The sun was gentle that afternoon, casting a golden glow across the school field. Nuha and Lina sat on the grass, their tiffin boxes resting between them as laughter and chatter from other students filled the air.
Nuha:"How do you know if you've truly moved on, or if you're just pretending to?" (Nuha's voice cut through the hum of chatter on the field, her gaze fixed on the distant horizon)
Lina:(pausing mid-bite, raising an eyebrow)"Maybe it's the moment when you realize you're falling for someone else."
Nuha:(frowning, leaning back on her hands)"But I'm not falling for someone else. You're my best friend—you know I don't have anyone in my life. So why are you saying that?"
Lina:(smirking, tapping her spoon against her tiffin box)"Exactly. I know you too well, which is why I'm telling you to think about the guy you have a crush on."
The field was lively during the break, with students scattered across the grass, chatting and laughing. Nuha and Lina sat under the shade of an old tree, their tiffin boxes resting between them. Her fingers traced invisible patterns in the grass, but her thoughts were elsewhere—on him.
Rayan.
Nuha's eyes drifted to the group of seniors standing near the goalpost, where Rayan stood with a couple of friends. He wasn't the loudest or the most popular, but something about him held her attention—the crisp, perfectly ironed uniform, the effortless way he carried himself. It was as if he belonged in his own quiet world, and Nuha couldn't help but admire it.
A pang of doubt settled in her chest. "Why would someone like him ever notice someone like me?" she thought, her fingers tightening around the edge of her tiffin box.
And then it happened.
Rayan's eyes met hers across the distance.
For a second—no, a moment longer—the world seemed to tilt, leaving only his calm, steady gaze locking onto hers. His expression wasn't unreadable, but neither was it obvious. There was a flicker of curiosity, a subtle shift, like he was seeing her for the first time.
Nuha froze, her heart hammering, as if it might escape her chest. She couldn't look away, though every nerve in her body begged her to.
Then, just as quickly as it began, it ended. Rayan glanced back to his friends, his lips curving into a faint smile, as if the moment had been insignificant to him.
Nuha dropped her gaze, her cheeks burning. Lina's voice faded into the background as she tried to focus on the grass beneath her fingertips, but the image of his eyes lingered, replaying on a loop.
"Did he actually notice me? Or am I just imagining it?"
She barely heard Lina's teasing laugh beside her, too lost in the chaos of her own thoughts to respond.
That night, Nuha sat at her study table, her phone glowing softly in the dim light as she exchanged messages with Lina.
Lina: [text message] "See I told you that you like him and now he is also noticing you".
Nuha: [text message] "I am not liking him but I agree that I am having a crush because he seems nice…my type. And I don't think he was noticing, it was just a mere eye contact. So we don't have to be so delusional".
Lina: [text message] "I am sure he noticed you. Didn't you see his smile after that eye contact?".
Nuha: [text message] "They were chatting together, that's why he smiled. And the thing is why would he even notice me and smile at me? That's a long way off".
Lina: [text message] "Why do you think that nobody can notice you?".
Nuha:[text message] "Because nobody does and why would they?".
Lina: [text message] "Don't worry about it. Just be glad I notice you—LOL".
Nuha: [text message] "Haha, yeah, guess I should be grateful, right? Anyway, let's drop it".
(She set her phone down, her fingers lingering on the edge of the keypad. The truth was, Lina's words had stung more than she wanted to admit. Invisible. That's how she felt most of the time. And maybe it was for the best—being noticed only meant expectations, questions, and... attachments. She wasn't sure she wanted any of that. A soft sigh escaped her as she leaned back in her chair, staring at the wall of her room. "Why does this even bother me?" she thought. Relationships—it is messy, complicated. Not her thing. Or at least, that's what she kept telling herself.)
It was a rainy day, light droplets falling steadily, the kind of rain that felt like the world was softly sighing, just like her. Nuha loved it—this quiet, reflective weather that seemed to speak to her in ways words couldn't. The rain wasn't a storm, but it felt like a shared secret between her and the world, as though the sky understood her sadness.
"Maybe the rain and I are the same," she thought, as her fingers brushed against the cool, wet grass underfoot."Maybe it's crying too, just like me. Missing something... someone. And maybe that's why it rains."
The rain fell, and she cried without anyone knowing.
