Should I avoid ?

★ Asif's POV ★

I woke up with sunlight gently slipping through the curtains, painting soft lines across my ceiling. My eyes opened slowly, mind still groggy. But even before I could stretch properly, the last words my dad said last night echoed in my head:

"Enjoy your youth. Make friends… fall in love."

I sighed.

"Yeah, like it's that easy," I muttered, rubbing my eyes. "It's not like falling asleep and waking up in love…"

Though, I had to admit—I did sleep pretty well last night. For someone who spent the whole day bumping into girls, getting called out in class, and confronting his entire philosophy on life—I slept surprisingly well.

After dragging myself out of bed, I noticed the kitchen light was off. Dad had already left for work. Typical. Man's a ghost in the morning, yet somehow always leaves breakfast ingredients on the counter.

I freshened up, toasted a couple of bread slices, and chewed in silence. The taste? Bland. But the moment? Calm. For a few minutes, everything felt slow… quiet… bearable.

Then reality hit.

"Crap, school."

I threw on my uniform, slung my bag over my shoulder, and headed out.

On the way, just near the corner of the narrow alley leading toward the school gate, I saw a familiar figure waving like a maniac.

"Sajim."

"Oi sleepyhead!" he yelled, waving both arms like I might miss him in broad daylight. "I thought you'd pull another rooftop stunt and disappear again."

As I walked up, he slung an arm around my neck.

"You look alive today. Slept well, huh? Was it the rooftop air? Or the… mysterious female encounter?"

I groaned. "Don't start."

"I mean," he smirked, "you ran into two cute girls in one day. If that's not destiny, I don't know what is."

We laughed a little as we approached the school gate. But then Sajim elbowed me lightly.

"Just make sure you don't fall asleep in any class today, alright? You have a lot to explain to Saiful sir. And honestly, I'm not fighting that war for you again."

I sighed. Loudly.

As we neared the front of the school, Sajim glanced at his watch.

"Ah crap. I gotta head to the student council room. Some paperwork nonsense. Catch you later!"

And with that, he jogged off like some anime side character on a mission.

Now alone, I strolled toward my classroom. Around me, the usual school buzz was alive—students chatting, laughing, copying homework last-minute. It felt like I was a ghost drifting through color and sound.

Invisible.

Unnoticed.

I tried not to let it get to me. I was used to this. I walked on silently—until someone caught my eye.

Her.

Sara.

By the corridor window, not too far away.

Our eyes met.

Briefly. Just a second.

She looked at me.

I froze.

But the moment shattered as quickly as it formed—she quickly averted her gaze and turned away, walking fast, almost like… avoiding me.

That hit deeper than I expected.

I stopped for a second.

Maybe… she didn't want to talk to me?

Maybe she regretted everything from that rooftop moment to yesterday's awkward encounter?

Maybe… I was just a weird loner she got stuck with for a moment?

I forced myself to move again. My feet felt heavier. I reached my classroom and sank into my seat like a balloon losing air.

That's when I felt a thud on my back.

"DUDE!"

I winced.

It was Rimon.

"You disappeared yesterday like a side character with no arc!"

He pulled the chair next to me and sat backwards on it like some drama hero.

Another classmate chimed in from behind.

"Bro, where'd you vanish? We thought you got abducted by the math teacher for snoring in her class."

"Or maybe he ran away from Saiful sir's vengeance!"

The jokes started piling up. I felt a bit awkward. I wanted to explain but didn't know how.

Luckily, my knight in student council armor appeared.

Sajim barged into the room holding some papers, his tone loud and dramatic.

"He wasn't feeling well. I took him home."

He waved the papers like a weapon and casually walked between me and the others.

"Besides, none of you are in any shape to judge. Last week Rimon called the math teacher 'mom'."

The class burst into laughter.

"Ever-protective dad is here again," someone joked, and I smiled faintly.

Sajim shot me a look. One of those, "You're welcome" looks.

But the fun stopped when our class teacher, Mr. Saiful, stepped in.

Everyone scattered back to their seats like ants fleeing a magnifying glass.

The air went silent.

"Good morning, class," he said with a forced smile.

Then his eyes landed on me.

And I knew.

"So… Mr. Opposite of Awake," he said with a wide grin. "I hope you won't sleep today. Or do you need a pillow this time?"

The class chuckled.

I chuckled nervously, internally dying.

Great.

I'm on his blacklist now.

I nodded silently and kept my eyes low.

The class began. Words on the board. Chalk scratching. Voices murmuring. But I wasn't really there.

My mind kept circling one thought.

Sara.

That brief moment of eye contact. The way she looked away. The distance between us.

Should I approach her?

Should I… try?

I didn't have an answer.

All I had was the image of her back as she walked away.

And my heart, beating slightly faster than it should.