The Debate

The main hall buzzed like a live wire, students pouring in with energy that could've powered the school for a week. Onstage, two desks stared each other down: Unity League on the right, Freedom Alliance on the left. Mr. Haleem stood at the center, the human embodiment of "no nonsense."

Maya's leg bounced under the table like a metronome. Gozay's smirk deepened. "Nervous?"

She shot him a look. "No, I'm just prepping for a tap-dance routine."

"Cool. If it gets too bad, you can hold my hand for luck."

"In your dreams," blushing slightly, she turned away.

He shrugged. "Relax. I'm just here for moral support. Retired flirt. Totally professional."

Before Maya could fire back, the crowd hushed. Mr. Haleem stepped forward, his voice sharp. "Welcome to the highly anticipated debate between Unity League and Freedom Alliance. Let us begin with the opening statements. Maya, you're up first."

Maya froze. Why us first?! Gozay leaned closer. "Sell the dream, Maya. They'll eat it up."

Okay. Not the UN. Just high school. She thought and stood up, smiled stiffly, and began. "Good afternoon, everyone. I'm Maya Yoljay, Student Council officer and proud representative of Unity League. Alongside my partner, Gozay Yathzam, we stand for balance: academic excellence, community spirit, and inclusivity. Unity League fosters opportunities and discipline to help everyone succeed."

She sat down, heart pounding, as the applause rippled politely.

Then Jeren rose, his confidence practically dripping onto the floor. "Hey, everyone! Jeren Yosha here, with Erissa Rosin. Freedom Alliance isn't about balance; we're about freedom. School isn't a factory—it's a playground for creativity. We want less rigidity, more individuality. Let's make school fun again!" The crowd erupted into cheers and whistles.

Maya side-eyed Gozay. "Great. They brought fireworks."

Gozay shrugged. "And we brought facts. Let's see who lasts longer."

The hall fell silent as Mr. Haleem stepped forward, his tone neutral. "In the first round, Freedom Alliance will ask three questions, and Unity League will respond. Let's begin."

Jeren leaned into the mic, wearing a smug grin as he addressed Maya. "By focusing on strict academics and limited freedom, aren't you turning a blind eye to the evolving needs of students in the modern world?"

Maya adjusted her posture, her tone calm but decisive. "Strict academics and discipline build a foundation for success. That doesn't mean creativity or modern needs are ignored. Think of structure like a bridge—it doesn't stop you from crossing; it helps you get to the other side safely. Limited freedom doesn't mean no freedom. It means using it wisely. Students need balance: space to explore without losing sight of their responsibilities."

The crowd murmured, impressed. Before the applause could gain momentum, Erissa leaned forward, her tone cutting. "Your party discourages dressing freedom and casual expression. Why should students trust a group that prioritizes rules over their happiness?"

Maya hesitated, but Gozay leaned in with an easy grin. "Trust? Well, if they didn't trust us, Unity League wouldn't be running the Student Council, right? Our dress codes promote professionalism, mutual respect, unity, and equality. Letting students wear whatever they want might not be an issue for someone from a wealthy family like you, but what about those from struggling families? Without uniforms, they'd feel inferior. To maintain balance and equality, we discourage dressing freedom. Unlike Freedom Alliance, we think about everyone, not just a select few. Besides, it's school, not a fashion show."

The crowd erupted in laughter and applause. From the back, Akira's voice rang out, "I'm broke, and I support Unity League!" Maya blinked at Gozay, surprised by his sharp retort, but he just gave her a subtle wink.

Jeren, clearly trying to recover, leaned in again. "You say you value equality, but by prioritizing grades and strictness, aren't you favoring academic achievers? What's your plan for students who excel in extracurricular activities, which your policies barely support?"

