The next morning, Oakridge felt the same—crowded hallways, loud groups, the Wolves claiming their usual corners, the constant hum of chaos—but inside Aarvin, something had shifted. Adrien's words from yesterday echoed with every step: *"Don't lose yourself… don't fade."*
There was no heaviness now. Just a steady, quiet calm. As Aarvin walked toward class, he spotted Nairi by her locker, organizing a stack of books. Their eyes met for a brief second. He looked different—not sad, not angry. Just… grounded.
"Hey… you okay?" she asked softly, a hint of curiosity in her tone.
Aarvin gave a small, controlled smile. "Yeah. Just a little tired."
She studied him for a beat longer, then chose not to press. "Alright," she said, closing her locker. Her expression was calm, almost approving.
Inside the classroom, the Wolves were scattered across their usual spots. Riyan noticed instantly. "Bro… you look weirdly calm today," he said with a teasing half-laugh.
Adrien, sitting by the window, didn't smile. His sharp gaze flicked to Aarvin, silently evaluating. Checking if he had truly absorbed yesterday's lesson.
Aarvin simply nodded and took his seat. Surrounded by people, noise, and Oakridge's usual chaos, he felt… steady.
From the corner of his eye, Nairi glanced at him again—subtle, careful. She sensed the shift but couldn't quite name it. And she wasn't wrong.
As the class began, Aarvin looked around the room: Oakridge, the Wolves, the chatter, the small games of attention and power. And inside him, something settled. Adrien's words echoed again: *"You are your own storm… your own fire."*
For the first time, Aarvin truly understood. He didn't need approval. He didn't need validation or someone else's gaze to feel whole. He had his own presence. His own identity. And that… was exactly what Adrien wanted him to see.
Nairi looked at him once more, her expression soft, unreadable. This time, Aarvin didn't look away. He didn't fade. He didn't lose himself. He simply sat—calm, grounded, fully in control of his story.
The bell rang, breaking the quiet. Students packed up, their chatter blending into the usual chaos. Nairi walked past, pausing for a fleeting moment. "Want to meet at the court later?" she asked, her voice light but curious.
Aarvin nodded, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Yeah. I'll be there."
She smiled back, intrigue in her eyes, and continued on.
Riyan leaned over, whispering, "Dude, what's going on with you?"
Aarvin shrugged, quiet confidence settling in. "Just figuring some things out."
Adrien watched from across the room, expression unreadable. But for a brief moment, Aarvin caught a subtle nod—silent approval.
And in that instant, Aarvin realized he wasn't just surviving Oakridge anymore. He was starting to own it.
*To be continued...