PE always made me feel younger than I was.
The gym was loud in a way that pressed against my skin. Whistles. Sneakers. Voices bouncing off walls that softened nothing.
"Partners," the teacher called.
People paired off easily. I was still looking around when someone stopped beside me.
"Guess it's us," Akari said.
It did not sound awkward. Just decided.
I nodded and stepped into position.
The drill was simple. Back and forth. No pressure.
He corrected my grip once, his fingers at my wrist, then gone.
"You're dropping your shoulder."
I adjusted.
The next moment happened fast.
Someone swung without looking. The racket caught the side of my head with a sharp crack.
The sound came first.
Then the floor tilted.
I do not remember falling.
I remember arms catching me. Firm. Immediate.
"Cala. Stay with me."
Akari.
The noise around us dulled. My head felt heavy. Slow.
His arms were steady. Not delicate. Not hesitant. Just sure.
I should have pulled away.
I did not.
For a second, I let it exist. The feeling of being held without asking for it.
"Cala."
Lunara.
Then Miren's voice.
"Oh my God, move."
Sera was already pushing through the circle. "Back up. Give her space."
Akari stepped back immediately.
The room rushed in again.
Lunara crouched in front of me. "Look at me."
I blinked.
"I'm here."
Miren's hand pressed briefly against my shoulder. Sera was arguing with someone about calling the nurse.
They walked me to the clinic together.
The nurse shone a light in my eyes and asked questions I answered automatically.
"No concussion. Just rest."
All three of them stood there the entire time.
When we stepped back into the hallway, it felt too bright.
"Why were you just standing there?" Sera said, walking too close beside me.
"I wasn't just standing."
"You were."
Miren suddenly slowed, bent her knees, and let her body go loose for a second, tilting sideways like she was about to fall.
"You literally just—" she tipped dramatically, arms limp.
I stared at her. "I did not."
"You did," Sera said. "It was embarrassing."
"I hate you all."
Lunara ignored them.
She was watching my face instead.
"Are you dizzy?"
"No."
She narrowed her eyes. "Don't lie."
"I'm not."
She held my gaze a moment longer, then nodded once. "Fine. But if you faint later, I'm not carrying you."
"You absolutely would."
"Obviously."
At home, concern arrived in pieces.
My sister hovered longer than usual.
One of my brothers asked if I was dying, then disappeared when I threw a pillow at him.
My father asked what happened.
My mother sighed.
"During PE? Cala, you need to be more careful."
I nodded.
I had not done anything wrong.
But the correction settled anyway.
The moment passed. It always did.
In my room, I opened my phone.
Messages waited.
I ignored most of them.
I opened Theo's chat.
Today was weird.
I paused.
I got hit during PE. I'm fine.
Sent.
I waited.
The screen stayed dark.
Later that night, my phone buzzed.
Akari.
Hey. Sorry I didn't check in earlier. Captain pulled me into a meeting right after. Just wanted to make sure you're okay.
I read it once.
Then locked my screen.
Sleep came in fragments.
I woke to my door opening softly.
My father stepped in, holding something wrapped in foil.
"Your favourite," he said, setting the chocolate on my desk.
"Thanks."
He lingered for a second, then left.
When the door closed, I reached for my phone.
Another message.
Akari again.
Hope you're feeling better today.
I stared at it.
Then I set the phone down beside the chocolate and lay back.
Care had shown up.
In arms that caught me.
In friends who refused to leave.
In a father who brought chocolate without asking questions.
And still, I found myself waiting for a different name to light up my screen