Morning - Aira's House, Kitchen
She walks downstairs, slow and careful, like every step might shatter her.
Her hair is brushed. Face clean. Lips curved into a practiced, fake smile.
Thomas sit on dining table and siping her tea, when he look her said coldly "You're not skipping college again. Go."
Her brother who took having her breakfast, shakes her head and said "Acting like a drama queen again"
"Aww, poor broken doll still wants attention?" Sana mocking whispers.
Aira smiles.
Not too wide. Not too sad. Just enough.
"I'm fine." Aira said in soft voice.
No one looks twice.
Mira glances at her, worried for a second... but says nothing.
College Gate
She walks with her headphones in. Not listening to music-just avoiding noise.
People stare.
Whispers follow her like shadows.
Student 1:"That's the girl Liam humiliated, right?"
Student 2: "I heard her own family slapped her when she got home."
Student 3:"Maybe she is crazy..."
Aira keeps walking. Her hand tightens on her bag. Her smile stays in place. But her eyes scream.
College Washroom - Break Time
She locks herself in a stall. Sits on the toilet seat. Her hand were shaking.
She whispers 'Takes slow breaths. One. Two. Three.'
She looks up.
She whispers to herself "You're okay. You're okay. You're okay."
Her fingers twitch. She digs her nails into her palms. Just to feel something real.
Cafeteria - Lunchtime
Pretending to scroll on her phone. She sits at the edge of a table. Alone.
Sana walks by with her group, loud and laughing. Liam sits across the hall, whispering to his friends.
Liam glances at Aira once - then looks away, like she's invisible.
Aira in her head:
I used to be his friend. He used to talk to me first. Now I'm nothing. Just... nothing.
Her chest tightens again. But she picks up her juice. Takes a sip. Smiles. Because if she cries here -
They'll win.
And she promised herself one thing:
'I'll break quietly. So no one gets to see me fall.'