Maya, emboldened by Gozay's sharp answer, leaned forward confidently. "As I mentioned earlier, limited freedom doesn't mean no freedom. Yes, we emphasize grades, but we don't force anyone to study. Our policies aren't about strictness; they're about support—academically and extracurricularly. Maybe you should actually read our policies again. And yes, our policy encourages following and respecting school rules. These rules aren't Unity League's invention—they're from the administration. If you think you're smarter than them, why didn't your party submit an application to change them during your tenure?"

The applause swelled, loud and sustained. Jeren's composure cracked slightly, while Gozay leaned back, clapping slowly, his grin practically glowing. "Now that's a mic drop," he whispered to Maya.

Mr. Haleem adjusted the mic. "Second round: Unity League will ask three questions. Freedom Alliance, your turn to respond. Starting now."

Gozay leaned closer to her. "Ask them to define freedom." He whispered, "This one will destroy them. Trust me."

Maya smiled, nodding. Then, with an air of calm authority, she addressed Jeren and Erissa. "You guys talk a lot about freedom. Can you please define it for us?"

Erissa blinked, caught off guard. Jeren, after a moment of thought, answered confidently, "Freedom is just doing whatever you want, whenever you want. No one tells you what to do. It's all about doing things your way without anyone holding you back. That's the true meaning of freedom, the ideology we support."

Gozay raised an eyebrow. "You sure about that?"

Erissa looked at Jeren, who nodded. She nodded too.

Gozay leaned in again, a mischievous grin on his face. "If a student smacks their head, would that count as freedom?" He pulled back and winked.

Maya's smile widened. "Alright, Jeren. With all due respect, I'd like to ask... According to your definition, a student can do whatever they want, right? So, if a student stands up and decides to smack your head with a bat, would Freedom Alliance support them?"

The room erupted with laughter. Jeren and Erissa turned crimson.

"Silence, please!" Mr. Haleem said, trying to control the crowd, his grin barely contained.

The laughter subsided, the room now buzzing with curiosity. Jeren and Erissa were speechless. Finally, Erissa spoke, "No, not like that."

Maya met Jeren's gaze. "Then your definition of freedom is wrong." She turned to the students, "If they don't even know the definition of their own ideology, how can they lead us?"

She turned back to Jeren, her voice sharper than ever. "Jeren, a humble request—first, at least learn the definition of freedom, and then maybe you can teach us about it."

The room exploded in applause, and Jeren, seething, shot Maya a furious look. "I'll teach you a lesson," he spat, storming off.

Erissa sighed, watching him retreat, "Well, that's a wrap," she muttered.

Mr. Haleem smiled and announced, "Unity League wins this debate."

Maya exchanged a look with Gozay, who was smiling smugly. Akira was right, he is genius. He nailed them with one question.

Gozay turned to her, grinning. "Congrats, partner. You did great."

Maya rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah. You weren't too shabby yourself."

A short while later, Maya entered the SC Office, only to be practically ambushed by Wenda. "You guys screwed them!" she exclaimed, practically jumping on her.

Maya chuckled awkwardly, trying to wiggle free. "Oh, yeah, thanks," she muttered.

Yasaki, arms crossed, gave her a proud look. "You exceeded expectations," he said, glancing at Jenny. "Right, Jenny?"

Jenny nodded stiffly, her voice robotic. "Yes, of course. Great."

Kayzin flashed a grin. "The definition of freedom was pure gold."

Maya smiled and sank into a chair. "I can't take all the credit. Gozay deserves it too. The whole 'smacking head' freedom thing was his idea."

The group's eyes widened. "Ooo... Gozay..." Wenda murmured. "Where is he, by the way?"

Maya raised an eyebrow. If he were here, you'd probably be glued to him. She smiled. "He's off to see the VP about the whole section-changing thing."

Meanwhile, Jeren and Erissa stood in the hallway near the Vice Principal's office, tension thick between them.

"What are we doing here? Let's go now," Erissa urged, her impatience showing.

Jeren, head down, slouched against the wall. "I'm not letting Maya get away with it. I'll make her face triple the humiliation we got. She won't be able to show her face here again."

