January 15th, that same year.
The last year of school had begun.
Ray had always been a diligent student, but lately he seemed more distracted than usual, as if something was constantly weighing on his mind.
His routine stayed the same as always.
He got up early, took a shower, brushed his teeth.
His mother, like every morning, made him breakfast.
But since the start of this year… Ray hadn't touched it before leaving.
That morning he left the house in a hurry.
Two blocks ahead, just like every day since they were kids, his friends were waiting for him.
Tai and Cris.
—"Come on, Ray! We're gonna be late!" Cris shouted.
—"This is the third time this week you've kept us waiting longer than usual," Tai said, joking as he grabbed Ray by the shoulder. "Next time, you go alone."
—"Sorry, guys," Ray replied. "I haven't been sleeping well lately… finals are killing me."
Tai gave him a suspicious smile.
—"Sure it's the exams… and not because—"
—"Leave it, Tai," Cris interrupted.
Then he looked at Ray.
—"I get that the exams are stressful, but you can't stop sleeping over them. Yesterday you missed soccer practice. You know we can't play without you on the team."
Ray opened his backpack and showed them his cleats.
—"It won't happen again, guys."
The three of them laughed as they walked toward school.
But when they reached the entrance, Ray suddenly stopped.
His friends kept talking a few steps ahead… until they noticed he was no longer beside them.
Ray was staring at the main entrance.
Hana had just arrived.
She waved at everyone with a smile as she walked through the students.
When her eyes met Ray's, she lifted her hand in a friendly gesture.
But Ray couldn't return the greeting.
He froze completely.
—"Seriously? You're just gonna stand there like a statue after she waves at you?" Tai said. "At least lift your hand."
Cris, laughing, took Ray's hand and lifted it for him.
Hana smiled and continued walking until she disappeared among the students.
Only then did Ray breathe again.
His body slowly relaxed.
Tai glanced at him.
—"So it was the exams… huh?"
When they reached the classroom, the teacher came in behind them.
No one seemed to remember, but that day there was a test.
—"Put everything away," the teacher ordered. "Leave only a pencil and an eraser on your desk."
He began handing out the exam sheets desk by desk.
Ray complied like everyone else, but his attention was elsewhere.
Hana.
She rummaged through her backpack in frustration.
—"Oh no… where is it? Did I forget it?"
She remembered that she had been studying at home that very morning. Her supplies had been left on the table.
She dropped her head onto the desk in frustration.
Ray opened his pencil case.
Inside were two pencils.
One old, nearly worn down from use.
And his favorite pencil.
A pencil his mother had given him when he was a child, and one he had never used.
Suddenly, shouts erupted in the hallway.
—"Fight! There's a fight!"
The students ran out to see what was happening.
Even the teacher stepped out to stop the commotion.
Ray stared at the pencil in his hand for a moment.
Then he got up.
Before leaving the classroom, he placed the pencil and an eraser on Hana's exam sheet.
When everyone returned, Hana saw it.
She smiled in relief.
—"Thanks…" she murmured quietly, not knowing who had left it.
Ray watched her in silence.
The test ended shortly after.
Before Ray could step forward to ask for his pencil back, Tai and Cris grabbed him by the arms.
—"Come on, come on, scorer!" Tai said. "We need you at practice."
As they dragged him out of the classroom, Ray glanced back.
He saw Hana put the pencil back in her backpack.