Ulmea looked around the classroom. It was full of noise and color, girls laughing, food on every desk, and little decorations on the walls and windows.
Lora came over and gave her a cup of juice. "You forgot to bring something, didn't you?"
Ulmea gave a small shrug. "Yeah... I had a long night."
Lora smiled. "Good thing I brought enough for both of us."
She pointed to a nearby table stacked with boxes and plates. "Some girls brought chicken nuggets, some made sandwiches. That girl," she said in a quiet voice, "brought cupcakes but didn't even share the icing part."
Ulmea smiled and took a biscuit that Lora gave her. It was sweet and soft, just enough to make the day feel a little better.
Some girls were laughing at a corner table. A few others stood by the windows, taking pictures with their snacks. The teacher had stopped trying to quiet the class and now sat with a cup of tea and a small plate of her own.
Lora wore a light pink shirt tucked into a white skirt that flowed when she moved. Tiny silver clips sparkled in her hair.
"You look half asleep," she said with a giggle.
"I am...," Ulmea replied, sipping her juice. "And you look like a strawberry cupcake."
"Haha, I'll take that as a compliment," Lora said proudly.
As they sat at the table with their classmates, someone called out, "Hey! Who wants to try these cheesy fries?"
Ulmea raised her hand without thinking. "Me."
The plate came around. She took just one golden, hot, and covered in melted cheese.
She bit into it.
It was soft inside, with a crispy edge. The cheese was warm and creamy, with a little bit of spice.
For a moment, she closed her eyes.
It tasted like comfort, like the kind of thing that made the world feel okay, even if just for a minute.
Later, when someone played music from a speaker, the room filled with noise and laughter. Some girls played games near the whiteboard, others sat in small circles, chatting, trading snacks, or telling stories about their families and funny things that had happened at school.
It felt peaceful. Like for a little while, there was nothing to worry about, just friends and laughter. Everything felt calm. For a little while, there was nothing to worry about. Just the sound of people talking and laughing softly, the feeling of being around friends. It was the kind of moment you don't realize is special until later, when you remember how safe and warm it felt.
Ulmea sat beside Lora near the window. The sun was shining bright, yellow and golden.
Lora hands over a chocolate to Ulmea and gently says, " Your favourite."
Ulmea takes the chocolate and smiles brightly.
"Thanks."
She unwrapped it slowly, then took a bite. It was sweet and familiar. It made her feel a little better inside.
Lora rested her chin on her hand.
"You always smile like that when you get this."
Ulmea looked at her, a little surprised.
"You noticed?"
" I notice everything about my pookie," Lora said with a grin.
Ulmea laughed softly, then leaned her shoulder against Lora's.
"Good. Don't stop."
Outside, the wind came in through the window. It smelled like food and sunshine. Everything felt okay for a while.
By the time the bell rang at 1:45 p.m., Ulmea's feet were sore from standing, her head a little heavy from the noise, and her stomach full of snacks she didn't even remember picking.
But her heart felt light and peaceful.
She walked with Lora towards the school gate. They passed by groups of girls still chatting.
She walked with Lora toward where the buses usually waited, but before she even turned in that direction, her eyes caught something in the parking lot.
A familiar car.
She stopped. She knew instantly that it was Aslan's car.
Parked quietly in the corner, under a tree near the wall.
She blinked.
He came to pick her up again?
Maybe he remembered her siblings hadn't gone to school today. Or maybe… he just knew she'd be tired.
Lora smiled. "Call me later, alright?"
"I will," Ulmea said. "Promise."
They hugged quickly, then Ulmea turned and walked toward the car.
She opened the passenger door and slipped inside. The seat was warm from the sun. Aslan glanced at her, one hand on the steering wheel.
"Had fun?" he asked casually, pulling the seatbelt across his chest.
Ulmea nodded. "Yeah, bro. I'm full and exhausted."
He gave a small smile. "Good. That means it was worth it."
She leaned back, resting her head lightly against the seat.
"Thanks for coming," she added after a pause.
Aslan glanced over at her, pretending to be offended.
"Oi, what's with the thank you? I'm your brother, not a taxi driver."
Ulmea smiled, still leaning back. "Exactly. That's why I said thank you."
He chuckled. "Tch. You act like I wouldn't come for you."
Aslan tapped the steering wheel once.
"Yeah, yeah. Okay, now fasten your seatbelt, madam."
Ulmea smiled and fastened her seatbelt.
Aslan then drove the car out of the parking lot, the school.
The school faded behind them, but the smile on Ulmea's face didn't.
He grinned. "You looked like you were about to drop right there in the parking lot."
"I almost did," she muttered. "Didn't sleep till four. Woke up late and missed the bus."
"Woah! What were you even doing?" he wondered.
"Math's homework," she said with a sigh.
"Were you solving equations or fighting demons?" he joked. " Maths, the cruelest enemy known to students."
Ulmea let out a small laugh, leaning her head against the window as they drove further.
For a moment, neither of them spoke. The afternoon sun shone across the dashboard, soft and golden.
Aslan tapped the steering wheel lightly with one hand.
Then, after a pause, he said, "You've been kinda quiet lately, you know."
Ulmea didn't answer right away. She looked out the window, eyes following the trees.
"Just... tired," she said finally. "And thinking."
Aslan gave a small nod. "Thinking's good. Until it starts eating you alive."
She gave a short smile at that.
"I'm fine, really," she said. "Just one of those weeks."
He glanced at her briefly. "Well... you don't have to keep it all inside, you know."
Ulmea looked at him, the smile still faint but real. "I know, Brother Aslan."
Then she turned back to the window. "It's nothing really. Just… school stuff. Tests, homework, all that."
Aslan let out a soft "hmm" as he made a slow turn.
"School stress," he said. "Classic."
Ulmea gave a small shrug. "Yeah..."
Aslan glanced at her again. "Well, don't let it eat you. You've got a brain, use it to beat the mess. Not drown in it."
She smiled, a little more now. "Didn't know I was getting a lecture too."
He smirked. "Comes free with the ride."
Ulmea let out a quiet laugh and looked out the window again.
The world outside looked busy. But inside it looked warm.
Aslan didn't say anything.
Neither did she.
But, the silence between them didn't feel awkward.
The rest of the ride passed quietly. The kind of quietness that didn't feel overwhelming but peaceful.
When they reached home, Ulmea stepped out slowly, her legs a little tired from the day.
But as she opened the suite gate and walked in, something felt... off.
Not bad. Just different.
She could hear voices from the lounge, light, quick and full of laughter.
The kind of sounds that only came when something good had happened.
She walked ahead and then paused.
Everyone was gathered, Flossy, Lora, Alex and even her mom. They were chatting happily as if a celebration had just started.
Ulmea blinked, surprised.
"What's going on?" she asked.
No one replied instantly.
Flossy just turned, her eyes wide with excitement. "You're back!"