Yarina Humaira tightened her grip on the straps of her backpack, her footsteps slowing as she approached the gates of Kenbohai High School. The academic block was alive with energy of students catching up after the break, seniors boasting about their final assignments, and teachers preparing the teaching sessions. The hum of life around her was almost comforting, but Yarina couldn't shake the nervous weight in her chest.
This was supposed to be a fresh start for Yarina , a chance to leave behind everything that had happened at Shiratuni High School. But standing here, surrounded by strangers and uncertainty, she wondered if it was possible to truly start over. The thought lingered as she crossed the school block , trying to focus on blending in rather than standing out .
Her first few days passed in a blur of introductions and awkward silences. Teachers called her name during roll, and classmates offered polite but fleeting smiles. Yarina did her best to stay invisible, sitting quietly in the back of her classes and eating lunch under a tree in the courtyard that is away from the crowded cafeteria.
By the third day, the school burst into a lively spectacle as the annual Club Fair took over the courtyard. Rows of booths lined the space, each of it decorated with colorful banners and posters. Shouts of "Join us!" and "Check out our club!" filled the air, competing with upbeat music blasting from the speakers. Yarina walked through the chaos while her hands clutching her bag straps as she weaved between students waving flyers in her face.
"Hey, you there!"
A cheerful voice cut through the noise, stopping Yarina in her tracks. She turned to see a tall boy with comma hair styles and a confident smile standing next to a booth covered in bright banners that read Kenbohai Marching Band and Orchestra Teams with photos of performances and trophies displayed proudly beneath the banner.
"I'm Harris Izzudin," the boy said, stepping forward with an extended hand. "French horn player and section leader. You interested in music?"
Yarina hesitated, her stomach twisting. Of all the booths she could have stopped at, it had to be this one.
"I... used to play," she said, her voice quiet.
Harris's expression brightened. "Used to? What instrument did you play?"
" A Tuba," she admitted, the word feeling heavy on her tongue.
Harris's eyebrows shot up. "Tuba? Woohoo that's amazing! We don't have enough tuba players to be honest, you should definitely join us."
"I'm not sure about that," Yarina replied quickly, taking a small step back.
"You should think about it," Harris pressed, his tone encouraging. "Our band is incredible, and we're gearing up for competition season. It's a great way to meet a lot of people."
Yarina shook her head, already retreating. "I'll think about it," she mumbled before walking away, ignoring Harris's calls to wait.
In class, Yarina couldn't shake the conversation from her mind. She had no intention of joining the band , not after everything that had happened at Shiratuni. Music had been her passion once, however it had also been the source of her greatest humiliation.
When lunchtime arrived, Yarina found her usual quiet spot under the tree, only to hear her name being called. She looked up to see Harris standing there with a tray of food and a grin that was somehow both infuriating and infectious.
"How did you know my name?" she asked, startled.
"I asked around," he said casually, sitting across from her without waiting for an invitation. "You left quite an impression earlier. Haha You know , not everyday you meet a tuba player , It's out of the common."
Yarina frowned, unsure how to respond. Harris seemed completely unfazed by her silence.
"Have you thought about joining the band club?" he asked, leaning forward eagerly.
"I already told you , I'm not sure," she replied, her tone sharper than intended.
Harris didn't flinch. Instead, he smiled wider. "That's not a no for me. I'll take it."
The days that followed only proved Harris's determination. During a practice session, Yarina found herself lingering outside the gymnasium, drawn by the sound of brass instruments in perfect harmony. Her breath hitched as she spotted Harris in the middle of the formation, his French horn raised as he played an intricate solo. His notes were rich and powerful, resonating with an emotion that made her chest ache.
"That's Harris," someone whispered nearby. "He's incredible, isn't he?"
Yarina turned away quickly, but the music stayed with her long after she left.
Harris continued his efforts, showing up at her lunch spot with stories about the band's performances and teasing her about her hesitance. Despite her polite refusals, he never seemed discouraged.
"I appreciate it," she told him one afternoon, her voice firmer than before. "But it's just not for me."
Harris leaned back, studying her with a knowing look. "You'll come around," he said confidently. "Music is still a part of you , I can tell."
