Chapter 1: Silence and Noise

Ping ping ping.

That same alarm again.

The same gestures, the same sighs.

And the return of my worst enemy: the mirror. I’m standing in front of it, worried. Today isn’t like any other day. Today, I have a date with Emma.

Just thinking about it stresses me out.

I try to mentally prepare for a potential joke.

What if it’s a trap? But… it’s Badha who sent me there. And she… she’s never hurt me. Since kindergarten. That would be weird.

My second sworn enemy awaits: the wardrobe.

What should I wear?

Normal clothes, just in case it’s a joke? That way, I could say: “I knew it.”

Or those fancy outing clothes I’ve never worn?

But they must be too small now...

I pull out my phone.

What to wear for a date with a girl? Fatal mistake.

None of the suggested clothes—I own none of them.

So, never mind.

I go for something simple.

Anyway, I don’t stand a chance with Emma. I leave, headphones on.

Trying to clear my mind with some music. But my body freezes.

She’s there.

Emma is already waiting in the restaurant.

She’s sitting by the window, bathed in soft light that makes her look almost unreal.

She’s wearing a flowing white dress, simple but elegant, ending just above her knees. Over it, a loose cream-colored shirt, with a texture like fine leather, casually left open.

Her orange hair falls in light waves over her shoulders, carefully smoothed, shining like copper in the setting sun.

Her makeup is subtle but flawless. Just enough to highlight her almond-shaped eyes, deep, almost hypnotic. Her lips, lightly pink, are pressed into a calm… yet determined expression.

She’s doing nothing special. Just looking at her phone, gently sipping her coffee.

And yet, everything about her demands attention. Like she’s walking through a different world than mine. Like she’s floating.

She’s stunning.

And I panic.

Even harder.

I take a deep breath. I walk in.

She looks up at me. Smiles softly.

I nod.

Scene over.

My brain has shut down.

A few minutes later...

— Why aren’t you saying anything? she starts. She stares at me, a subtle smile on her lips. Her voice slices through the silence like a fine, cold blade.

What am I doing here? She’s so beautiful my brain refuses to supply words.

— Daniel said talking to you was frustrating. Seems like he was right, haha. Do you do anything other than study?

I look at her, unable to reply.

My glass is warming in my hands.

I mutter: — Really?

She bursts out laughing. A mocking laugh, light but sharp. — Oh my god. Shut up. I’m going to punch Badha. I can’t believe she introduced me to a guy like you.

I grip my glass tighter.

She sizes me up. Smiles. Teasing.

Sweat trickles down my back.

And she keeps going, relentless: — I’m going to crush her. She talks nonstop.

A stream of words, no pause, no breath. I sigh inwardly.

Emma doesn’t need a conversation partner. She just needs a stage.

— I only came because she told me to. Do you want me to leave?

She shakes her head, still holding her coffee. — No. I want to finish my drink.

I stay seated. Silent.

My coffee has no taste anymore.

I already know: I’ll never get along with a girl like her. She talks too much. She lives in a world far from mine.

And what if… it is a prank?

Part of me already imagines her friends showing up to laugh in my face.

Wouldn’t be the first time.

But this is Badha.

And if even she is like the others… then it’s hopeless.

Emma finishes her coffee. We leave.

She walks ahead of me.

And I can’t help but notice how she’s far too beautiful for someone like me.

There’s this hollow feeling in my gut.

An invisible wall between her and me.

A wall I’ll never cross.

Lost in thought, she surprises me.

She gets too close. I step back instinctively.

— Want to go to karaoke? she asks.

— What?! I blurt out, surprised.

She gives me that strange smile, part teasing, part playful.

— You paid for the coffee, so I’ll hang around a bit longer with you.

— Wait… I thought you didn’t like me.

— Yeah. Exactly.

— … What?

— It’s your chance to make up for being boring. Come on!

She walks off.

She’s been leading this dance from the start.

— I just broke up with my ex, so I need to let loose on some sad songs, she says. Why me?

She has plenty of friends, I’m sure.

I don’t know if she’s serious or playing around. Maybe, for her, both are the same.

I look up at the sky.

Take a deep breath.

Damn it, Badha… why did you send me here?

I check the time. 9:16.

Bad luck. Karaoke’s full.

So we walk.

Along the beach.

The sun sets.

The breeze is soft. The sand scratches at my shoes.

And she talks. Again.

But this time, I listen.

And it’s… nice.

The stress slowly fades.

So does the emptiness.

— I’m just tired of putting so much effort into that relationship. No matter how hard I tried, it just didn’t work. Now I just want something easy. Comfortable.

— … Okay, I answer, a small smile on my lips. The sky darkens. She waves as she walks away:

— Get home safe! Thanks for listening today! I wave back, almost automatically.

— … Yeah. OK.

She talked about her ex half the time.

But it was good.

I think I liked it.

And if that was the last time, at least...

Not everything went wrong.

A smile floats onto my face. But seriously...

How can a girl like her already have so much experience when we’re still just in middle school?