Aleena had been walking leisurely to class, enjoying the calm before the storm of another school day when she sensed someone approaching her. The unexpected presence startled her for a moment, but she quickly relaxed when she saw that it was Shane, her longtime friend.
 
"Hey, Aleena! Where have you been?" Shane asked, casually falling into step alongside her.
 
Aleena's heart quickened its pace as it always did when Shane was nearby, but she brushed it off, masking her feelings as usual.
 
"Oh, nothing much," she replied with an air of indifference.
 
"That's great. Did I tell you?" Shane said, a bit breathless. "You remember the fair last Friday? Well, guess who I spent it with?"
 
Without waiting for Aleena to respond, he enthusiastically divulged the details. "Daisy! We practically hung out the whole day! After the basketball game, I drove her home, got her number, and we met up at the fair! Can you believe it? She actually agreed to meet me, and we had a blast for almost three hours!"
Shane rambled on about his day with Daisy, reliving every moment and every emotion. He was so engrossed in sharing his wonderful experience that he failed to notice the subtle frown on Aleena's face. As the realization hit her that Shane had chosen to spend time with Daisy instead of her, a pang of hurt and jealousy stirred inside her. She masked her emotions, but deep down, it stung.
 
Shane remained oblivious to the fact that Aleena had stopped listening, too absorbed in sharing his experiences with Daisy. Each word about how wonderful and amazing Daisy was, and how much Shane liked her, felt like a knot tightening in Aleena's stomach, for reasons she couldn't quite comprehend.
 
Finally, as they reached their classroom, Shane spotted Daisy and practically sprinted over to her desk, calling out her name eagerly. Aleena tried not to let it bother her and trudged slowly and dejectedly to her usual seat. She didn't want to witness Shane pining over Daisy, nor did she relish the idea of being ignored by her best friend for the entire class.
 
Usually, Shane sat beside her, and they shared their secrets and laughter. But with Daisy now in the picture, Aleena found herself alone at the two-person desk. She told herself she didn't care, but a heavy sigh escaped her lips as she took out her books, determined to focus on the lesson. After all, she had nothing better to do.
 
She silently prayed for the teacher to arrive soon, hoping it would give Shane a reason to stop conversing with Daisy from across the room. Aleena attempted to ignore their interaction, but the discomfort in her stomach grew with each passing moment Shane spent talking to her.
 
Then, out of the blue, two books were placed loudly on her desk. Aleena looked up in surprise, only to find Damian settling casually into the seat across from her. Damian avoided eye contact as he sat down, behaving as though he was there out of necessity rather than choice. Aleena couldn't help but notice the slight redness at the tips of Damian's ears.
 
The fact that Damian had chosen to sit at the front, next to Aleena when he could have sat alone in the back or skipped class altogether, warmed Aleena's heart. She offered a friendly smile to Damian, who continued to focus on his books, before turning her attention to her own work. At least she was no longer alone at the table, and that thought brought a sense of comfort amidst the chaos of emotions swirling within her.
 
Damian couldn't explain the sudden impulse that came over him. When he saw Aleena sitting alone at her usual table, a feeling of discomfort settled within him. He scanned the room, searching for Shane, fully aware that they typically sat together. His gaze finally landed on Shane at a table across the room, engaged in conversation with Daisy, laughter punctuating their interaction.
 
Recognizing the frown and furrowed eyebrows on Aleena's face, Damian quickly pieced together what had happened: Shane had left Aleena to sit with Daisy.
 
Seeing Aleena's sullen expression didn't sit right with Damian. He made a spur-of-the-moment decision to join her. His initial instinct had been to skip the entire class, but the thought of returning to the rooftop held no appeal. Besides, he reasoned that he should make an effort to pay attention in class to avoid failing the upcoming exam.
 
As he settled into the chair, embarrassment washed over Damian. He wasn't sure if it was acceptable for him to sit with Aleena or if Aleena would act as if their connection existed only within the confines of their home.
 
Self-doubt crept in, causing Damian to question his decision. However, he looked up and found Aleena flashing one of her infectious, gummy smiles. It made Damian's ears turn warm, and a sense of contentment washed over him. Aleena returned her smile before focusing on her books, still wearing a genuine grin, seemingly having forgotten about Shane and the previous discomfort.
 
For Aleena, the classroom was no longer a place of solitude, but a sanctuary where a newfound friendship was silently blooming between two souls who had each felt a pang of loneliness.