Chapter 4:Her Glow, His Gaze

Weeks passed, and our school, St. Joseph's, got super busy with tournaments. Everyone was excited, running around, getting ready for their big games. The air buzzed with energy, but for some, it was a different kind of buzz.

Fari was one of the first to go. "Wish me luck, Hani!" she chirped one morning, already in her bright Coco tournament uniform, a big smile on her face. She waved goodbye, completely unaware of the subtle shift in Mustafa's face as she walked past him. He just watched her go, a strange quiet settling over him as the crowd moved on.

Soon, Mustafa found himself pretty much alone. Sajjad and Tirth, his best buddies, were off playing cricket, swinging their bats like crazy at some big match far away. Adeline was gone too, out at the Kabaddi tournament, probably yelling strategies and tackling opponents with her usual energy. And even though Zoya, daina, and jasmine were still at school, they were busy doing their own thing –working on a project. They weren't around for Mustafa's usual kind of fun. The school felt strangely empty, even with some people around. It was empty of his people.

Suddenly, the noisy school hallways felt really quiet and too big for Mustafa. The people he usually joked with or annoyed were just… gone. His usual cool swagger started to melt away like an ice cream cone on a hot day. He let out a sigh so loud, it probably echoed down the hallway and rattled the dust from the lockers. He tried to kick at a pebble, missed, and almost tripped over his own feet, just to add to his perfect day. He sighed again, even louder, sounding like a deflating balloon. His arms were crossed, his eyebrows were all scrunched up. He looked completely miserable, as if the world had forgotten to tell him about the fun. It was like seeing a wild tiger suddenly lose its roar and just want to nap. He even tried counting the ceiling tiles in his empty classroom, a desperate act for someone who usually had endless energy. Even Fari, with all her topper talk, would be better than this silence, he thought, almost without realizing it.

Hani, who always noticed everything, saw him moping from across the corridor. She sauntered over, a teasing smile playing on her lips. "Well, well, well," she sang, standing right in front of him. "Look who's all alone. What's wrong, Mustafa? Missing your partners in crime?"

Mustafa just grumbled, kicking the invisible pebble again. "It's so boring," he mumbled, trying not to look at her.

Hani leaned closer, her voice sweet but full of teasing. "Oh, I know what it is," she sang again, "You're missing Fari, aren't you? Is the great, tough Mustafa actually sad without the topper around?"

He froze, his shoulders tensing up. Then, with a surprisingly heavy sigh that was almost comical coming from him, he grumbled, kicking the floor. "Ugh, fine. You got me, Haniya. Yes, I miss Fariya. And... okay, everyone! It's just so quiet, my ears hurt!" He threw his hands up in the air in mock surrender, a tiny blush creeping up his neck. "What am I supposed to do? Everyone's gone to tournaments! My boredom has reached epic levels! I have nothing to do. It's like the school just... emptied out on me." He looked genuinely sad, making a face like a little kid who lost his toy. "It's just me, I guess." His usual quick jokes were gone. For a moment, we saw a glimpse of the real Mustafa, the one who, deep down, really cared about his friends, even the ones he pretended to annoy. He spent the rest of the day feeling like a forgotten sock, just waiting for the world to start moving again.

Finally, as the last rays of sunlight stretched long shadows across the school grounds, a familiar energy returned. The tournament buses pulled up, letting out bursts of excited, tired students. Fariya was among them, her Coco team jersey a little dusty but her face beaming. As she stepped off the bus, her eyes immediately scanned the crowd, a little quicker than usual, searching. Not just for Hani, but for a certain messy-haired boy. Her gaze swept across the crowd, a tiny frown creasing her brow when she didn't spot him right away.

Then, she saw Hani near the school gates. Her face lit up even more. "Hani!" she practically screamed, running towards her, "We won! First place! Can you believe it?!"

She was so full of joy, jumping up and down and retelling every moment of the game, that she didn't notice him. Mustafa was standing just a little distance away, near the entrance to the main building. He had seen her get off the bus, and a genuine, soft smile had spread across his face, a smile just for her, replacing all his earlier gloom. He watched her animatedly tell Hani the news, his eyes full of admiration, a quiet warmth spreading through him. He was simply happy to see her smile, that bright, innocent smile that could make even a boring, empty school feel suddenly full. He just stood there, unnoticed, soaking in her happiness.