Zaki stepped into the classroom with his usual bright energy, a faint smile playing on his face.
"Hello, guys! What's up?" he asked cheerfully.
Smiles returned to greet him, but everyone's eyes told a different story. They were quiet, heavy. And they all knew why.
None of them had the strength to ask the real question—
"Are you okay?"
Because they all feared the return question.
"And you?"
And no one was ready to answer it.
Urhaan finally broke the silence.
"What if we all go hiking after school? Might cheer us up."
Mahir, sitting nearby, overheard it all.
Hiking? What are they even sad about? he thought skeptically.
Their lives seem fine to me.
But Mishal replied quickly, "Yes! Everyone's been so down. Let's do it. After school."
Anabiya groaned, "Ugh, yesterday was such a horrible day."
Zaki added, "Exactly. How could all four of us have such a bad day? What are the odds?"
Mishal nodded. "Trust me—it was the worst."
Urhaan joined in, "Mine too."
Anabiya narrowed her eyes teasingly. "Are you really trying to compete with my misery now?"
Zaki threw his hands up. "Hey, I'm not even saying anything!"
That finally made them all burst into laughter.
Mahir looked at the four of them from across the room. They seemed… strange. Loud. Silly. A little annoying. But for some reason—
He felt himself slowly wanting to be a part of that noise.