The sun's rays filtered through the curtains, casting a warm morning glow in Aleena's kitchen. With deft hands, she was engrossed in the art of pancake-making. The sound of sizzling batter filled the air as she whipped up a batch of her famous banana chocolate chip pancakes. As the delightful aroma wafted through the room, Aleena's ears perked up, catching the hesitant footsteps descending the stairs. Without a doubt, she recognized the sound as Damian's, prompting her to make a friendly call to him.
 
"I hope you like pancakes! I'm making banana chocolate chip!" Aleena's voice resonated with a cheerful tone, as if her very words could dispel any lingering traces of morning gloom.
 
Damian's head popped up from behind the staircase, his eyes locking onto Aleena as he hesitated for a moment before cautiously descending. Aleena, with her inviting smile, gestured for him to join her. Without uttering a single word, Damian walked over to the kitchen counter, his footsteps echoing softly on the floor. He took a seat on one of the barstools, his gaze fixed on Aleena, who was bustling around the kitchen.
 
Despite Damian's silence, Aleena maintained a steady stream of conversation, determined to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere. She chatted about everything from the weather to the tantalizing scent of pancakes that filled the air. Her words flowed effortlessly, never making Damian feel uncomfortable about his muteness.
 
"Breakfast!" her voice brimming with enthusiasm as she plated the pancakes and distributed them to everyone at the table. The room was filled with expressions of gratitude and appreciation. Damian, who had grown increasingly expressive since his arrival, responded with a nod and a warm smile, his way of conveying his thanks.
 
Monday had arrived, marking their first day back at school since the rooftop incident. Both Aleena and Damian felt a twinge of nervousness. Aleena worried that Damian might attempt something similar to what happened a few days ago. While Damian had been smiling more, especially around Aleena's parents, there was always a hint of melancholy and distant contemplation in his eyes when he thought no one was looking.
 
Aleena had noticed that Damian often became lost in his thoughts, to the extent that she had to call the boy's name multiple times to snap him out of it. Aleena couldn't quite explain how this boy had become so important to her in just a few days, but she knew she didn't want any harm to befall Damian.
 
As for Damian, he felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude mixed with guilt. He couldn't shake the feeling that he was burdening Aleena and her family. They allowed him to stay in their home, providing him with meals, and treating him with unwavering kindness despite his muteness.
 
Damian frequently found himself haunted by flashbacks of his father's cruelty, making the kindness of Aleena's family all the more heart wrenching. He missed his mother terribly during moments like these.
 
On top of his concerns, Damian was also anxious about his school situation. He pondered how he could improve his grades, or if it was even possible at all, and contemplated approaching his teachers for guidance.
 
Suddenly, Aleena's mother brought up Shane, a name that immediately piqued Damian's interest since he knew he was Aleena's best friend. He couldn't help but feel guilty if he was the reason Aleena had been distancing herself from Shane, who had always been a close friend of theirs.
 
Aleena fidgeted in her seat, poking at her pancakes absentmindedly. "He's okay, I guess," Aleena responded, sounding somewhat despondent.
 
"Just okay? You guys haven't been talking?" Her mother inquired; her concern evident in her voice.
 
"Yeah," Aleena replied curtly, returning her attention to her plate, her mood visibly dampened.
 
Damian observed Aleena closely as he ate, noticing the noticeable change in her demeanor. In truth, Aleena and Shane had barely communicated since the basketball game a few days ago. Shane hadn't messaged Aleena after replying to his text about missing the fair, and Aleena, preoccupied with Damian's well-being, hadn't made an effort to reach out to him again. The absence of messages from Shane on Aleena's phone had left her feeling disappointed and somewhat hurt.
 
After breakfast, they excused themselves, changed into their school uniforms, and headed out the door. The walk to school was marked by silence, with neither Aleena nor Damian making an attempt at conversation. However, when they arrived at school, Damian reached out and briefly held Aleena's hand, sensing his friend's melancholic mood. He gave Aleena's hand a reassuring squeeze before releasing it and making his way to his locker.
 
Aleena watched Damian walk away, her heart feeling somewhat lighter. Determined to uplift her own spirits, she headed to her first class, hoping for a better day ahead and ready to face whatever challenges awaited them.