The basketball court buzzed with life—shoes squeaking against worn wood, boys shouting, the rhythmic thud of the ball echoing like a heartbeat. Aarvin usually avoided this chaos, but today he found himself stepping into it anyway. Maybe he needed the distraction. Maybe he just needed… something normal.
Across the court, Nairi cheered from the bleachers, her smile like sunlight cutting through the usual Oakridge gloom. Aarvin tried not to look, but his eyes betrayed him, drawn to her like a magnet.
He focused on the game, on the ball, on anything but the pull in his chest. A perfect shot. The ball swished cleanly. His teammates clapped his back.
"Nice one, bro!" Kade's grin was wide, effortless.
For a moment, Aarvin felt a flicker of ease—until he heard her laugh.
It wasn't directed at him, but it hit like a stone. He glanced toward the bleachers. There she was, talking to someone new. A boy he hadn't noticed before: blond hair messy, ocean-blue eyes, the kind of casual confidence that made him seem untouchable. Evan. Aarvin's pulse stuttered.
Then he heard her words.
"Honestly, he's kinda perfect, isn't he?" Nairi laughed, pointing toward Evan. "Like… look at him."
The warmth that had been rising in Aarvin's chest sank into a cold pit. His grip on the ball loosened. He missed a pass, letting it bounce harmlessly away.
Kade noticed immediately. "You good, dude?" he whispered, nudging him.
"Yeah… yeah, I'm fine," Aarvin forced out, but the lie tasted bitter.
The match ended, cheers echoing around him, but Aarvin felt untethered. He collected his things silently, avoiding every glance, every smile, especially hers.
"Aarvin!" Her voice cut through the lingering noise.
He froze, caught in the sound. But he didn't turn.
"Are you okay? You look… off," she asked. Concern threaded through her tone.
"I'm fine, Nairi. Just tired," he said quietly, masking the storm inside. And he walked away.
She didn't stop watching. She knew something Aarvin couldn't voice.
Outside the court, Riyan appeared, eyebrow raised. "Bro, what's wrong? You look like someone stole your soul."
Aarvin exhaled softly. "Nothing, yaar. Just… long day."
"Don't lie. Who said what? Someone piss you off?" Riyan pressed.
Before Aarvin could answer, Kade, Liam, and Troy appeared behind him, their grins sharp and teasing.
"Ooooh, I know that look," Troy said. "Someone's jealous."
"Someone's got a crush," Liam added with a laugh.
Aarvin's jaw tightened. "Shut up, guys."
Their laughter only filled the air, louder, heavier.
Riyan stepped closer, voice low. "Seriously, you wanna talk about it?"
Aarvin hesitated. He could tell them about Evan, about her words, her laughter, the way his heart twisted with helpless longing—but how could he explain the ache of watching someone else make her smile? He shook his head instead.
He walked off, leaving the noise, the teasing, and the laughter behind. But the storm inside him didn't dissipate.
Every step was heavy. Every heartbeat a reminder that Oakridge didn't just test strength—it tested restraint, patience, and the courage to feel without breaking.
And Aarvin realized something he hadn't before: sometimes the hardest battles weren't the ones you could see. Sometimes, the hardest battles were the ones inside yourself.
He clenched his fists, letting the cool evening air fill his lungs. One day, he thought, he wouldn't just survive Oakridge. He'd face these quiet wars… and he'd win.
*To be continued…