Chapter 39 : Detention became heaven

"Amaya!" Zeya exclaimed dramatically, causing Amaya's deep ocean eyes to open with a hint of confusion. Amaya gazed at Zeya's beaming smile, a stark contrast to her own distant expression. "Let's roll, Ama. I got..." Fred's voice trailed off as he spotted Zeya beside Amaya.

"Zeya! What's up with you?! You look like you've been surviving on salad air!" Fred exclaimed, grabbing Zeya's wrist and inspecting it dramatically. "Oh my lord! You should carry a bag of rocks just to stay grounded in a storm!"

Zeya blinked, taken aback, "I've always been this way!" she defended, playfully swatting Fred's hand away, the warmth of their friendship enveloping her like a cozy blanket. Amaya rose from her seat, her movements graceful yet purposeful, ready to make a swift exit. "Let's bounce before Daniel Sir realizes our absence in the class," she whispered, nudging Fred's shoulder, her voice smooth like silk but laced with urgency.

Fred nodded in agreement, still grinning, and waved at Zeya. "Don't forget to carry rocks in your pockets!" The absurdity of his suggestion made Zeya purse her lips, shooting him a mock glare, the corners of her mouth twitching in amusement. But then her gaze shifted, landing on the corner seat where Amaya had been sleeping a few minutes ago. A pang of longing hit her, and she thought, if only she had come a little earlier.

But then, a smile crept onto her face, warmth flooding her chest at the sight of Amaya after what felt like an eternity. The contrast of Amaya's deep ocean eyes, cold and distant, against Zeya's bubbling excitement was like a beautiful dance of opposites. The air around them always seemed to shimmer with unspoken words, and today, Zeya felt a magnetic pull toward Amaya, a connection that thrummed in the silence, promising that their story was far from over.

"Zeya, is this your time for class?" Hailey ma'am asked, her voice steady as she flipped the page of a thick textbook, the sound echoing slightly in the quiet classroom. Zeya felt a wave of frustration wash over her. She had overheard a few students whispering about Hailey ma'am being absent today, which had given her the idea to skip. But now, seeing Hailey ma'am right in front of her, teaching as if nothing was amiss, made her heart sink. "Damn, those girls…" she cursed under her breath, gritting her teeth as she felt the heat of embarrassment rising to her cheeks.

"Go to the detention class right now," Hailey ma'am said firmly, standing up from her desk and grabbing a marker with an air of authority, ready to launch into a revision session that Zeya wanted no part of. The tension in the room was palpable as Demi and Somiya exchanged glances, their eyes darting between Zeya and Hailey ma'am. Zeya rolled her eyes dramatically, feeling the weight of their stares as she turned to walk away in annoyance.

On the way towards the detention room, frustration bubbling inside her, in her distracted state, she accidentally bumped into a man in his thirties, dressed in a sharp black suit, who was carrying a stack of papers that scattered across the floor. "I'm so sorry, sir!" she exclaimed, her voice laced with urgency as she quickly knelt to help him gather the papers.

"It's alright," he replied, his tone calm and collected, as he watched her scramble to pick everything up. Zeya handed him the last of the papers, offering a smile tinged with apology. "I really am sorry, sir…" she said, bowing slightly in her earnestness.

"Just a friendly tip: next time, don't just walk with your eyes open but walk with your mind focused on where you're going," the man advised, his voice firm yet understanding as he turned to walk away. Zeya nodded, her cheeks warming with embarrassment as she watched him go. As she glanced at the papers in his hands, her brow furrowed, recalling a word—recommendation—that had caught her eye among the scattered documents.

*Creak–*

Like a door to heaven, adorned with flowers and brimming with happiness, Zeya stood before the girl who held her heart. Amaya sat at her desk, her gaze distant, as if she were peering into an abyss of thoughts. Zeya's lips curled into a soft smile, her eyes sparkling with admiration as she stared at Amaya, afraid that a blink might shatter this fleeting moment. Amaya caught a glimpse of Zeya from the corner of her eye, her brows slightly furrowing, but her expression remained indifferent.

"Hey…" Zeya greeted, stepping closer, her excitement palpable. "I don't mind compliments about my looks, but I definitely mind being stared at like I'm some kind of prey," Amaya replied, her voice flat and cool, lacking any warmth.

