Chapter 5 The Girl Who Never Breaks

Morning arrived too quickly.

Aresha could barely move.

Every muscle screamed, every breath felt like glass cutting her ribs.

She pushed herself off the floor, using the wall for support, biting her lip so hard she tasted blood.

She washed up slowly—mechanically.

Covered the bruises with makeup.

Bandaged her ribs under her uniform.

Her reflection stared back at her.

Cold eyes.

Perfect hair.

Flawless face.

No one would guess she had barely survived the night.

She pressed her trembling fingers to the mirror.

“…Smile.”

Her lips curled upward.

Not with joy—

But with duty.

Aresha Malik’s smile wasn’t an expression.

It was armor.

---

At College

People stepped aside as she walked in.

But for the first time in years…

she didn’t enjoy it.

Her steps were slower.

Her breathing stiff.

She held her books close to her ribs like a shield.

Zara noticed first.

“Oh my god, Aresha—your face looks pale.”

Zara grabbed her arm.

Aresha flinched—too fast, too sharp.

Myra frowned.

“Hey… what’s wrong? Did something happen?”

Aresha forced her voice steady.

“I’m fine.”

Her friends exchanged a glance—they were used to Aresha being cold, moody, cruel.

But this wasn’t that.

This was… pain.

Real pain.

Zara leaned closer. “Are you sure? You’re walking weird.”

Aresha ignored the comment and walked ahead.

She never let cracks show.

---

Rehan Watches

Rehan had barely slept all night.

The video clips he recorded wouldn’t leave his mind.

Aresha’s muffled cries replayed every time he blinked.

When he saw her walk onto campus—

Perfect.

Composed.

Untouchable.

His heart twisted.

She’d covered everything.

Except the pain in her eyes.

Rehan approached her classroom.

He waited by the door until she arrived.

When she saw him, she stopped walking.

Slowly.

Like her body wanted to freeze.

Her jaw clenched.

Not out of anger…

but fear.

Rehan’s voice softened instantly.

“Aresha… are you okay?”

She said nothing.

She tried walking past him.

He stepped in front gently—not blocking, just standing there.

“You don’t have to pretend.”

Her eyes sharpened.

“That’s rich,” she whispered darkly.

“Coming from you.”

Rehan blinked. “What?”

“You pushed me yesterday. Hard enough to bleed.”

Her voice was steady, but her hands trembled.

“And now you want to act like a hero?”

Rehan swallowed guilt.

“That was wrong. I’m sorry. Truly. But—”

“Stop talking,” she hissed quietly.

Her voice tight.

Almost breaking.

“You didn’t see anything. You know nothing. Don’t interfere.”

“I did see.”

His voice cracked.

“I saw what happened at your house.”

Aresha froze.

Her blood ran cold.

Her heart stopped.

For the first time in years—

her mask wasn’t just cracking.

It was shattering.

“W-What…?” Her voice trembled.

Rehan stepped closer, lowering his voice.

“I saw her hurting you. I heard everything.”

Aresha staggered back as if he had stabbed her.

“No.”

Her chest tightened painfully.

“You’re lying.”

“I’m not.”

He pulled out his phone.

“I recorded it.”

Aresha slapped the phone out of his hand so hard it flew across the floor.

“DELETE IT!” she shouted.

Her voice raw.

Terrified.

Students turned to stare.

Rehan reached for her—

She shoved him away, eyes burning with panic.

“You don’t understand!”

Her voice shook uncontrollably.

“If anyone finds out—if she finds out—she’ll kill me. DO YOU GET IT?!”

Rehan stared at her, stunned.

Not by her anger.

By her fear.

Pure, bone-deep fear.

Aresha didn’t yell because she was furious.

She yelled because she was terrified.

---

She Breaks

Her breath came out in sharp bursts.

Her hands shook violently.

Her vision blurred.

She whispered, voice cracking painfully—

“You can’t help me.

No one can.”

Rehan stepped forward again, this time slower.

“Aresha… you don’t deserve this. You’re not alone anymore.”

Her lip trembled.

That was the final crack.

Tears—not loud, not dramatic—just silent drops—

fell from a girl who never cried.

She covered her mouth with her hand instantly, as if ashamed to make a sound.

Zara and Myra, standing behind her, froze.

Their tough leader.

The girl who fought everyone.

The girl who never flinched.

Was shaking.

Was crying.

Was breaking.

Zara whispered, “A-Aresha…?”

Aresha backed away from all of them.

“No. Don’t. Don’t look at me.”

Her voice was barely a breath.

She turned and walked away quickly, disappearing into the girls’ washroom.

Rehan didn’t follow.

Not yet.

He waited outside.

Because now he understood—

The strongest girl in college was not strong at all.

She was drowning.

And she had been drowning alone for years.

But not anymore.

He wouldn’t let her.

---

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