It had been two full weeks since school started, and every day felt the same.
Wake up, drag myself to school, sit through the lessons, eat lunch alone, and then go home. That was my routine.
Even though I acted like I didn't care, the truth was that I noticed everything. I noticed how Anna laughed with her new friends. I noticed how she walked past me in the hallway without even looking my way. I noticed how the girl who once sat beside me, whispering secrets, now sat across the room whispering with someone else.
At lunch, I always stared at the empty chair beside me. That used to be our seat. We shared snacks there, giggled about boys, and told each other things no one else knew. Now it was empty, and my food always tasted bland because I ate it alone.
I thought maybe that was it. Maybe I had lost her for good.
But then, something small happened.
It was math class. I was pretending to copy notes even though my mind was far away. Out of nowhere, Anna turned around.
Her eyes landed on me.
For a second, I froze. My chest tightened. I didn't even know how to react—it had been so long since she looked at me.
Then she whispered my name.
"Mina."
I blinked, shocked. My heart skipped a beat, and my voice came out softer than I wanted.
"Yes?"
She gave me a little smile. Not too wide, not too warm, but still a smile.
"Where have you been? You don't talk anymore," she whispered.
The question almost made me laugh. Where have I been? I had been right here the whole time. Sitting quietly, walking the hallways alone, pretending not to notice her. She just never saw me.
But instead of saying all that, I just shrugged. "I don't know."
She nodded like she understood. Then leaned closer and whispered again.
"Can I borrow your notes? I missed the last lesson."
And just like that, I realized why she turned to me.
Not because she missed me. Not because she wanted to talk again. But because she needed something.
My hand trembled a little as I slid my notebook to her. I didn't even think twice.
"Thanks," she said, smiling again before turning back to the front.
That was all. A few words. A borrowed notebook.
The rest of the lesson felt blurry. I kept staring at her back, my mind running wild. Should I feel happy? At least she spoke to me. At least she remembered my name. Or should I feel hurt? Because it wasn't really about me—it was about my notes.
*Flashback*
My mind drifted back to middle school.
Back then, things were so different.
Anna and I always sat together. During breaks, we shared snacks—biscuits, chips, even drinks. We talked about everything, from silly gossip to boys to what we wanted for our future.
Sometimes she braided my hair when I forgot to comb it well. I teased her about chewing her pen caps. She laughed so loudly that people around us would turn to stare.
One time, I cried because a boy called me fat. She held my hand and told me I was perfect the way I was. She even threatened to report him to the teacher.
That was Anna. That was my best friend.
And now, as I sat in class two years later, I wondered where that Anna went.
**Daily School Life**
The next days passed almost the same. I sat in class quietly. Teachers asked questions, but even if I knew the answers, I never raised my hand. I didn't want people to notice me.
At lunch, I walked slowly to the cafeteria, hoping maybe someone would call my name. Nobody ever did. I grabbed my tray, searched for an empty table in the corner, and sat down. Sometimes I pretended to be busy on my phone so I wouldn't look like such a loner.
I watched people laugh, swap food, and tell stories. The whole place buzzed with life—except my table.
And yes, my eyes always found Anna. She was always surrounded, laughing, never looking my way.
But that small whisper in math class stayed with me. It kept replaying in my head, giving me a tiny piece of hope.
*After School*
When the bell rang, I packed my bag slowly. I hoped she would come to me again, maybe ask about homework, maybe just say goodbye. But she never did.
She walked out with her new friends, talking happily. I followed behind at a distance, my footsteps heavy.
Walking home felt lonely. The road was quiet, the sun hot on my back. I dragged my feet, thinking about how things used to be.
Back then, Anna and I walked home together. We raced to the bus stop, laughing until we were out of breath. Sometimes she waited for me if I was late.
Now, I walked alone. Same bag, same uniform, but nothing felt the same.
When I reached home, I dropped my bag on the floor and lay on my bed. The ceiling became my best friend,it was the only thing that listened to my thoughts.
I thought about Anna's smile, the way she said my name. I thought about how fast my heart raced when she looked at me. And then I thought about how quickly she forgot me once class was over.
It hurt.
But I still cared.
And deep down, I still hoped.
That night, as I closed my eyes, I whispered to myself.
"Even if she only needs me for notes… even if I'm just someone she remembers when it's convenient… I'll take it. At least it's something."
And for a lonely girl like me, that was enough.