Erissa raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?How?"

"AI will help," Jeren smirked darkly.

"What? AI?"

He waved her off, "Anyways, I've to see VP, that's why we're here." he said, heading toward the office. But before they could take a step, a voice called from behind, "Hey, better luck next time."

They turned to see Gozay, hands in pockets, a confident smirk on his face.

Jeren clenched his jaw, fury building. While Erissa, met his gaze, "Why didn't you join us when I asked?"

Gozay shrugged casually. "Sorry, Erissa. I told you, if I had to join, it'd be Unity League. Anyway, see you around." He walked past them without a second glance.

Jeren shot Erissa a look. "You know him?"

She nodded, a small, wistful smile on her face. "Yeah, we were friends back in elementary school. Once upon a time."

Gozay knocked on the VP's office door. "Ms. Kaya, am I allowed to come in?"

She glanced up from her desk, unfazed. "Yeah, I know why you're here. Just head back to your section."

"That's it?" Gozay asked.

Kaya raised an eyebrow. "Do you want me to escort you there in my arms?"

Gozay froze. "Uh, no. I meant—"

"Already done. And hey, don't forget to bring me some cold juice as a treat for that, okay?"

Gozay nodded. "Sure thing." He exited, glancing at Jeren and Erissa, who were waiting outside. "You can enter now." He said.

As they stepped in, he looked at the CCTV camera that had been pointed right above their heads.

Back at the SC Office

The gang was lounging around, minus Wenda, who was busy brewing red tea. Maya, deep in thought, finally broke the silence. "Pres... Can I ask something?"

Yasaki glanced up from his paperwork. "Shoot."

"Why did Gozay say 'Tell him his son died' this morning?"

Kayzin raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, what's that about?"

Yasaki sighed, leaning back. "Gozay's the son of my dad's old friend, Mr. Zaydin Zevin, who funds the school."

Wenda glanced over from her tea station. "Wait, what?"

"Yep," Yasaki confirmed. "Gozay's parents split, and it's not pretty. Gozay avoids his dad, and if he doesn't, he's rude. Mr. Zevin's worried about him. That's why I tried getting him involved in the convo. But honestly, I'm scared he'll stop talking to me too."

Maya nodded thoughtfully as Wenda placed her cup in front of her. "Huh... okay."

Yasaki raised an eyebrow. "Why do you wanna know?"

Before Maya could answer, Gozay strutted in. "Hey, everyone."

"Yo, Dozay, you were awesome!" Wenda gushed, draping her arms around his shoulders. "Had no idea you were such a genius. Should I redefine 'freedom' for you?"

Gozay froze, his internal monologue going into overdrive: Her... melons... are... on me. Why is this happening? He quickly stammered, "I-I can't take credit for Maya's brilliance."

Maya, sipping her tea with the speed of someone in a competitive drinking contest. Kayzin softly chuckled looking at her.

Yasaki smiled, savoring Gozay's awkwardness. "Maya told us it was your idea. I'll treat you guys tomorrow."

Gozay quickly shot a look at Maya. "Nah, she led me." Someone, save me from this hot witch with huge melons.

Maya slammed her empty cup down, standing up and flashing a pointed look at Gozay. "Ready to go, Gozay?"

He jumped up eagerly. "Yeah, yeah, let's go!"

Wenda, finally releasing her grip on him, shot him a teasing look. "Why the rush?"

Maya shot back an icy stare. "See you guys," she said flatly, marching out.

"Pres, don't forget the good stuff tomorrow!" Gozay called as he hastily followed her.

Kayzin watched the scene, then smirked at Wenda. "You're gonna suffocate him one of these days."

Wenda just smiled sweetly. "Jealous?"

He sighed, taking another sip of tea. "Nope, just amazed.

As they walked, Gozay was on the phone with Jiya, wrapping up the call just as Maya glanced over at him. "Hey, Gozay," she began softly, "can I ask you something?"

