Years had passed, and Zahra's silent torment only deepened.
Everything had gotten worse. Her parents were still cold, school felt like a blur, and nobody seemed to notice her. She had no one to talk to. No one to tell her that everything would be okay.
Now in 11th grade, she was barely getting by—advancing through each class like she was on trial.
Zahra was tired. Tired of everything. She wished her problems would just vanish, like magic.
A sudden tap on her desk pulled her from her thoughts.
She blinked.
A boy was standing in front of her.
Wait... why is there someone in front of me? she thought.
She didn't recognize him. Didn't even know if she'd seen him before.
He was tall, with ruffled, uncut hair. Light-skinned, with dimples that appeared when he smiled—a smile warm enough to melt even the coldest heart.
He was really handsome. Too handsome.
Everyone in school was obsessed with him.
The girls wrote him love letters, bought him gifts, even confessed to him publicly.
The guys all wanted to be his friend.
He was the smartest student in the entire school—and he hated the attention.
Like Zahra, he was always alone. The only difference was... he had people around him. Friends. Attention. A choice.
But to Zahra?
He was just another person.
Just like everyone else.
Just... another boy.
"Hey," he said with a smile.
"Who are you?" Zahra asked, her voice sharp with irritation.
"You don't know who I am?" the boy blinked, genuinely surprised.
"Why would I know you?"
"Because I've been in the same class as you since the 7th grade," he replied. "How did you not notice me?"
"Really? Well, I don't pay attention to people I don't know."
"Well... now you can know me. I'm Yusuf, by the way. You're Zahra, right?"
"How did you know?"
"Like I said, I've been in your class since 7th grade. Of course, I know your name."
"Anyway," she said, folding her arms. "What do you want?"
"Oh, right." He smiled again, a little nervously. "I came here because... I've been observing you for a while now."
"Observing? Me?"
Zahra looked at him, stunned.
He nodded, clearly embarrassed.
"Yes, I have. Look, don't take it the wrong way. I did it with pure intentions. To tell you the truth... I've always wanted to be friends with you. Since the beginning."
"Why would you want to be friends with someone like me? And why now?" Zahra asked, her voice low but sharp.
"I seriously don't know," he said, shaking his head slightly. "I've been asking myself that question for a while. Why do I want to be friends with a girl who barely talks in class? A girl everyone calls arrogant and snobbish? Why do I find myself staring at the most unnoticed person in school?"
He smiled gently.
"I guess... I'm just drawn to you. And as for why now—I think I'm finally ready to get some answers."
Zahra was speechless.
Someone had been noticing her all along?
She felt tears welling up, but she blinked them away. There was no way she'd cry in front of a complete stranger.
"Oh," she said softly, after a long pause. The air between them grew heavy with suspense.
"Just that?" Yusuf asked, confused.
She simply nodded.
"Anyway," he continued, "I'd really like to know you. Not the sad you... the real you."
"What if the sad me is the real me?"
"Then I'm going to change that. I'm going to make you happy—maybe even the happiest person alive."
Then he smiled, hopeful.
"So... will you be my friend?"
Zahra stared at him. This guy she had just met (even if he claimed to have known her for years) was asking to be her friend.
After a moment, she finally said, "Fine. I'll be your friend."
"Really?" he grinned.
"Yes," she said shyly. "And just so you know... you'll be my first friend."
He paused for a second, then smiled even wider. "In that case... I'm going to be your best friend."
There was a silence between them—comfortable, warm, unfamiliar. Zahra looked away quickly, unsure of how to hold his gaze. No one had ever looked at her like that before... like she mattered.
A small smile crept onto her lips before she could stop it.
She caught herself. Her heart was pounding.
Why does this feel so big? Why does this feel... safe?
He didn't press further. Didn't ask more. He just sat there next to her like it was the most natural thing in the world. Like she hadn't been invisible for years.
For the first time in forever, Zahra felt... seen.
Truly seen.
And just as that warmth started to settle in her chest—
She heard whispers.
Then turned.
And saw them.
The stares. The shocked looks. The jealousy. The confusion.
Suddenly, the bubble around her and Yusuf burst—and the world came rushing back.