Chapter 2: Sharp Tongues & Shaky Hands

The first thing Zara noticed about Ari the next day wasn't his sarcasm. It was his silence.

He walked into the training room without his usual slouch. No smirk. No eye roll. he nodded politely to Miss Liyana, avoided everyone else's, and took the seat farthest from her.

Zara hated how aware she was of his mood.

She hated even more that it bothered her.

she told herself it didn't matter. That maybe he was tired. Or bored. Or being Ari.

But something felt... off.

Miss Liyana clapped her hands to start the session. "Today we're working on grounding techniques and emotional regulation. You'll all be partnered again."

Zara didn't breathe as the pairings were called out.

She should've expected it.

"Zara and Ari, you're together again."

She heard a muffled laugh from the back of the room. Someone whispered, "Enemies to therapy buddies."

Zara stood and walked toward their designated space, clutching her notebook tight.

Ari was already seated on the rug, cross-legged, head tilted back, staring at the ceiling.

"You good?" she asked, keeping her voice casual.

"Never better," he said without looking at her.

She sat across from him. "You seem... different."

"I ran out of witty insults. Must be burnout."

"Or guilt."

That got his attention. His eyes flicked to hers. "For what?"

"For yesterday. You said some real things. Then you laughed it off."

Ari scoffed. "You want me to cry mid-roleplay? Maybe next time I'll bring tissues and trauma flashcards.

She stared at him for a second too long. "You know, your sarcasm would be more impressive if it wasn't such a predictable coping mechanism."

He smiled thinly. "And your therapist voice would be more comforting if it didn't sound like you rehearsed it in front of a mirror."

That one hit.

She looked away, jaw tightening.

Miss Liyana called out from across the room. "Once you've chosen who's the 'client' and who's the 'counselor', begin your grounding practice. Use eye contact, body awareness, sensory questions."

Zara rubbed her palms together. "you go first. I'll guide."

Ari raised an eyebrow. "Ariad I'll psychoanalyze you?"

"No," she said. "Afraid I might start yelling."

He snorted and sat upright.

Zara took a deep breath. "Okay. Close your eyes. I'll walk you through it."

To her surprise, he did.

"Feet on the ground," she said quietly. "Feel the floor. Notice your weight. Now... name five things yiu can hear."

A pause.

"The ceiling fan. Your voice. Someone flipping notebook pages. My heartbeat. And..."

He hesitated.

"And what?"

"Nothing. Go on."

"Four things you can feel," she continued.

"The rug. My hoodie. My spine cracking. My stomach~~" He stopped.

Zara leaned in slightly. "Your stomach?"

He opened his eyes. His face looked paler than usual. Sweat dotted his hairline.

"I skipped breakfast," he muttered. "Whatever."

Zara stared at him. Then she saw it~~his hands.

Shaking.

Just a little, but enough.

"You're not okay," she said softly.

He laughed, but it cracked, "Wow, gold star. Took you that long to figure it out?"

"I mean right now."

She reached out instinctively but paused mid-air. Touch wasn't always welcome. She knew that better than most.

So instead, she asked, "Can I help?"

Something flickered in his expression~~conflict, pride, shame.

He nodded once.

She leaned back, gently pulled her water bottle from her bag, and handed it to him.

He took it with a trembling grip.

Ari drank slowly, then closed his eyes again. Zara adjusted her tone~~softer now, like handling glass. "Three things can you smell?"

He exhaled. Your shampoo. Someone's perfume. And fear."

"Yours?"

"Yeah."

Zara didn't smile. Didn't make a joke. Instead, she mirrored his breath. Inhale, exhale. Slower. Steady.

Eventually, he opened his eyes again.

"I don't do this," he said.

"Panic attacks."

"No. Letting people see me during one."

She looked down. "Me neither."

For the first time, silence settled between them without tension.

It wasn't comfortable.

But it wasn't hostile.

"I get them too, she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. Sometimes in malls. Sometimes when I wake up and forget what day it is."

He watched her.

Not like challenge.

But like a person who saw another person bleeding and didn't flinch.

"What triggers it?" he asked.

"Loss," she said. Guilt. Being seen."

Ari nodded slowly. "I was wrong about you." Zara blinked. "Which part?"

"That you were just trying to impress people. You're not. You're trying to outrun something."

She swallowed hard. "And you're not just an idiot. You're a scared one."

He chuckled softly. "Fair."

They sat like that until Miss Liyana called time.

When they tood up, Ari held out the water bottle. "Thanks. For... not freaking out."

"I'm kind of freaking out," Zara said honestly. "But I'm hiding it better."

Ari looked at her then. Not with mockery. Not with smirking detachment.

Just... looked.

"Do you always help people when they don't deserve it?'

"Do you always think you didn't?"

They walked back to the main group in silence.

But something had changed.

They weren't enemies anymore.

Not yet friends.

Not yet lovers.

But something in between. Something messy. Fragile.

Something neither of them had a name for.