She shook her head, trying to push the thoughts away. The rain was supposed to be comforting, not a reminder of the past she was trying to forget. It had been so long since she thought about him, yet the memories still clung to her like the mist in the air. She walked faster, hoping to outrun the ghost of his name, but the memories followed her anyway.
As she walked past the classrooms, glancing around idly to see if Rayan was nearby, her mind drifted back to the conversation she'd had with Lina last night. "Why would anyone notice me?" she had asked, and Lina had responded with a teasing, "Don't worry, I notice you. Just be glad I noticed you." But even Lina's words couldn't fully convince her. She felt invisible, like she didn't matter to anyone beyond the walls of their friendship.
And then she looked up.
There, standing by the school's aquarium, was Rayan. The rain clung to his dark hair, but he seemed unaffected by it, focused on the quiet space he occupied. There was something about him—how he carried himself, effortless yet deliberate—that made her stop.
For a moment, she didn't know why she was staring. And then their eyes met.
It was a slow, deliberate moment, the kind where time almost stops. Nuha's breath caught, as if the air itself had thickened between them. She froze, her heart pounding, a sense of connection blooming inside her chest, something unspoken, but real. Rayan's gaze didn't waver—calm, steady, but there was something in it that made her feel as though he were seeing her for the first time.
It wasn't the awkward glance of passing strangers or the accidental glance of classmates. This was different. His eyes held her, almost as if he were acknowledging her, as though he was waiting for this. For her.
Then, as quickly as it came, the moment shifted. Rayan adjusted himself, checking his mouth, his hand moving in that small, almost conscious gesture that made Nuha realize how much he had been aware of the moment. He wasn't unaware—he was present, present in that brief connection.
Nuha's thoughts flickered. What am I doing? Why am I even thinking this way?
She quickly averted her gaze, the moment too heavy to hold on to, but it felt like something had shifted in her, something she couldn't define. Was it his smile that had made her heart race, or the way he looked at her? No—she quickly scolded herself. She was thinking too much. It was just a fleeting moment. He wasn't interested, and she didn't even want him to be.
But then, a different voice in her mind responded, one that sounded more like a question: Why shouldn't I be noticed?
The late afternoon sun played hide-and-seek behind the clouds as Nuha and Lina roamed the school grounds, laughing and chatting aimlessly.
Suddenly, Lina tugged at Nuha's arm, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
Lina: (excitedly) "Wait, wait, stop. Look!"
Nuha followed Lina's gaze and spotted Rayan standing a few feet away, deep in conversation with Eric. Rayan leaned casually against the railing, his posture relaxed but confident.
Lina: (nudging Nuha) "Look who's chatting up our Eric! What could they possibly be talking about?"
Nuha: (quickly masking her nervousness) "Maybe...football? You know Eric plays, right? He's a really good player from our class"
Lina: (mocking) "Yeah, sure. Football. Totally not you."
A few moments later, Eric approached them, a slight spring in his step. Lina waved dramatically.
Lina: (waving exaggeratedly) "Eric! Over here!"
Eric sauntered over, raising an eyebrow at Lina's obvious excitement.
Eric: "What's with the dramatics, Lina? Did you lose a bet again?"
Lina: (ignoring him) "You were talking to Rayan, weren't you?!"
Eric: (mock-surprised) "Wow, Sherlock Holmes! How'd you figure that out?"
Lina: (rolling her eyes) "Come on, just tell us. What were you guys talking about?"
Eric smirked, clearly enjoying the attention.
Eric: "Relax, Detective. Nothing scandalous. Just football practice." (pauses, looking at Nuha) "Although..."
Nuha tensed under his gaze.
Nuha: (nervously) "Although what?"
Eric: (leaning in slightly, teasing) "He did ask me something...interesting."
Lina gasped dramatically, her hands clutching Nuha's arm.
Lina: "Oh my God, WHAT?! Tell us right now!"
Eric: (pretending to think) "Hmm...should I? Or should I let you two stew in suspense for a bit?"
Nuha: (groaning) "Eric, just spit it out."
Eric: (grinning wickedly) "Fine, fine. He asked me your name, Nuha."
The world seemed to pause for a moment as Lina's jaw dropped.
Lina: (screaming) "WHAT?! No way!"
Eric: (grinning) "Way."
Lina: (ignoring Nuha) "It's happening! It's finally happening!"
Eric: (raising an eyebrow) "What's happening? (pointing towards Nuha) Are you two, like, a thing now?"
Nuha: (horrified) "No!"
Lina: (insisting) "Yes!"
