The next morning, Raha got ready early and left for school.
As soon as she arrived, she ran into Subin.
"Hey! How are you?" Subin asked with a warm smile.
Raha smiled back and nodded.
"I wanted to tell you something," Subin said.
Raha gestured, What is it?
Subin quickly took out a notebook and wrote:
You don't have to take out your notebook and write to communicate with me anymore… because I worked really hard and learned sign language.
He looked proud.
Raha's eyes widened in surprise. Really? she signed excitedly.
Subin nodded happily.
Seeing her bright smile, Subin felt like he was drowning in it. For a moment, the world around him disappeared.
Just then—
"Raha...!"
Shawn shouted from a distance.
Students nearby turned to look at him. Subin narrowed his eyes.
Shawn ran toward Raha and tried to hug her, but Subin quickly pulled her closer to himself. Shawn stopped awkwardly.
"Hey, Raha. How are you?" Shawn asked.
Raha smiled and nodded politely.
"By the way… you look very beautiful today," Shawn added.
Raha signed a small thank you.
Subin kept staring at Shawn sharply.
"Hey, gentleman. How are you?" Shawn asked Subin.
"Hm. I'm fine," Subin replied coldly.
"Are you a new admission?" Subin asked.
"Yes," Shawn smiled.
"What's your name?"
"I'm Shawn Dela Cruz. And you?"
"I'm Subin Ellis."
Shawn suddenly paused. "Wait… do you know Andres Ellis?"
Subin smirked. "Why?"
"Oh, sorry! You share the same surname. Andres Ellis is the son of Mr. President Angelo Ellis. My dad is his friend."
Raha began giggling softly.
Subin's expression hardened.
"Andres Ellis is my father. Angelo Ellis is my grandfather."
Shawn's face drained of color.
Raha burst out laughing, and both boys turned to look at her. Seeing her laugh so freely, both of them seemed mesmerized.
Suddenly, Raha noticed Meena and ran toward her.
Subin and Shawn looked confused.
Raha hugged Meena tightly.
"Aren't you not coming to this school anymore?" Subin asked.
Meena smiled brightly. "Actually, the principal called me yesterday. He said I don't need to change schools anymore. He warned Rabina, Bella, and Grace not to bother me again."
Raha looked relieved.
"Finally, everything's settled," Subin said.
"What's settled?" Shawn asked curiously.
"That's between us," Subin replied coldly.
Shawn laughed lightly. "Why are you angry, gentleman? I just asked."
Subin held out his hand. "Let me see your ID card."
After checking it, Subin sighed. "Thank God you're not in our class."
Shawn frowned while Meena laughed.
The bell rang.
"You're in Section C. We're in Section A," Subin said.
"I don't know where Section C is. Raha, can you take me there?" Shawn asked.
"Why Raha?" Subin interrupted. "Meena, you're going to the staff room, right? Drop Mr. Shawn Dela Cruz at Section C."
Meena nodded.
Subin pulled Raha toward the main building.
As they walked, Shawn asked Meena quietly, "Are Raha and Subin dating?"
"No, they're just friends," Meena replied.
Shawn felt relieved.
"Then why is he so possessive?"
"Because Raha can't speak. On her first day, she was treated badly. Some super-rich students mocked her. That's why Subin is protective."
"Mocked her for not speaking?" Shawn frowned. "Who did that? Rohan?"
Meena froze. "You know him?"
"He's my friend. Did he do something?"
"No… he didn't," Meena quickly replied.
Shawn exhaled.
"Husband material, right?" Meena teased.
"Absolutely not. Brother material," Shawn said quickly.
Meena laughed.
Later, Meena returned from the staff room—but the happiness on her face was gone.
As soon as she entered the classroom, Rabina grabbed her hair and threw her to the floor.
The entire class fell silent.
Raha and Subin froze.
Meena began crying.
"You thought you'd be saved?" Rabina growled. "You filmed us, didn't you? Now watch what we do to you!"
She slapped Meena hard.
No one moved. Fear filled the room.
Suddenly—
"Enough!" Subin shouted, grabbing Rabina's wrist.
His voice shook the classroom.
Raha rushed to help Meena up, but Rabina shoved her away.
At that moment, Rohan entered the classroom. Raha stumbled into him, and he instinctively caught her.
For a second, Rohan just stared at her.
"Rabina! You've crossed your limits!" Subin yelled.
"Limits?" Rabina laughed. "Did you forget what happened to Ms. Garcia?"
Rohan's expression darkened.
"What's going on?" he demanded.
Silence again.
"Why is she crying? And who pushed her?" he asked, pointing at Raha.
Rabina lowered her head.
After class, a clerk arrived.
"Meena Lee? The principal wants to see you."
Meena's face turned pale.
"No friends allowed," the clerk added.
Meena left trembling.
Rabina and her group followed.
Subin turned to Rohan. "Please… stop Rabina. Don't let them hurt Meena."
"It's not my problem," Rohan replied coldly.
Subin clenched his fists.
"She tried to ruin the school's reputation. She has to face consequences," Rohan said.
"Reputation?" Subin snapped. "The same school that forced a teacher to end her life? The same school that silences poor students?"
Rohan grabbed Subin's collar. "Don't bring my father into this."
He shoved him away.
Raha rushed to help Subin up, her eyes filled with tears.
Rohan looked at her—and fell silent.
Raha couldn't sit still.
Meena hadn't returned.
She searched the staff room, principal's office, director's office. Nothing.
She ran to the rooftop. The library. Playground. Bathrooms.
Nowhere.
Trembling, she collapsed on the floor.
And then—
From the basement…
She heard Meena's crying and desperate screams.