my soul.
Because of you, I lost my buddy… my brother… Ali."
His voice cracked with pain.
Wali :
"I suffered. And now… I gave the pain back.
Every word you feel… every tear…
It's just a return gift."
Zara stood frozen.
Terrified.
Silent.
She couldn't even lift her eyes.
Wali finally let go of her wrist. His hand dropped from the wall.
He gave a small, bitter smile.
Wali (coldly):
"Oh, and one more thing...
You said I hurt you once?
No, sweetheart—
I hurt you every day.
Just like I do.
Because the game… it's still on."
He turned and walked away.
Zara stood alone in the corridor — trembling, shattered.
Tears streamed down her face like a silent storm.
She wanted to scream… to break… to collapse.
But she didn't.
She just stood there — breaking quietly,
while holding a war inside.
---
Scene — Wail's Breakdown
---
Wail stormed out of the school without looking back. His jaw clenched, eyes burning, breath shaky.
He jumped into his car and started driving — fast, reckless, like he was running from something inside him.
The streets blurred.
So did his thoughts.
Zara's words. Her tears.
Ali's laughter. His mother's smile.
The silence of loss.
Everything boiled in his mind — too loud, too sharp, too much.
Suddenly —
SCREEECH.
He slammed the brakes and pulled over to the side of the road.
His chest rose and fell in violent waves. Then—
BANG.
He punched the steering wheel.
Once. Twice. Again.
> "AHHHHHH!"
"WHY?! WHY ALWAYS ME?!"
His voice cracked through the empty car like glass breaking.
> "I lost my mother…"
"I lost my brother… my dad… my friends…"
His voice broke into a whisper.
> "I lost everything…"
He slammed his fist one last time, tears pooling in his eyes but never falling.
Suddenly—
Buzz buzz.
His phone lit up.
A message from Ali's doctor.
His world stopped spinning.
His hand trembled as he unlocked the phone, eyes widening at the message.
He didn't finish reading it.
He just floored the accelerator — heart racing — and sped off toward the hospital like his life depended on it.
Because maybe… it did.