Chapter 24

Morning didn’t arrive with noise.

It arrived with something softer.

Eraya felt it before she even opened her eyes.

That strange, unfamiliar lightness.

Not outside,

but inside.

For a few seconds after waking up, she didn’t move.

Didn’t rush.

Didn’t calculate what needed to be done,

what she might be late for,

what mistake she might make.

She just… lay there.

Feeling the quiet.

This is what it feels like… to not wake up afraid.

The thought came slowly.

Carefully.

As if even her mind wasn’t used to holding something so gentle.

When she finally stepped out of the apartment beside Zivah, she noticed it again.

The way her chest didn’t feel tight.

The way her steps didn’t feel heavy.

There was no heaviness in her chest like there usually was when she stepped into a new day.

No quiet dread settling in her bones before anything had even begun.

Just… air.

Normal air.

Zivah locked the door, glancing at her, not directly,

not obviously, but enough to check.

“…you okay today?”

The question wasn’t forced.

It never was with her.

Eraya nodded.

But this time,

there was something behind the nod.

“…yes.”

A pause.

“…I think I am.”

Zivah didn’t respond immediately.

She just gave a small nod.

But something in her shoulders eased.

Downstairs,

before they could even properly step out,

a voice burst into the space.

“ERAYAAA!”

And then,

before Eraya could prepare herself,

Shivani collided into her.

A full hug.

No hesitation.

No warning.

Eraya stiffened for half a second,

her body reacting out of habit,

unexpected touch—brace—hold still—don’t react.

But then,

slowly,

that instinct loosened.

Her arms lifted.

Tentatively.

And wrapped around Shivani.

Not as tightly.

Not as confidently.

But… willingly.

Zivah saw that.

And something in her chest tightened.

Not painfully.

But… noticeably warm.

Anamika leaned toward her instantly,

whispering like she had been waiting for this moment her entire life,

“…don’t even think about it.”

Zivah frowned.

“…think about what?”

Anamika smirked.

“…that look.”

“…what look?” Zivah questioned.

“…the one where you’re calculating how to legally ban hugs.”

Zivah let out a quiet scoff.

“…I’m not.”

“…you are.” Anamika teased.

Meanwhile,

Shivani pulled back, still holding Eraya by her shoulders,

eyes scanning her like she was examining something important.

Then she gasped.

“…WAIT.”

Eraya blinked.

“…what?”

Shivani’s eyes widened dramatically.

“…you look beautiful today.”

The words landed.

Softly.

But unexpectedly.

Eraya froze.

Her mind trying to process it.

Beautiful.

It wasn’t a word she had heard… directed at her.

Not like this.

Not casually.

Not without expectation.

“…I—”

Her voice faltered.

She didn’t know how to respond.

So she just nodded.

“…thank you.”

Shivani grinned like she had just achieved something huge.

Zivah crossed her arms slightly.

“…she looks like that every day.”

Anamika’s head snapped toward her.

“…OH?”

Zivah immediately looked away.

“…what?”

“…nothing,” Anamika said, clearly lying.

“Just… noted.”

Eraya looked between them.

A small, quiet smile forming.

Something about this,

this chaos,

this teasing,

this ease,

felt… warm.

The car ride was loud.

Well,

Shivani was loud.

“…AND THEN she literally said—no, listen, this is important—she said ‘group discussion’ like she actually expects us to contribute—”

“…you never contribute,” Anamika muttered.

“…I contribute emotionally.” Shivani argued.

“…you create emotional damage.” Anamika smiled.

“…same thing.”

Zivah shook her head slightly, but her eyes flickered to Eraya.

Eraya was listening.

Not overwhelmed.

Not distant.

Just… present.

That alone,

felt like progress.

When they reached college,

something shifted again.

The air felt heavier here.

Familiar.

Structured.

Watching.

Before Eraya stepped out,

Zivah spoke.

Softly.

So only she could hear.

“…I’ll be waiting for you in the break.”

The words were simple.

Casual, even.

But they landed like something much bigger.

Eraya’s fingers tightened slightly on the door.

Waiting.

No one had ever said that to her before.

Not in a way that meant,

I will be there. For you. Not because I have to. But because I choose to.

She looked at Zivah.

Just for a second.

Then nodded.

“…okay.”

And in that moment,

something settled.

Shivani dragged her away almost immediately.

“…come on, literature trauma awaits us.”

As they entered the classroom,

the reaction was quieter this time.

Not as loud.

Not as obvious.

But it was still there.

In glances.

