Amaya, resting her head on her hand, narrowed her eyes at Seth, suspicion swirling like a storm behind them. She licked her lips, a nervous habit, and leaned forward, her brow furrowed in disbelief as she watched Seth flipping through her notes with all the enthusiasm of someone counting bills. Zeya, sitting beside Amaya, glanced back and forth between the two, her expression a mix of confusion and concern, as if she were witnessing a bizarre game show where the stakes were her sanity.
"Bark before I attack," Amaya declared, her voice slicing through the tension like a knife, while she bit her inner lip, frustration bubbling to the surface. Zeya's eyes widened as she shot a look at Seth, who remained blissfully unaware, his fingers dancing over the pages as he licked them like a banker counting cash, utterly unfazed.
"There's nothing to bark about," Seth replied, his tone dripping with sarcasm, as if he was discussing the weather rather than poking the bear that was Amaya's temper. "Unless you're planning to unleash your secret weapon of eye rolls."
Amaya sighed dramatically, shifting her weight as she leaned her head on her other hand. "You know, Seth, your jokes are like your fashion sense – outdated and in serious need of an upgrade," she pressed, her voice dripping with mock concern. Seth glanced up, a cheeky grin spreading across his face. "Ah, Ama, the queen of comebacks. I see the royal sass is still intact." he shot back, amusement flickering in his eyes. Amaya clenched her jaw, a spark of mischief igniting in her gaze, ready to unleash her own brand of chaos.
*Ting*
The bell rang, jolting Seth from his carefree note-flipping. "I'm hungry. Let's go," he declared as he stood up, tossing Amaya's notes back at her like a game of hot potato. "Seems like you didn't forget to have your morning cup of sunshine today," he added with a smirk.
"Ama, here." Sophia handed Amaya's food to her, a small smile playing on her lips as they walked to the last corner seat. Amaya's brows furrowed slightly as she asked, "Did something happen in class?" Her gaze was locked on Seth, who sat with an unreadable expression. Sophia's heart sank as she caught Amaya's intense stare; she quickly glanced down, her eyes shadowed with guilt. "No. Nothing happened in class," she whispered, her voice barely audible. Amaya's head snapped towards her, her eyes sharp and suspicious, searching for the truth. "Oh…" she said, a hint of disappointment creeping into her tone as she turned away, her expression serious. Sophia watched her go, a heavy sigh escaping her lips, realizing the weight of unspoken words hung in the air.
Demi approached the empty chair beside Zeya, her steps light but hesitant. Just as she reached for it, Amaya slid into the seat, claiming it as her own. "Thank you," Amaya said, her voice cool and detached as she pulled the chair closer to the table, her movements deliberate. Demi's hands curled into fists, her eyes narrowing in frustration, the tension radiating off her like heat. Zeya, Elli and Somiya exchanged uneasy glances, sensing the charged atmosphere. Sophia and Seth furrowed their brows at Amaya's unusual behavior, their instinct telling them something was off. Shaking off her doubts, Sophia approached with a bright smile, determined to lighten the mood. "We're having lunch together after a long time, aren't we?" she chirped, her voice sweet and energetic, cutting through the awkward silence like a warm breeze. "We missed you a lot!" Somiya exclaimed, affectionately hugging Elli's arm, her eyes sparkling with excitement. Just then, Jay and Fred joined the group, their laughter and casual banter bringing a sense of normalcy back to the table, momentarily easing the tension that lingered.
While Elli and Seth bickered over the fried chicken, Sophia puts her portion onto Amaya's plate, her smile radiant and genuine, as if sharing a cherished secret. "Here…" she said, her voice soft and inviting. Zeya watched from the sidelines, her heart aching as she observed the undeniable bond between Sophia and Amaya, feeling like a shadow in their vibrant connection. "C'mon, I also love chicken!" Seth exclaimed, desperation lacing his voice as he lunged for Amaya's plate. But she effortlessly blocked his fork, a teasing glint in her eyes. "Unfortunately, you're not her love nor her favourite," Amaya teased, savouring each bite of her chicken with a playful elegance that only fueled Seth's frustration.
Sophia's gaze lingered on Amaya, warmth enveloping her features, speaking volumes of her affection. It was as if Amaya were her entire universe, and in that moment, Sophia's eyes sparkled with a love so bright it could illuminate the darkest corners of Zeya's heart. "It's true, I love Ama more than anyone," she declared, her voice filled with sincerity. Amaya, proud by the declaration, lifted her chin proudly, casting a teasing glance at Seth before indulging in another piece of chicken.
But Zeya felt the walls closing in around her, the laughter of her friends echoing painfully in her ears. As she sat there, her appetite vanished, replaced by a gnawing emptiness. The sight of Sophia's affectionate gaze and Amaya's playful confidence twisted inside her, each moment deepening the ache in her chest. A sour expression crossed Zeya's face as she glanced at Sophia and Amaya from the corner of her eye, her heart heavy with unspoken emotions and an unbearable longing. It was a bittersweet reminder that while love blossomed brightly between her friends, she remained on the outside, with the heartache of feeling invisible in a world filled with vibrant connections.
Lost in her own thoughts, Zeya suddenly sat up straight, her eyes widening in surprise. She gulped and turned toward Amaya, who was busy eating her lunch in silence. Zeya's shoulder trembled as she bit her lip to suppress a smile. Amaya's cold hand slipped under her t-shirt, sending a shiver down Zeya's spine, and her cheeks flushed a deep crimson. Zeya grabbed Amaya's hand, feeling the warmth radiating from her skin, and raised her eyebrows, lowering her head slightly in a playful challenge. Amaya met her gaze with innocent eyebrows raised, her eyes sparkling with mischief as if she hadn't done anything wrong.