Nuha: "Lina, stop it! We're not!"
Eric crossed his arms, his grin growing wider.
Eric: "Well, whatever this not-a-thing is, I still think I deserve a treat."
Nuha: (frowning) "A treat? For what?"
Eric: "For being your Cupid, obviously. I mean, do you think he just randomly asks about people? I paved the way for you."
Nuha glared at him, her cheeks burning.
Nuha: "Oh, I'll give you a treat, alright—a kick!"
Eric took a step back, laughing.
Eric: (mock fear) "Okay, okay, I'm out! But remember this: if you two end up together, I'm taking full credit!"
He started to jog away, but turned to shout over his shoulder:
Eric: "And, Nuha, I'll expect cake at the wedding!"
Nuha groaned while Lina burst into laughter.
Lina: "Oh my God, even Eric knows what's up! Nuha, you're really getting noticed now! Even a girl like you..."
The phrase hit like a sharp gust of wind, knocking the breath out of her. Was that how people saw her? Was that how Lina saw her?
Her smile faltered as she followed Lina in silence, her thoughts unraveling.
A girl like me. What does that even mean?
The memory of last night's conversation with Lina resurfaced. "Why would anyone notice me?" she had asked. And Lina had joked, "Be glad I do."
Now, the pieces clicked together.
Maybe Lina was right. Maybe she was invisible to everyone—except for this fleeting, strange moment with Rayan. But was it even real? Why would someone like him care about someone like her?
The thought dug deeper into her mind, overshadowing whatever joy she might have felt from Rayan asking her name.
Instead of excitement, she felt small. Unworthy. A sense of loneliness welled up, hidden beneath her careful smile.
Nuha looked at Lina, who was still chattering on about what this could mean for Nuha's "love life."
Nuha swallowed hard, forcing a laugh. "You're so dramatic, Lina."
Lina laughed, oblivious to the storm brewing inside Nuha.
But Nuha's thoughts stayed heavy, lingering long after the conversation had ended.
The quiet of the night settled over Nuha's room, broken only by the soft patter of rain on her window. She lay in bed, phone in hand, scrolling aimlessly until a buzz jolted her screen. Lina's name flashed, and Nuha braced herself for whatever chaotic energy her best friend was about to bring.
Lina:[text message] "Nuhaaaa, you still up?"
Nuha:[text message] "Unfortunately. What now?"
Lina:[text message] "Okay, hear me out. You HAVE to give it a shot with Rayan!"
Nuha:[text message] "Excuse me? What shot? There's no shot to give."
Lina:[text message] "He's nice, he's cute, and admit it—he's totally your type."
Nuha stared at the message, a mix of disbelief and amusement curling her lips.
Nuha:[text message] "Type? Lina, he just asked Eric my name. That's not exactly a love confession."
Lina:[text message] "Ugh, you're so dense sometimes. Do you know how rare it is for a guy to even notice you exist?!"
Nuha:[text message] "Wow, thanks for the confidence boost."
Lina:[text message] "I didn't mean it like that! I'm just saying... maybe this is something."
Nuha:[text message] "There's nothing to it. And I'm definitely not going to embarrass myself by chasing him."
Lina:[text message] "Fine. But what if he asks you out?"
Nuha paused, her fingers hovering over the screen.
Nuha:[text message] "Then… I'd think about it."
She immediately regretted the message, knowing exactly how Lina would react.
Lina:[text message] "AHA! I knew it! You're interested!"
Nuha:[text message] "Stop it. Don't get ahead of yourself."
Lina, of course, wasn't done.
Lina:[text message] "So, tell me—did you spill this juicy detail to your new twin BFFs yet?"
Nuha:[text message] "Hana and Haya? No. Why would I? I don't talk about this stuff with anyone but you."
Lina:[text message] "Oh. I just thought they were your new besties or something."
Nuha:[text message] "They're adorable, and we're good friends, but you're still the drama queen in my life."
The response made Lina perk up again.
Lina:[text message] "Speaking of the twins... I have an idea!"
Nuha: [text message]"This better not be one of your ridiculous plans."
Lina: [text message] "Relax! Did you know Hana and Haya's cousin is close friends with Rayan?"
Nuha: [text message] "No, and how do you even know that?"
Lina: [text message] "I have my sources, okay? Anyway, you should totally talk to them. They might have some intel on him."
Nuha: [text message] "Why would I need intel? He's not some mission I'm on."
