When the bell rang for the break, Arion and Livia walked side by side to their classroom. The noise of other students filled the air, but to Arion, it all felt like distant background noise. He tried to smile, tried to engage in light conversation with Livia, but his thoughts kept drifting into the darkness that shadowed his life. Every time he heard Livia laugh, guilt pounded on his heart harder.
"What are you thinking about, Arion. It seems like you're thinking about yesterday, huh?" Livia suddenly asked, her voice soft, but with an undisguised worry. "You're not like usual."
Arion was silent for a moment. His mind raced, looking for a suitable excuse. "I just… have a lot to think about," he answered softly, trying to keep his voice steady.
"Is it about the exam?" Livia looked at him questioningly, "Or is there something else?"
Arion tried to remain calm, but his eyes avoided Livia's gaze. "Maybe a little bit of everything," he said, trying to sound convincing. "I just need some time to reflect."
Livia took a deep breath, clearly dissatisfied with that answer. "Arion… you know I can see it, right? I can feel that there's more to it than just a test or a little thing."
She bit her lip, and Arion's heart grew even tighter. On one hand, he wanted to tell her everything, to tell her all the fears and threats hanging over him, but he knew the truth would destroy the girl he cared about the most.
"Liv," Arion finally said, his voice shaking slightly. "I appreciate your concern. But… please trust me. I'll be fine."
"But you're not fine!" Livia cut him off, her voice now louder. "I can see it in the way you talk, the way you're trying to hide something from me."
Arion lowered his head, his heart shaking. Every word that came out of Livia's mouth was like a knife piercing his heart. "I don't want you to worry, Liv," he admitted honestly. "I just… don't want to burden you with my problems."
"Burden?" Livia stared at him sharply, her eyes glistening with tears. "We've been friends for a long time, Arion. Do you really think sharing your feelings with me is a burden? It makes me feel like you don't trust me."
"I trust you, Livia," Arion said, his voice barely a whisper. "But this is different. There are things I can't tell you. Things you'd rather not know."
Livia stared at him for a long moment, disappointment etched across her face. "Whatever it is, Arion, I'm here. I'm ready to listen. I don't care how hard it is."
Arion's heart felt even more broken. He wanted to tell her, wanted to, but he knew that if he did, he might lose her forever. With a voice that was almost broken, he could only say, "I'm sorry, Liv. I'm really sorry."
Livia took a deep breath, then nodded slowly, though Arion could see how much it hurt her to hear those words. "Okay," she said softly, her voice a little hoarse. "I'll wait. But don't let yourself get caught up in the pain alone, Arion."
When they reached the door to Arion's classroom, Class 13C, Livia stopped in her tracks and turned to look at him once more. Her gaze was filled with love, but also implied deep uncertainty. "You don't have to face everything alone. You are not alone, Arion."
Arion smiled weakly, nodding without saying anything else. But deep inside his heart, an inner battle was still raging. As Livia left him to her classroom, Class 13E, a feeling of emptiness crept in. He knew that he had to protect her, had to keep her safe from the truth that haunted her.
On his classroom bench, Arion sat alone, staring at the twilight sky. The orange light of the sun was slowly fading, and he felt as if the world was also getting darker around him. "Did I really make the right decision?" he thought silently, questioning his choice.
Arion stared at the classroom window that reflected the twilight light, as if the outside world reflected his gray mood. Every second felt like a heavier burden on his shoulders. He recalled his conversation with Livia, repeating every word, and the pain in his heart deepened. He couldn't imagine life without Livia's cheerful laughter, but on the other hand, his mind was filled with dark shadows that always lurked.
When his classmates talked and laughed, Arion felt isolated. Their voices became muffled, as if he was in an impenetrable bubble. He longed for the times when life was simpler, when problems were limited to tests and homework. Now, the world had become an arena filled with darkness and unpredictable threats. Every laugh a Livia touched his heart, but guilt always accompanied the happiness.
He turned his gaze to the floor, trying to chase away the dark thoughts that flooded his mind. Every beat of his heart trembled with uncertainty. Was all this just an illusion? Was there hope for the two of them? The fear gripped his heart, making it difficult to breathe. He felt trapped between the desire to protect Livia and the need to share the burden he carried alone.
"Why can't I be stronger?" he thought in frustration. Arion felt like a fragile figure, unworthy of happiness. He wanted to be a protector for Livia, but his helplessness only deepened. Every time Livia showed her concern, his heart trembled between gratitude and guilt. Why did he have to be a burden? Why couldn't there be a way to make it easier?
Arion remembered the happy times they had together. Those memories felt like light in the midst of thick darkness. He remembered Livia's smile when they celebrated each other's birthdays, the times they shared dreams and laughter. Now all of that felt so far away, as if he was cut off from the painful reality. He missed those times, the times when uncertainty had not yet crept into his life.
When the school bell rang, Arion was still trapped in his daydream. He wanted to leave all these burdens behind, but it felt impossible. Every step he took felt like a step into emptiness. He wished he could share his pain with Livia, wish she could see and understand how heavy the burden he was carrying was.
Finally, Arion decided to walk to the school park. He needed fresh air, needed to feel something more real than the pain that was eating away at his heart. As he sat on the park bench, he stared at the darkening sky, the stars slowly emerging. He felt as if the stars were a hope that was hard to reach. He wanted to reach for them, but his hands and heart felt tied.
"Do the stars feel lonely too?" Arion asked himself. "Or do they just shine to cover the darkness?" In the silence of the night, Arion felt as if the universe was with him, feeling the hidden sadness. He knew he had to fight to stay strong, but sometimes, the burden he carried was so heavy that it was hard to breathe.
His thoughts turned back to Livia. He wanted to protect her, but how? He didn't want to reveal his pain, but he also didn't want to pretend to be okay. Arion tried to hold back the tears that threatened to come out. He didn't want to look weak in front of Livia, but it felt increasingly impossible.
"Why does the world have to be like this?" he sighed softly. "Why do I have to fight alone?" Even though he knew he had to be strong, the feeling of hopelessness continued to haunt him. every beat of his heart seemed to remind him that life doesn't always go according to plan. He felt like an actor on a stage without a script, trying to play his part well even though uncertainty continued to haunt him.
After feeling the weight of his thoughts hanging over him, Arion took a deep breath and tried to calm himself down. He realized that lingering in the darkness of his thoughts would get him nowhere. "I have to forget everything for a while," he whispered, hoping to find some peace at home.
With slow steps, he left the park and walked towards the school exit. The noisy voices of his classmates who were still doing their activities felt increasingly distant, as if they were all in a different dimension. Arion felt alienated, trapped in a world that only existed himself and the emotional burden he had to bear.
After arriving home, Arion immediately went into his room, locking the door behind him. He threw himself onto the bed, feeling the soft mattress that welcomed him. He closed his eyes, trying to throw away all the torturing thoughts. In the silence of his room, he tried to relax his body, until finally Arion fell asleep soundly like a baby.