"What are you doing?" Zeya whispered, her voice barely audible, afraid their friends might overhear. Amaya blinked her eyes like a cute puppy, and replied, "Did you forget the challenge?" It slipped Zeya's mind, and she hurriedly lied, "No. I didn't."
Clearing her throat and taking a deep breath, Zeya returned to her lunch, trying to suppress her smiles. The air around them felt charged, electric with the unspoken connection that crackled between them. As Zeya's expression returned to normal, a small smile crept onto Amaya's face, her eyes glimmering with affection. She resumed eating, her hand still resting on Zeya's waist, a tender gesture that made Zeya's heart race. In that moment, time seemed to stand still, and the world around them faded away, leaving only the warmth and the intoxicating thrill of their secret.
Sophia's heart raced as she handed over the filled form to Hailey ma'am, the tension in the air thick enough to cut with a knife. "We already filled the form. We told Ama, Daniel Sir gave it to us. Please don't tell the truth even when Ama offends you," she said, her voice barely masking the anxiety bubbling beneath the surface. As she turned to leave, Hailey ma'am's voice sliced through the silence. "It must be your and everyone's first lie to Amaya, isn't it?"
Sophia froze, her mind racing as she processed the implications of Hailey ma'am's words. "I can't even imagine how much she'll hate you all after she finds out you guys took help from her step-father she hated the most for this form." The accusation hung in the air, and Sophia clenched her fists, fury igniting in her chest. "I won't say, but are you sure she wouldn't know about it?" Hailey ma'am smirked, the corners of her mouth curling up as she stood from her seat, her eyes glinting with a mix of amusement and malice.
"If he is the person she hates the most, then we are the people she loves the most. She'll get angry, but she'll never hate us," Sophia shot back defiantly, slamming the door behind her as she stormed out, her heart pounding. Hailey ma'am's whisper lingered in the air, chilling Sophia to the bone: "And she hates it when someone betrays her trust… whoever it is, whether her friends or her momma." The weight of the secret felt heavier than ever, and Sophia couldn't shake the feeling that they were walking a dangerous path, one that could shatter everything they held dear.
*Sip*
"Where is Sofy?" Amaya asked, her lips wrapping around the straw of her iced coffee, the chill of the drink contrasting with the warmth of the afternoon sun. She fished out cash from her pocket and handed it to the cashier with a casual flick of her wrist, her eyes catching the vibrant colors of the café's outdoor decor. She walked towards a table and sat with Seth. "With Jen," Seth replied, leaning back in his chair, his fingers drumming lightly on the table as he watched her. Amaya nodded, her brow slightly furrowed as she rummaged through her school bag for her phone, the soft rustle of materials filling the air. Seth, meanwhile, pulled out his own phone, the screen lighting up as he dove into his game, a focused look on his face.
"I heard there is going to be another football tournament this month. Why don't you join Cheetah's group and play?" Amaya suggested, her voice brightening as she scrolled through her social media feed, the light tapping of her fingers punctuating her words. Seth took a deliberate sip of his black coffee, the steam rising and swirling around him, before asking, "When is the tournament?" His eyes remained glued to the screen, a slight frown forming as he concentrated on the game. Amaya sighed, a playful roll of her eyes accompanying her response, "The day before the exam, it's not like you're going to study or anything."
Seth finally lifted his gaze, a mock-serious expression taking over his features as he ordered, "Talk with Cheetah for Fred, Jay, and me. I'll buy the tickets to Aqua for everyone." Amaya nodded, a smile creeping onto her face as she unlocked her phone again.
Accept my friend requests!
Amaya paused and smirked, a wave of nostalgia washing over her as she thought about Zeya. She navigated to her friend requests, her screen flooded with more than four thousand notifications, a daunting sea of names and faces. With a flick of her finger, she searched for Zeya's name and spotted it third on the list. Just as she was about to hit accept, something caught her eye—a glimpse of Zeya walking with Somiya and Demi on the other side of the road.
Without a care in the world, Zeya burst into laughter, the sound ringing out like music as she shared a moment with her friends, lost in their own little world. Amaya leaned back, amusement dancing in her eyes, and quickly opened her camera. She captured Zeya's infectious laughter, the joy radiating from her in that fleeting moment. Amaya chuckled softly to herself, accepting the friend request before sending the picture with a little message.
"That's unlike you to click someone's photo. What's more unlikely is you laughing at their photo." Hearing Seth's voice, Amaya raised her gaze from her phone, finding him staring at her with a cold, piercing expression. She rolled her eyes, locking her phone with a huff, and took a sip of her iced coffee, determined to ignore him.
"Ama, what's going on? I remember seeing you and Zeya alone in detention, then your behaviour at the cafeteria," Seth said, his tone shifting to something deeper and more serious. "So what?" Amaya replied nonchalantly, trying to brush off the tension. Seth's gaze intensified, his eyes boring into her as if searching for something hidden within. "Somiya is kindhearted, Demi is protective, and Zeya, innocent and pure," he stated, each word dripping with warning.
Amaya held his stare, her expression calm and collected. "Don't try to use any of them for your entertainment or work," he cautioned, the atmosphere thickening with unspoken tension. Amaya felt a thrill run down her spine, the weight of his words hanging in the air like a challenge, but she remained unfazed. "That's unlike you to care about others."
Seth leaned closer, his eyes narrowing, voice cold and unforgiving. "They're our friends now." The intensity of the moment crackled between them, each word a silent battle. Amaya's heart raced with the thrill of defiance as she leaned in, her voice dripping with malice, "We'll see what they'll be, friends or plaything." The air thickened with tension, a dangerous game unfolding, and the stakes felt higher than ever.