Yarina didn't respond, but his words lingered, leaving her more conflicted than ever.
Yarina's routine was becoming familiar : avoid attention, stay quiet, and keep moving. She thought she'd perfected the art of being invisible, but Kenbohai High School had a way of breaking through even the toughest walls. Between the club fair and Harris Izzudin's relentless enthusiasm, cracks were already starting to show.
One afternoon, she decided to stop by at a nearby 7-Eleven after school, hoping to grab some snacks before heading home. The sun was low, casting long shadows over the parking lot. As she stepped out of the store with a bag of snacks in her hand.
That's when she saw them.
A group of girls in Shiratuni High School uniforms stood near the store entrance, laughing and chatting loudly. Yarina's stomach dropped as her eyes landed on Julien, her old section mate in the Shiratuni marching band , and the last person she ever wanted to see.
Julien spotted her almost instantly. Her smile turned sharp like a demon, and she nudged the girl beside her before striding over to Yarina with the confidence of someone who knew exactly where it would hurt her feelings.
"Well, well," Julien drawled, her voice dripping with mockery. "If it isn't the infamous Yarina Humaira. I didn't think I'd see you around here."
Yarina froze, her body rigid as Julien circled her like a predator sizing up its prey. The other girls snickered, their eyes gleaming with the promise of more cruelty.
"Still playing the tuba?" Julien asked, her tone casual but laced with venom. "Or did you finally give up after, you know... everything?"
Yarina clenched her fists, willing herself to stay calm. She wanted to walk away, to disappear, but her feet wouldn't move.
"Why so quiet?" Julien pressed, her voice rising. "Oh, wait, I know, you're afraid, aren't you? Afraid someone might end up dead again because of you."
"That's not true," Yarina whispered, her voice trembling.
"Isn't it?" Julien shot back. "You were the last person to talk to her. You scolded her, and then she ran off and , well, we all know what happened next."
The laughter from Julien's friends felt like nails scraping against Yarina's skin.
"It was an accident," Yarina managed to say, her voice barely audible.
"Sure it was," Julien sneered, crossing her arms. "But it's funny, isn't it? How did everyone at Shiratuni seem to think otherwise? You were always so high and mighty, the perfect little tuba player, and look where it got you , yes… a killer! . "
Yarina's vision blurred as tears welled up in her eyes. She stared at the ground, wishing it would swallow her whole.
Unbeknownst to her, Harris had been walking nearby and heard the entire conversation. He stayed hidden behind a brick wall in the parking lot, his fists clenched as he listened to Julien's words. His jaw tightened with anger, but he held himself back, waiting for the right moment.
Finally, Julien let out a mocking laugh and turned to her friends. "Come on guys , let's go. I think we've made our point."
As the group walked away, Yarina remained rooted in place, her shoulders trembling.
Harris waited a few moments before stepping out from his hiding spot. He approached cautiously, his heart sinking at the sight of Yarina wiping her tears with the sleeve of her sweater.
"You heard that, didn't you?" she said, her voice thick with emotion.
Harris hesitated before answering. "Yeah, I did."
Yarina let out a choked sob, shaking her head. "I don't want to kill someone again," she whispered, her voice breaking.
Harris crouched slightly to meet her gaze. "Look at me," he said gently. When she didn't, he continued, "Yarina, listen. I would never let you kill my teammates. And I don't want to see you as the person you were years ago. You've changed, haven't you? I can see it."
Her watery eyes finally met his, a flicker of vulnerability shining through.
"We'll accept you," Harris said, his voice steady. "We'll love you for who you are, not for what people say about you. We don't care about your past. The past stays where it is. Don't let it block you from living your life now."
Yarina's tears fell freely as she tried to process his words. No one had ever spoken to her like that , not since everything had fallen apart.
Harris straightened and took a step back, giving her space. "Come on," he said softly, gesturing toward the street. "Let me walk you home. You don't have to be alone right now."
Yarina hesitated before nodding, hugging her bag tightly as she followed him. For the first time in a long time, she felt a tiny spark of hope , a whisper that maybe, just maybe, she could move forward from her past.Â