Lunch break
As I walked down the stairs, I couldn't help but smile—not because I was happy, but because I was forming a plan.
There's no way I'm letting Samantha and Axel get away with it, especially now that I know they're the ones who hurt Aira—used her. Lied. Played with her like she was some kind of toy.
Now it's their turn to be played with.
They messed with the wrong girl.
Just as I stepped on the second-to-the-last step—
"Aaaah—!"
I almost fell! Everything moved in slow motion—like I could already see my destiny meeting the floor.
But I didn't fall.
Someone grabbed my bag.
Warm, steady, firm.
I turned around—Zayden was there, gripping the strap of my bag tightly, just enough to keep me from hitting the ground. When our eyes met, the world seemed to slow down even more. All I could hear was the pounding of my own heart.
I didn't know if it was from fear...
...or from something else.
I stared at him. And in that moment, he wasn't the annoying classmate who loved sarcasm. He wasn't the guy who always contradicted my answers. He wasn't my rival in recitation.
In that moment, I wasn't the one hit by a falling ball… I was the one suddenly hit by him—in a way I never expected.
For a few seconds, he was... an angel.
And in that moment, I should have thanked him.
"Zayden, than—"
"Owww!"
He let go of me.
Like, let go. No warning. Like he'd touched something hot. Like he suddenly got tired of being a hero.
"ZAYDENNN!" I yelled as I tumbled onto the last step.
But him?
He didn't even look back. Just walked away like nothing happened.
"YOU'RE SO ANNOYING!" I yelled again as I got up and dusted myself off.
I even stomped in frustration, but you know what's even more frustrating?
My smile.
Because even though I tried to stop it, even though I was furious at him, even though I wanted to throw my Physics book at his head—there I was, smiling.
Damn you, Zayden.
Savior at first, fade-away at the end. Like a cameo in my life that I still can't figure out if I want to forget... or rewind.