"Sure, I'm listening," he replied, pocketing his phone.

"Do you love Jiya?" she asked, stopping in her tracks.

Gozay froze. "Uh… yeah."

Maya took a step ahead, not turning back. "Oh. So… all those confessions to me—lies?"

Still asking when you don't care? he thought. "What do you think about that?"

Maya scoffed. "Didn't seem like lies. But if you love Jiya, one heart can't hold two people, right?"

"Right," he said, scratching his neck. Why is she digging this grave?

"And that 'bet' thing?" Maya added, her tone sharper now.

Gozay groaned. "Why are we unearthing ancient history?"

Maya turned clearly furious, masked a biting smile. "Just saying, don't go that far for a game. You suffered for months, and you still lost. If you'd told me it was a bet, I'd have rejected you… politely."

She spun around and stormed off, while her mind screamed, Liar! But it felt real. Ugh, stop overthinking MAYA!!

Polite rejection? That's like asking a tiger to purr, Gozay thought. Aloud, he said, "Yeah, should've told you. Next time I have a bet, I'll give you a heads-up."

Maya rolled her eyes. Duffer, her mind screamed, before she said, "Sure, I'll be glad to help."

Up ahead, Akira and Esha gawked at the sight. Akira rubbed his eyes dramatically. "Are we hallucinating?"

Esha dazed. "Uh… definitely not."

As the duo reached them, Akira smirked. "You two walking together? Are pigs flying today?"

Gozay grinned. "What can I say? She begged for forgiveness, so we're cool now."

Maya scoffed. "Begged? Do I look like someone who begs?"

Both Akira and Esha shook their heads, terrified.

Gozay turned to Akira. "You were supposed to back me up, dude."

Akira smirked. "I would, but your version of events belongs in a fantasy novel."

"Good talk," Gozay muttered, striding ahead.

In the Night

At his desk, Gozay rummaged through his bag for his diary. It wasn't there. "What the hell?" he muttered, tipping the bag upside down and dumping its contents. "Where did it gooo?" His shout bounced off the walls. Shutting his eyes, he rewound the day. The SC Office… wrote in it… passed out… Maya woke me up. His eyes popped open. "No way. Did she take it?"

Meanwhile, in Maya's Room

Maya lounged on her bed in shorts, flipping through the diary with a smug grin. Lying on her back, she clutched it to her chest, staring at the ceiling. Why the hell does he think I'm Kayzin's girlfriend? I turned him down too. Did he see us that day? I barely even talk to Kayzin in front of Gozay. She smirked. If he gets jealous, I'm fine with it.

Sitting up, the diary slipped into her lap. He wouldn't lie in this, would he? Poor guy. I was so harsh, but he sounds like he cared. But why say he loves Jiya?

Her expression shifted. It's so confusing. I've got to confirm his feelings somehow. Wait—why am I even thinking about this? She groaned inwardly. What's wrong with you, Maya?!

Her phone buzzed suddenly, jolting her. "Ahhh!" She scrambled for it. Gozay's name flashed on the screen. Her heart raced. Did he find out?

She inhaled sharply before answering. "Hello?"

"M-Maya… Hey, how are you?"

"Good," she replied, trying to sound casual.

Gozay stood by his window, scratching his neck. "Uh, I lost my diary."

"Call 155. Or is this just an excuse to talk to me?" she said, straightforward.

"No! I swear it's not. I just remembered writing in it at the office before… you woke me up. So I thought maybe—"

Diary still in hand, Maya cut in, "Didn't see it. Why the fuss? It's just a diary. Buy a new one."

He sighed. "You're right. I just wanted to make sure you didn't have it. No big deal if someone else does."

Her face flushed. "Why would I have it?"

Gozay laughed nervously. "Just a hunch. Anyway, goodnight."

"Hey, wai—" The line went dead.

Maya stared at the phone. He hung up on me? Ugh, whatever. Not like I care. She fell back onto the bed, clutching the diary tighter than before.