Chapter 14 — The Fall
The classroom had gone silent long after Trina walked out.
No one had expected that.
Not from her.
By the end of the day, Trina was called to the discipline office.
Mr. Booksman sat stiffly beside the Vice Principal, who adjusted his glasses before speaking.
"Trina , walking out during lesson is unacceptable behavior."
Trina bowed her head.
"I'm sorry."
No excuses.
No explanations.
Just the apology calm and hollow.
She was given after-school detention.
Detention Room :After School
The air smelled like chalk and dust.
The clock ticked loudly ,too loudly.
Only two students sat inside.
Trina.
And a boy she had never seen before.
He sat near the windows, back straight, eyes unfocused, like he was watching something far away no one else could see.
His presence was quiet , not nervous.
Just… still.
He glanced at Trina once.
Not long enough to be rude.
Just long enough to recognize her.
Trina felt something pull inside her chest a memory she couldn't place.
But she didn't speak.
He didn't, either.
It was not a silence of strangers.
It was a silence of people who already knew something about each other, but couldn't say how.
When detention ended, he passed her in the doorway.
He said nothing.
But Trina felt it.
He knew her.
The Announcement
The next morning, the intercom crackled alive.
"Attention Class 3A. The school celebration festival will take place in two days.
Planning Committee: Trina and Alex of Class 3A."
Of course.
The universe had jokes.
Alex looked at Trina.
Trina looked at the wall.
They began setting up after class banners, lights, tables, the usual.
They didn't speak.
Alex tried first.
"Look… about yesterday.."
Trina tied a ribbon tighter.
Alex tried again.
"You can't just shut down and walk away every time. You act like nothing matters..."
Trina didn't look at him.
"You don't know what matters to me."
That shut him up.
The Sabotage
They were hanging the large banner above the stage.
Someone had loosened the screw in the ceiling bracket.
Someone had also weakened one leg of the ladder.
On purpose.
Trina climbed the ladder anyway.
Slow. Controlled. Careful.
Alex noticed something was wrong a split second too late.
"Trina!!"
Click.
The metal bracket snapped.
The ladder wobbled.
The sound was sharp , like bones, like glass, like something breaking inside the world.
Roomy, across the gym, yelled her name.
The ceiling panel dropped.
Trina fell.
Not fast
but with the terrible, slow heaviness of something inevitable.
The floor rushed up.
She landed hard.
The sound echoed.
Roomy reached her first.
Alex froze ,shock white.
Trina didn't cry.
She couldn't move.
Her body refused.
Roomy's hands trembled when he touched her shoulder.
"Trina,Trina, look at me!"
Her eyes opened glassy, distant.
She whispered barely sound, barely breath:
"Gosh it hurts ."
And her vision went black.