In whispers.

In pauses.

And then,

Ananya.

Leaning back in her chair.

Watching.

Not openly mocking.

But sharp.

Calculating.

Eraya felt it.

That gaze.

It made something old stir inside her.

That familiar voice,

She’s right —you don’t belong here—

But before it could grow,

Shivani nudged her.

“…ignore her.”

Simple.

Firm.

They sat at the back.

The lecture began.

Within minutes,

Shivani leaned over, peeking at Eraya’s notebook.

Then,

She froze.

“…what is this?”

Eraya glanced at her.

“…notes.”

“…NO,” Shivani whispered loudly.

“This is not notes. This is a full research paper.”

Eraya blinked.

“…it’s just what the professor is teaching.”

Shivani stared.

“…he just started the topic and the professor just introduced it like it’s brand new and you’re sitting here like ‘oh yes, chapter three, paragraph four, line six’—””

“…I studied it before.” Eraya answered simply.

“…HOW before are we talking?”

“…a few weeks.”

Shivani leaned back, staring at the ceiling.

“…I’m sitting next to a machine.”

Eraya let out a small breath.

Almost a laugh.

“…I just like studying.”

“…no,” Shivani shook her head, leaning closer again.

“This is not liking. This is obsession with academic violence.”

Then her tone shifted slightly.

More serious.

“…you know Ananya used to say your marks were flukes?”

Eraya stilled.

“…yeah?”

“…she hated that you topped.” Shivani added.

Eraya didn’t respond.

But her pen slowed.

Shivani noticed.

“…hey.”

Eraya looked up.

“…it wasn’t a fluke. It was your hardwork.”

The words were firm.

Not loud.

But certain.

Eraya’s eyes softened.

Just slightly.

“…I know.”

But her voice wasn’t as certain.

Shivani leaned back.

Watching her.

“…we’re going to fix that,” she muttered.

Meanwhile,

in another classroom,

Anamika leaned over Zivah’s desk.

Staring in disbelief.

“…I’m sorry, what is this?”

Zivah didn’t look up.

“…notes.”

“…THIS is notes?”

Anamika turned the notebook toward herself.

Reading dramatically,

“…Eraya… Eraya… E-R-A-Y-A… wow, very academic.”

Zivah snatched it back.

“…give it.”

Anamika leaned back, grinning.

“…you’re writing her name like a teenager.”

“…I am not.”

“…you are.”

Zivah exhaled.

“…focus on class.”

“…I am,” Anamika said.

“This is my subject now.”

Anamika tilted her head.

Then,

more serious now,

“…you like her, don’t you?”

Zivah paused.

Just for a second.

Then,

quietly,

“…yeah.”

No denial.

No deflection.

The word settled.

Heavy.

Real.

Anamika didn’t react immediately.

Just watched her.

Zivah continued.

Slowly.

“…it’s not just that.”

Her fingers traced the edge of the notebook.

“…when something happens to her…”

She exhaled.

“…I feel like I need to be there.”

Her voice softened.

“…like immediately. Not later. Not eventually. Just… right there.”

Anamika didn’t interrupt.

“…when she talks about her past…”

Zivah continued.

“…it hurts.”

A pause.

“…and when someone says something bad about her…”

Her jaw tightened slightly.

“…I get angry.”

Then quieter,

“…like really angry.”

Anamika’s gaze softened.

Zivah looked down.

A small, almost confused smile forming.

“…she’s… important.”

The word felt too small.

“…more than that.”

Her voice dropped even further.

“…she’s… precious.”

The way she said it,

wasn’t casual.

Wasn’t light.

It was careful.

Anamika leaned back slightly.

Watching her.

Really watching her.

Then,

softly,

“…you’re in love.”

Not a question.

Zivah froze.

Her eyes lifted slowly.

“…what?”

Anamika smiled faintly.

“…that’s what it is.”

Zivah shook her head slightly.

“…no, I just—”

“…care?”

Anamika interrupted gently.

Zivah nodded with doubt.

“…everyone cares, Zi.”

A pause.

“…But not like this.”

Silence.

Zivah looked away.

Her thoughts… louder now.

“…I don’t know.”

Anamika nodded.

“…you don’t have to.”

Then she leaned forward slightly.

“…just don’t run from it.”

Zivah didn’t respond.

But she didn’t deny it either.

And somewhere,

between confusion and clarity,

something shifted.

Not fully understood.

Not fully accepted.

But… real.

For the first time,

she didn’t push it away.

And that

was the beginning of everything.
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