She works in silence.
Mopping floors after midnight, chasing grades by dawn.
Her name is Ermelinda, and life never handed her anything —
so she learned to build from scraps, from sweat, from nothing.

He walks the halls untouchable.
The bad boy with a rich name and a sharp stare.
But Elias is more than what they see —
behind the smirk is a boy tired of pretending.

They come from different worlds,
but the weight on their shoulders feels the same.
And in a world that favors shortcuts and shiny lies,
they choose the grind — day by day, brick by brick.

This is not a love story.
This is a story of fire, of fight,
of two souls pushing through the noise
to make something that matters.

Because dreams aren’t given.
They’re earned — one broken night at a time.

I was just walking past the library, earbuds half in, when I heard two girls whispering near the lockers.


"Did you hear? Ermelinda got that scholarship. Full ride."


"I think she's scared to take it. Her dad's a nightmare."


The words hit me like a punch straight to the chest.


My feet moved before I could think. Anger, confusion, and something I didn't want to name boiling up in my chest.


I thought—no—I knew we told each other everything.


She was in the café again, tying her apron behind her back when I stormed in. No dramatic entrance, no teasing this time. Just straight to the point.


"Did you seriously not think to tell me?"


I folded my arms. "The scholarship. You got in."


Her expression dropped, like a curtain being pulled too fast. "Who told you?"


"Does it matter?" I snapped. "You weren't going to tell me at all?"


She swallowed, eyes darting around the empty café before stepping around the counter. "Elias, I—"


"You said you'd think about it. I thought we were in this together." My voice cracked, and I hated it. "I'm your best friend. And you just… what? Decided to keep it from me like I don't matter?"


"It's not like that," she said quickly, stepping closer. "I was scared, okay? Scared it would change everything. Scared my dad would flip. Scared you might act like this."


I laughed bitterly. "Act like what? Like I care?"


Her lips pressed into a thin line. "I didn't want to tell anyone until I was sure."


"But you told no one. Not even me." I pointed to my chest. "The one person who's been there every step of the way. I thought we didn't hide stuff."


The silence stretched between us, sharp and stinging.


I ran a hand through my hair and took a step back. "You know what? Whatever. Congrats, Ermelinda. Hope the scholarship keeps you warm at night."


But I was already out the door, her voice chasing me like smoke I didn't want to breathe in.


Chapter 18 - Chapter Seventeen: You Weren’t Going to Tell Me?