3

Mom stood outside the door, a thin wooden stick clenched tightly in her hand, her patience already worn thin. The moment Dherya and MJ stepped inside, their footsteps slowed, and fear crept into their eyes.

“Is this the time to come home, Dherya?” Mom snapped. Her sharp gaze dropped to the stains on the uniform. “And what is this? You’ve messed up your uniform again?”

“Mom… it was MJ. He poured ice cream on it—” Dherya said quickly, trying to explain.

MJ stood there silently, like he was guilty. He didn’t defend himself, didn’t even look up. He surrendered himself.

Mom crossed her arms and glared at both of them with anger. The tension in the air grew heavier with every second. Then, in a strict voice, she said, “Fine. Then neither of you will get food tonight.”

With that, she turned and walked inside.

Dherya’s face turned pale. She looked at the door in disbelief. “This is all because of you, MJ!” she said, her voice filled with frustration. “What was the need to spill ice cream on my uniform? Now Mom is angry.”

MJ tried to calm her down. “It’s nothing. Aunty is just a little upset. Once her anger cools down, she’ll cook hot food for you.”

“Food?” Dherya shook her head. “No. Mom is not going to give me anything today. I’ll have to sleep hungry.”

Without saying anything more, Dherya turned and walked toward her room, her steps slow and upset.

MJ stood there for a moment, realizing his mistake, then quietly walked outside. Instead of using the stairs inside the house, he went toward the outer staircase that led to the terrace. There was a small room on the roof. Dherya’s mom had told him many times to use the inside stairs, but MJ never listened. He always did things his own way.

And honestly, he enjoyed annoying Dherya.

MJ had only been staying at Dherya’s house for a few months, but the two of them had already become very close friends. In the beginning, they used to avoid each other, walking past without even making eye contact.

But everything changed one day.

When Dherya didn’t come home by 8 o’clock at night, her mother called all her friends to ask if she had gone to their houses, but no one knew where she was. She even called the police. Her mother was extremely worried. Seeing her panic, MJ rushed to the school without wasting a second.

He ran through the corridors, calling out Dherya’s name again and again. There wasn’t a single classroom he didn’t check. His heartbeat grew faster with every passing minute.

Finally, he found her.

Dherya was locked inside the bathroom. Someone had shut the door from the outside, leaving her trapped inside. She was scared and trembling, sitting on the floor with her face buried in her knees. She was afraid of the darkness. The bathroom light was not working—she had tried switching it on many times, but it wouldn’t turn on.

The moment the bathroom door opened with a heavy push, Dherya rushed forward and hugged MJ tightly, tears in her eyes. She was crying softly.

MJ held her and gently rubbed her shoulder. “It’s alright… everything is fine now.”

After that small moment, they both came closer. They started talking, greeting each other every morning, and MJ began going to school with her. He became protective toward her.

And slowly, those conversations turned into a strong friendship.

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