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"Man, what a tiring day," Elion muttered, adjusting the strap of his bag as he stepped out of his last class. "I just want to jump on my bed as soon as I get home."
The school grounds were buzzing with the usual afternoon chaos—students chatting, sports teams practicing, and the occasional teacher trying to herd stragglers toward the gates. Elion passed the tall wall bearing the name Eleanor Highschool etched in bold black and gold. It might have looked elegant if not for the red coloured spray paint beneath it that read Satan's Jail.
He snorted. Definitely those Henryville delinquents. No one else has the guts—or stupidity—to do things like this. I mean, it's not like they're wrong, but still…
"ELION! You forgot your water bottle!" a voice shouted from behind.
He turned to see Natalie running towards him, holding the bottle. she waved dramatically as if the bottle was a prized artifact.
"Thanks, Natalie," Elion said, as she reached him, slightly out of breath.
"You're welcome, but geez, you've been zoning out alot lately," she teased, handing it over. Then she looked over to where I was previously staring. Towards the graffiti. "Ugh, those morons from Henryville really need to learn some respect. I can't believe the headmaster hasn't done anything about this yet. If it was one of us, we'd probably be scrubbing floors until graduation."
"Yeah, true," Elion replied. As he absentmindedly glanced at the clock on the school's tower. "Anyway, thanks for coming all the way here just to give me this."
"Oh, trust me, I wasn't being that selfless. I just needed an excuse to escape Mrs. Margret's constant nagging.I don't know what's up with her, she's been on my case all day."
Elion smirked. "Well, good luck with that. I've got to head home. See you tomorrow."
"See ya, Elion!" Natalie called as she waved, heading back toward the school building.
Elion made his way to the bus stop.
As he boarded the bus, giving a polite nod to the driver before making his way to the middle. Most of the seats were filled—students from other schools, office workers with tired expressions, and a few elderly passengers clutching their shopping bags.
The bus jolted forward, its engine growling as it merged onto the main road. Elion slid into a window seat, resting his bag on his lap. His book was still tucked under his arm, but he hesitated to open it. Instead, he looked around.
A little boy near the front was playing with a toy car, his mother gently scolding him for making too much noise. An older man in a wide-brimmed hat muttered to himself, his hands clutching a newspaper that looked like it had been decades old.
Behind Elion, a soft cough caught his attention. He turned slightly, catching a glimpse of a man sitting a row back—dark-haired, wearing a simple coat. His sharp features were partially obscured by shadows, and his posture was stiff, as if he didn't belong there.
The man glanced up, and their eyes met briefly. Something about his gaze sent a strange chill through Elion. It wasn't hostility, but it wasn't warm either. The man looked away first, leaning his head back against the seat.
Weird… Elion thought, shaking it off. He opened his book, skimming the first few lines. The weight of the day finally catching up with him. But between the low roar of the engine, the chatter of passengers, and his own exhaustion, the words blurred on the page.
"Forget it," he mumbled, leaning his head against the glass. The vibrations of the bus were oddly soothing, and the warmth of the sun filtering through the window was just enough to lull him into a light sleep.
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The bus hummed steadily along the quiet road, the faint chatter of passengers blending with the low rumble of tires. Sunlight streamed through the windows. A rare moment of peace. I thought.
Life had always seemed too loud for me lately.But I am not complaining—being popular came with its perks. Friends, laughter, and the constant buzz of attention. Yet, there are moments when I wish for silence, a brief escape from the whirl of expectations.
For the first time that day, Elion let his mind drift into silence.
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