The Whisper Turns to a Voice

The next morning at Riverside College, Hita felt something strange — the air itself seemed sharper. She could feel eyes on her as she walked into class. Her seat looked the same, but everything else… different.

Hita!” Mira called, waving a hand. “You didn’t print my report last night, right?”

Hita froze. “Yeah… I, I forgot.”

Mira’s smile twitched. “You? Forget? That’s new.”

Her friends laughed under their breath.

“Guess she’s too busy now.”

“Maybe she thinks she’s better than us.”

Each word landed like a pinprick. Hita looked down, fingers gripping the edge of her desk. Part of her wanted to apologize like always but another part whispered: Don’t.

So she stayed silent.

Mira’s laughter filled the space that followed, bright and hollow.

At lunch, Hita sat alone in the courtyard for the first time. Her usual spot was taken by Mira and her group, their laughter drifting on the breeze. She poked at her sandwich, eyes low.

A shadow fell across her table.

Mind if I sit?”

It was Reyan again, holding his lunch tray.

“O-oh, sure,” she said quickly.

He sat, calm as always. For a while, they ate without talking. Then, softly:

> “Rough morning?”

Hita hesitated. “They’re just… mad because I didn’t help.”

“You said no.”

She nodded. “Kind of. I said I forgot.”

“That’s a start.” He smiled faintly. “Doesn’t have to be perfect.”

His tone wasn’t pitying — just understanding. It made her chest ache a little, like she’d forgotten what kindness sounded like.

---

Later, as classes ended, Hita headed to the library to return some books. On the way, she heard Mira’s voice echoing from the hallway corner.

> “Can you believe her? One day she’s everyone’s helper, next she’s pretending she’s too good for us.”

Laughter followed. Hita stopped. Her heart thudded painfully. For a second, she wanted to run. But then she saw Reyan coming from the other side of the hallway. Their eyes met — his calm, hers shaking.

He didn’t say a word, just gave a small nod, like you can handle this.

Something inside her steadied.

She walked up to Mira’s group.

> “Mira,” she said, voice trembling but clear, “I didn’t forget your report. I just… didn’t want to do it.”

The hallway went silent.

> “What?” Mira blinked. “You’re serious?”

“Yeah,” Hita said, this time firmer. “I’m tired of being used.”

For a second, nobody spoke. Then Mira scoffed, flipping her hair. “Wow. Guess she finally grew a backbone.” Her friends laughed again, but it sounded weaker now.

Hita’s heart raced — but she didn’t cry. She turned and walked away, breath shaking but light.

---

Outside, near the steps, Reyan waited.

> “That was brave,” he said simply.

> “I was scared the whole time.”

“That’s what makes it brave.”

Hita looked down, a small smile tugging her lips.

For once, she wasn’t invisible.

The sun dipped behind the building, and as the light faded, Hita felt something new inside her — small, steady, growing. Not defiance, not anger… just peace.

> Maybe my voice doesn’t have to be loud, she thought.

It just has to be mine.

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