The school festival was alive with color, laughter spilling under the glow of fairy lights and paper lanterns swaying in the warm breeze. Stalls lined the corridors, the air smelling of sweet popcorn and fried snacks, students running around with paint on their cheeks, music pulsing faintly in the background.
Pearl was everywhere—helping with the quiz stall, guiding juniors, making the little kids laugh with exaggerated expressions, her laughter echoing through the hallways like sunlight. She smiled at everyone, cracked jokes, let her energy keep the festival alive.
Yet, somewhere between the laughter and bright lights, Pearl felt a quiet emptiness settle under her ribs.
They all laughed with her, but no one stayed to ask if she was tired. No one noticed how her smile faltered when she turned away, how her hands shook a little when she stopped to breathe.
Except for May, who slipped her a cold soda and whispered, "Take a break, idiot," with a soft squeeze of her hand.
And Sharon.
She found him near the art club's stall, helping Aaron hang up sketches, his eyes scanning the crowd until they found her. The moment their eyes met, Pearl felt her chest loosen, like she could breathe again.
"You're everywhere today," he said when she approached, his voice soft under the hum of festival noise.
"That's me," she replied, forcing a grin, "Pearl Vortex, everyone's personal clown."
He tilted his head, studying her. "You're not a clown."
She blinked, caught off guard, the lights around them blurring slightly.
"I just…" she shrugged, looking at the lanterns above, "I like making people laugh, you know?"
"Yeah," he said, his eyes gentle, "but who makes you laugh, Star?"
She looked at him, the question sinking deep, warming and hurting all at once. Before she could answer, the lights around them dimmed as the lanterns began to rise, floating softly into the night sky, the festival's closing ritual.
Pearl's eyes reflected the lights above, and Sharon couldn't look away.
"I like these lights," she whispered.
"Me too."
"Why?"
He paused, then said, "Because they remind me of you."
She turned to him, startled. He looked away quickly, pretending to watch the lanterns, but his ears were pink, the corners of his lips lifting in a shy smile.
And as they stood there under the drifting lights, surrounded by laughter that didn't quite reach her heart, Pearl felt something warm settle inside her.
Because in that crowded festival, under those glowing lights, she realized Sharon and May were the only ones who truly saw her, beyond the jokes and the laughter.
And for now, that was enough.