"Oh, I'm sorry! I was just completely mesmerized by your beauty!" Zeya exclaimed, her enthusiasm unwavering as she bowed her head slightly in apology. She settled beside Amaya, a flicker of concern crossing her features. "You seem even colder than before. Did something happen?"

Amaya turned to Zeya, her expression unyielding. "Did you lose your brain while losing weight?" she asked, her tone dripping with sarcasm. Zeya blinked in surprise, momentarily taken aback. "Well, not when I lost the weight, but I definitely stop thinking with my brain when I'm with you," she replied, trying to maintain her playful demeanor, but the chill in Amaya's eyes made the warmth of her affection feel like a distant memory.

Bored, Amaya flipped through the pages of her notes, completely unbothered by Zeya's loving gaze, as if Zeya was just a fleeting thought. "Can I ask you something?" Zeya asked, her voice laced with curiosity. Amaya didn't respond, her eyes glued to her notes, as if they held the secrets of the universe. "Were you also suspended?" Zeya inquired, inching a little closer, hoping to draw Amaya out of her shell. "No," Amaya replied, her tone flat and devoid of any emotion.

Zeya nodded slowly, contemplating her next words. Suddenly, a thought struck her, and she turned toward Amaya, her voice rising with disbelief, "Hey! Did you know Subash sir had a bike accident?!?" Amaya's hand twitched slightly at the mention of the news, her gaze lowering just a fraction, but she maintained an eerie calmness. "Oh…" she replied, her tone almost dismissive, revealing that the news didn't seem to faze her at all.

Zeya's smile faltered, her eyebrows knitting together in confusion. There was something unsettling about Amaya's indifference; it felt as if a cold shadow had settled between them. Did Amaya actually find happiness in Subash sir's misfortune? Her expression remained unreadable, leaving Zeya feeling uneasy and concerned. But shaking off the discomfort, Zeya forced a smile and began sharing everything that had happened at school in Amaya's absence, eager to bridge the growing distance between them and bring a spark of warmth into their interaction.

"Can you believe one of your classmate's mom actually threatened the principal? The principal was red as tomatoes!" Zeya's forehead wrinkle slightly in confusion as she muttered staring at the wall in front of her, "But I don't get one thing. I told Hailey ma'am it was Subash Sir's fault, and she got angry with me, even said if I talked about it again, she would suspend me too." She looked at Amaya, dissatisfied, "I mean, our class was there; we were the eyewitnesses! I also told her half of the school already knows what happened that day, it won't be long before parents come—"

"You tried to threaten Mrs. Hailey?" Amaya finally lifted her gaze, her deep ocean eyes reflecting a distant coldness as she asked in a low voice, "Did you really expect that if everyone's parents come together, they would punish that bastard instead of showing the students' fault?" Zeya, persistent, folded her hands and turned her head slightly in her defense. "I was just defending my friends! It was clearly Subash Sir's fault for raising his hand first! Yes, your classmates were wrong for taking action, but why did she punish only the students when the teacher was equally at fault?" Zeya's voice was warm and passionate, full of sincerity. Amaya's expression softened slightly as she processed Zeya's words. "And I wasn't threatening her; I was just stating the fact!" Zeya added, her eyes sparkling with determination.

Amaya stared intently at Zeya, a whirlwind of thoughts racing through her mind as she absorbed Zeya's words. Zeya's eyes, innocent like those of a child, held a depth that made Amaya hesitate to speak for the first time. This was a girl who had always been unafraid to express herself, even if it meant being rude or cold, yet now she found herself lowering her gaze, struggling to find the right words.

Noticing Amaya's silence as she returned to her notes, Zeya pouted, resting her chin on her palms. "Oh right, a lot of juniors transferred from our school this month. It's so weird," she said, her voice tinged with a hint of sadness and confusion. "There are only twenty-nine students left in Grade 9 Section A out of forty-two. They had to merge Grade 10 Sections A and C because of the large number of transfers from their classes." Zeya's voice dropped slightly, and the brightness in her eyes seemed to fade. "Even a few of my classmates were transferred. Do you know what's strange? It's all girls who were transferred." She leaned back, folding her hands in her front of her chest. "And all of this happened right after your class and Subash Sir's fight."

"Were you always this talkative?" Amaya asked, closing her notebook and fixing her gaze on Zeya, raising her eyebrows as she directed her full attention toward her.