Ruhan and I sat on the last bench, notebooks open but not really reading. The ceiling fan rattled above, and the chatter of classmates mixed with the scratching of pens. The blackboard was full of chalk notes, but it all felt far away. I was still getting used to him being near. The quiet between us was strange, but… comfortable.
Then the teacher said something about a group project. My chest sank. Hands shot up, friends pairing off, names called out, laughter everywhere. And me? I stayed frozen, left behind again.
I slumped a little, ready to do it alone. It had become normal—loneliness familiar, almost safe. I gathered my books and pencils, trying not to notice the snickers, the glances, the way everyone else had someone.
"Hey…" a quiet voice broke through the noise. I looked up. Ruhan was standing there, uniform shirt untucked, holding out a chair.
"You can join me," he said simply.
I hesitated. "I… I'll manage," I whispered, trying to sound steady.
He shook his head, calm, patient. "No. Come on. You don't have to do it alone."
Something in his tone made me move my chair. Sliding it over, the emptiness of the classroom felt a little lighter. The chatter and rustle of papers didn't feel as loud. Sitting next to him, the silence wasn't heavy anymore—it felt… easy.
We started arranging our notes on the scratched wooden desk, sharing textbooks. He pointed at a page quietly, explaining a formula. I made diagrams, our heads leaning slightly toward each other, careful not to bump elbows. The fan above whirred, and I realized I wasn't counting the seconds for the period to end. I was noticing small things: the crease in his shirt, the way he tapped his pencil, the quiet focus in his eyes.
Someone passed by, tossing a crumpled paper at him. He caught it, glanced at me. I shrugged. He just shook his head, a small smile tugging at his lips.
By the end of the period, the project was halfway done. Not perfect. Not fancy. But it was ours. And for the first time in a long time, being left out didn't feel like a punishment.
Someone had noticed me. Someone had made space for me.I didn't know it yet, but the quiet bench was slowly becoming something more — a place where silence could finally breathe.
🖤 by Pragati Priya (pen name: Zoey)
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