The summer break ended, and the first day of school arrived. I walked through the narrow streets, my headphones on, music filling my ears. Ahead, I saw a familiar figure in the distance. I picked up my pace to get closer-it was Adam.
I sneaked up beside him, but he was too engaged in conversation with one of his friends to notice me at first. Then, he finally saw me. We both jumped in excitement, happy to reunite. But that joy quickly flipped to disappointment when we discovered we had been placed in separate classes. I left him to meet his new classmates and I entered the class as always, nothing new.
Like the first day, I walked to school alone, headphones on. A familiar car passed by me. Suddenly, I felt something heavy in my chest.
"Why is this feeling coming back?"
As I approached the school, the same car pulled up in front of the entrance. Time slowed as the door opened and Sofia stepped out with her friend. They entered the school, and I found myself frozen, unable to move.
Pain pulsed through my heart.
"I guess it's true. This is love and it is a curse that grows from the heart. I am going to be in a big trouble."
I entered the building and immediately looked for Adam. I found him with Max, talking, and joined them until our classes began. This new class was way louder than before. But suddenly, the room turned to silence.
She entered.
For a moment, it felt like I was in a dream. My heart melted, because of a fire rekindle that kept me warm in a cold night.
Inside my mind, a meeting was called.
I zoomed out, retreating into my skull.
The brain was screaming at the heart:
"What is happening?!" I asked.
The heart responded:
"Well... love is growing, and there's nothing I can do to stop it."
The brain was furious.
"It's time to end this stupidity. Hey Ego, we need to finish some unfinished business."
The ego replied:
"What's the plan? He's unstoppable."
The brain made its decision:
"I don't want to do this, but I will seal him with the chain of thoughts. It will stop him for now."
I snapped back to reality as Max and Lewis continued their conversation, introducing me to new classmates. During break, we met Nikole, an old friend of Sofia and Adam. She was a sweet girl, wearing hijab, always eager to create new friendships. I also met Jakob, one of my new classmates he is somewhat of a good guy, but with a corrupted heart that dictated his actions.
In class, the teacher assigned us to small groups, forcing me to sit next to Jakob. Minutes later, the teacher asked Sofia to present her writing.
Ali turned to me and whispered, "This girl is beautiful. I wanted to become mine."
The world shifted. My heart started racing. Regaining my calm, I advised him to stop thinking about girls-it was a waste of time. He ignored me and continued staring at her, something about his gaze unsettling.
Pain hit me, deep in my heart.
Inside my mind, another meeting began.
The brain spoke:
"Don't tell me... he's waking up again."
It turned to the heart and made a deal.
"We will protect her from him, but you have to freeze until the end of the year."
The heart responded:
"I see... When it comes to love, sacrifices must be made. I will freeze, but you will lose your colors."
The brain sighed, accepting the terms.
"deal."
The world lost its colors once more. My face became expressionless. I lost interest in everything again.
The school day ended, and I walked home with Jakob and Adam. He didn't stop talking about her, but I felt powerless. His words shot my soul. Still, I listened, trying to change his mind, but it was like talking to a wall.
I returned home, staring blankly at the ceiling until I cried myself to sleep.
Days passed. Jakob tried over and over to get closer to Sofia, all while I watched. Every time he made an attempt, she pushed him away. When he finally gave up, he was furious, blaming everyone and everything. Soon, he set his sights on another girl.
A small victory. Sofia had been spared from dealing with someone like him.
Unfortunately, my social battery had become smaller and smaller. I found myself unable to talk to people for long time, reserving my energy for my family. In the end, my time was too short.
I isolated myself in a broken world full of wonders-alone, trapped in endless thoughts.
Suddenly, a terrible headache struck me, followed by an enormous pain in my heart.
"It's the reaction of freezing your emotions" the heart whispered.
The brain took charge immediately.
"It's time to adapt or die."
I steadied myself before entering Arabic class. The teacher gave us a surprise exam-no explanation, no warning. We finished, and as I was leaving, I saw Sofia crying.
A shiver ran down my spine.
Every single one of her tears shot straight through my heart, multiplying the pain a hundredfold. I froze in place, powerless to comfort her.
An overwhelming blue and red flooded my mind, but the colors could not be stored.
I walked away before she didn't even noticed me.
I entered the next class as if nothing had happened.