Rayen stared at the small note in his locker. The handwriting was neat and soft, like the words were whispered instead of written.
"It's okay to be tired.Rest. You're doing your best."
He looked around. No one was nearby. No one watching.Who would send this? And how did they know?
That day, something inside Rayen felt different. He laughed less. He thought more. The smile he usually wore felt heavier now, like a mask slipping.
At lunch, he sat with his usual group. They were loud — talking about games, teasing each other, shouting across the table. But Rayen's eyes searched the room, and they stopped on someone quiet in the corner.
Lina.
She was reading, her lunch untouched. Her hair covered half her face, and her shoulders were slightly hunched — like she was trying to disappear. Yet somehow, she stood out to him. Not because of noise, but because of peace.
He walked over."Hi," he said.She looked up, surprised.
"Can I sit?"She nodded.
They sat in silence. The noise of the cafeteria faded around them. He didn't ask about the note, and she didn't bring it up.
But Rayen finally said, "Thanks."
Lina didn't ask "for what." She just smiled, a small one — like a flame flickering in the wind but never going out.
That's when he realized something strange: silence could feel safe. And maybe, just maybe, being seen didn't always mean being loud.
From that day on, Rayen began to notice Lina more.And others would soon follow.