Lina: [text message] "Nuha. This is important. Text them."
Nuha:[text message]"Forget it. I'll talk to them tomorrow at school, if I feel like it."
Lina: [text message] "You better! Don't make me text them myself!"
Nuha: [text message] "Fine, whatever. Good night."
Lina: [text message] "Good night! Dream about Rayan ;)"
Nuha groaned, tossing her phone aside. She buried her face in the pillow, Lina's teasing ringing in her ears. Despite the annoyance, a tiny part of her wondered what tomorrow might bring.
The classroom buzzed with post-result chaos. Some students flipped through their result sheets, laughing and comparing grades. Others sulked in corners, their faces etched with disappointment. A few unlucky ones cried softly, while a frantic group surrounded the teacher's desk, pleading for just one more mark.
Through the noise, I spotted Lina weaving through the crowd, her result copy clutched in her hand like a trophy. She was grinning, but I already knew what was coming.
Lina: (plopping into the seat beside Nuha) "Well, did you pass?"
Nuha: (deadpan) "What kind of question is that?"
Lina: (pretending to slap her forehead) "Oops, forgot you're a professional overachiever. My bad."
Nuha: (rolling her eyes) "Not an overachiever. Just...competent. What about you?"
Lina: (waving her paper dramatically) "Scraped by, as usual. But hey, barely passing still counts!"
Nuha: (serious) "Lina, this isn't funny. You need to start focusing on your studies. One day, it's going to catch up with you."
Lina: (leaning closer with a sly grin) "Speaking of focus...have you talked to Hana about her cousin and Rayan yet?"
Nuha: (frowning) "Wait, what? How do studies remind you of Rayan?"
Lina: (teasing) "It's called priorities, Nuha. And right now, Rayan is priority number one. If you don't make a move soon, I might have to swoop in myself."
Her words hit me like a splash of cold water. Steal him? A joke, of course—but it didn't sit right with me. Would she really do that? Wasn't there some unspoken rule about best friends and crushes? I forced a laugh, even though it sounded hollow to my own ears.
Nuha: (awkwardly) "Haha."
Lina: (oblivious) "Come on, let's go find Hana!"
The school lobby was alive with chatter and laughter as students spilled out of classrooms. Lina spotted Hana by the railing and waved, calling her name like they were lifelong friends.
Lina: "Hana! Over here!"
Hana: (approaching with a cheerful smile) "Hey, guys! What's up?"
Lina: (grinning) "Everything's good, bro. How about you?"
Hana: "Pretty great! How'd you two do on the results?"
Lina: (with mock drama) "Terrible. Barely survived."
Nuha: (calmly) "Mine were fine."
Lina: (changing the topic casually) "Hey, Hana, didn't you mention your cousin? The one who's close friends with Rayan? He's in this school, right?"
Nuha: (sharply, turning to Lina) "Wait—you already talked to Hana about this?"
Hana: (blinking, surprised) "Yeah, we did. Why?"
Nuha: (to Lina, hurt) "You didn't think to tell me? Since when do you two talk about Rayan without me?"
Lina: (shrugging, playfully) "What's there to tell? Are you jealous we discussed your crush behind your back?"
Nuha: (forcing a smile) "Jealous? No. I just thought you told me everything."
I bit back the words that threatened to spill out. Since when did Lina and Hana become such good friends? It wasn't like Lina to keep things from me—or was it? Something in me shifted, a dull ache of betrayal I couldn't quite shake off.
Hana: (laughing nervously) "Jealous? Wait, why would she be jealous? Are you guys...a thing?"
Lina: (smirking) "Not yet. But give it time."
Lina's boldness left me stunned. She always joked, but this felt different—deliberate, almost like she was staking a claim.
Hana: (lightly) "That's cool. Anyway, Nuha, did you know Rayan and Kareem are really close? You'd like Kareem too."
Nuha: (frowning) "Why would I need to like Kareem?"
Hana: (blinking) "Rayan didn't tell you? They're best friends."
Nuha: (quietly) "We've never talked. Not once."
Lina: (grinning) "Yet. But there's been plenty of looks. I've seen how he notices her. And don't forget—he asked Eric her name."
Hana: (intrigued) "Ooooh, really? That's cute! Okay, leave it to me—I'll tell my brother to set something up. He can help you guys talk."
Nuha: (panicking) "No! No way. I'm not taking the first step. That's just...not me."
