Zorvath stepped closer, his fingers gently brushing a loose strand of Aria's hair away from her face. She stared back at him, her blue eyes locked onto his, unable to look anywhere else. The air between them grew warm, their breaths mingling in the narrow space.
In a voice softer than silk, Zorvath murmured,
"You can decide who you want to be—my wife, my girlfriend, anyone. But from the moment I first saw you, I decided you were mine."
Aria's eyes widened, her heart hammering in her chest. Words stuck in her throat, trembling on the edge of escape but never forming.
Zorvath gave a small, knowing smile.
"I'll be waiting in the car," he said, turning away.
The kitchen suddenly felt emptier as he left. Slowly, Aria stepped out, her mind spinning as she tried to process everything he'd just said.
The ride back to school was quiet. The moment they arrived, Aria jumped out of the car and hurried straight toward the sports ground.
It was almost sunset, yet the place was still alive with students.
When her eyes fell on the grounds, her breath caught. The field, the court—everything had been cleaned spotless. The last time she had seen this place was only through a window, too afraid to step closer, imagining snakes and filth waiting inside. But now… everything gleamed.
They actually did this? Aria thought in disbelief. She hadn't expected these students to pull off such thorough work. For the first time, she truly admired them.
Yet they weren't standing around boasting about it. Many were already playing, chasing the ball across the ground, laughter echoing through the air. Their secret was simple: they had worked quickly because they were eager to enjoy themselves afterward. Their teamwork had turned the heavy task light.
As Aria stepped onto the grounds, the students paused for a moment to greet her—not with long words, just a nod or a smile that was enough to say we see you.
A football match was already underway, cheers rising with every goal.
Then Sona spotted her. She hurried over at once, her face drawn with frustration. "Aria," she sighed, sounding almost pitiful, "please, can you move me to another group? Mirzand is driving me crazy."
Aria gave a sweet smile and said, "Of course, as you wish."
Sona's eyes widened, her whole face lighting up. "Really?" she asked in her sweetest voice. She clutched Aria's hands and showered her with exaggerated kisses on the cheek, making Aria laugh.
But then Aria added lightly, "If you're willing to score a perfect 80 out of 80 in the midterm exam."
Sona froze. "What?" she blurted, her smile vanishing as quickly as it came.
Aria only kept that calm, knowing smile on her lips as she slipped away toward Danvy and Sreya. Left behind, Sona stomped her foot, muttering curses at both Aria and Mirzand. "Why is everyone against me? Why does everyone hate me?" she wailed dramatically, earning a few chuckles from nearby students.
Then the atmosphere shifted.
The sound of footsteps echoed, and as Zorvath walked into the grounds, the football match screeched to a halt. Laughter faded. One by one, the students stopped what they were doing and gathered, instinctively sensing that something important was about to happen.
All eyes fixed on him.
Everyone whispered the same thought: this was the moment. A leader was about to be chosen for the sports area.
The obvious answer seemed to hang in the air—Mirzand. He had been the warrier, the wall no one could bypass. Naturally, everyone assumed Zorvath would hand him the role.
But Zorvath's presence carried a weight of unpredictability. And that uncertainty made the silence heavy, every student waiting for the words that would decide the ground's future.
Zorvath walked forward, his steps steady, and came to stand directly before Aria. The crowd parted, watching in silence.
Aria met his gaze and already understood what he was asking without words.
"Did you decide?" Zorvath's voice carried low but firm.
She gave a simple nod.
Before she could speak, Sona pushed her way through the crowd, rushing to Aria's side. She grasped her hands tightly, searching her eyes, silently asking if she was truly okay. Aria squeezed her fingers once, gently, and stepped forward.
Her voice rose clear over the grounds. "Has everyone guessed already? We need a leader for this sports ground now that it has reopened. So tell me—who do you think it should be?"
The students blinked at her, stunned. They hadn't expected her to ask them. Murmurs rippled, but no one spoke up at first.
Finally, a boy in the crowd called out casually, "Someone good at sports!"
Aria smiled. "Exactly. Someone good at sports." She let her eyes sweep over them, then landed firmly on one face. "And in KHSS, there is one student I know who carries that qualification better than anyone else. That person is… Danvy."
Gasps echoed. The silence afterward was heavier than before. Everyone had expected Mirzand.
But the decision was made.
Danvy's eyes filled with tears before she could stop them. She stumbled forward and threw her arms around Aria from behind, clinging to her.
Aria turned, brushing away her tears. "Hey… you're the strongest in our group. If you cry, then we all become weak."
Danvy sniffled, nodding. A shaky smile broke across her face. Sreya and Sona quickly joined, wrapping their arms around the both of them until the four stood locked in one tight embrace.
The crowd broke into applause—part for the announcement, part for the unshakable bond they were witnessing.
From the edge, Zorvath stood still for a moment, his expression unreadable, then turned and walked away.
Mirzand, meanwhile, looked almost giddy with relief, realizing he had been spared another burden. He nearly danced in place.
Sona tilted her head at him, smirking. "Careful, Mirzand. you'll break the jewelry shop ."
The students around them burst out laughing, the tension dissolving into something lighter. Mirzand just rolled his eyes and grinned, secretly glad no one was looking at him too seriously.