Hana: (laughing) "Relax, Nuha. I'll figure something out. Trust me."
Lina: (teasing) "You're so lucky, Nuha. We didn't get cute guys, but somehow, you did."
As Hana waved goodbye and walked away, Lina's words lingered in the air, sharp and biting. Lucky? A girl like me?
I forced a smile, but the ache in my chest grew heavier. Lina kept chatting, oblivious to the storm she'd stirred—or maybe she noticed and just didn't care. Either way, something had already broken between us.
The weekend had arrived, and Nuha sat by her desk, her diary resting in front of her. It wasn't just a notebook—it was her confidant, the keeper of everything she couldn't say aloud. Today, she would tell it about Rayan. But first, her mind wandered to the person who had come before, the one who had taught her about love's quiet ache and lingering shadows.
She opened to a fresh page, letting her pen guide her through the thoughts she hadn't spoken, the feelings she still carried from a love that had never been hers.
I held the weight of unsaid words,
A quiet longing the world never heard.
A smile, a glance, a fleeting air—
Moments we shared, yet were never there.
What if love was meant to stay
As a memory, tucked away?
A spark that glows but doesn't ignite,
A dream that fades with morning light.
Nuha paused, staring at the words. They weren't loud, and they weren't obvious, but they told the story of a love that had shaped her—a love that was hers alone to bear. It wasn't something she could escape, not yet, and maybe not ever. The thought unsettled her, especially now, with Rayan slowly entering her thoughts.
She closed her eyes, her pen still poised. Did her feelings for Rayan mean she was ready to move on? Or was she just searching for someone to erase her past? She didn't want to make Rayan a placeholder for what she had lost. That wouldn't be fair to him—or to herself.
Her grip on the pen tightened as she started to write again, this time about Rayan. She described the small moments that made her heart flutter—the way his laughter seemed to echo long after he had gone, the way he tilted his head when he was curious, the times their eyes had met, fleeting but unforgettable. Yet, for all these moments, she couldn't figure out what she truly felt.
Her words became more uncertain as she wrote:
What if this is all in my head? What if I don't even like him, and I'm only looking for a way to feel something new? And even if I do like him, what then? Can I ever truly let go of my past?
The doubts weighed heavily on her. She thought of the five days since Hana had mentioned her to her cousin. If Rayan wanted something, wouldn't he have said something by now? Instead, the silence only deepened her overthinking. She cringed at the memory of asking Hana to talk to her cousin. What was I thinking?
And then, there was Lina. The unease between them lingered like a shadow. Had their friendship changed, or was it all in her mind? She didn't know anymore. But the distance she felt—it was real. And it hurts.
The Next Day...
The next morning arrived with a surprise Nuha hadn't expected. After five days of silence, Hana approached her with an unusually serious expression.
Hana: (avoiding eye contact) "Nuha... Rayan said he wants to talk to you. But honestly, I think it might not be a good idea."
Nuha: (confused, tilting her head) "Why not? Did something happen?"
Hana: (hesitating, brushing her hair back nervously) "Not really, but... maybe he's just being polite or something. I mean, he hasn't said much about you this week."
Nuha: (narrowing her eyes) "What are you trying to say, Hana? Are you saying I shouldn't talk to him?"
Hana: (forcing a laugh, her tone too light) "No, no, of course not! I just thought... maybe it's better not to overthink it."
Why is she acting like this? Is she trying to stop me from talking to him? But why?(feeling the gnawing question grow stronger)
After some moments she took it for herself to understand the situation. Nuha found herself walking down the hallway, her thoughts a whirlwind of confusion and anticipation. She turned the corner near the courtyard, her steps slowing as her eyes fell on the figure waiting for her.
Rayan.
He was standing there, his hands in his pockets, his gaze steady as it met hers. For a moment, time seemed to freeze. The noise of the school faded into the background, leaving only the two of them in a suspended silence.
What does he want to say?(narrating in her head)
Her heart raced as she took a step closer. And then another. They were finally face-to-face.
Rayan: (opening his mouth to speak, voice steady but unreadable) "Nuha..."
The air between them was thick with unspoken words, the tension so palpable she could feel it in every inch of her being. Rayan's tone, measured and distant, sent an unintentional chill through her, leaving Nuha wondering, in silent bewilderment, what had gone wrong. And as he began to speak, she held her breath, the question lingering:
Would this moment change everything? Or was it the start of something she wasn't ready for?