Galimgim

/9/ Breaking the Silence

I was drowning in difficulties, though I tried my best to hide it. The last thing I wanted was to ask anyone for help. Pride whispered that I should handle things on my own, but reality was cruel---my scores kept slipping lower and lower. No matter how long I studied, when the exam came, the results were still the same: failure.

I needed help.

There was one name that lingered in my mind: Christian. But fear clung to me. What if he refuses? What if he laughs at me? What if I just make a fool of myself? The questions gnawed at my courage until it nearly disappeared. 

Still, I couldn't let fear decide my fate. If I stayed silent now, I knew I would only sink deeper.

"Christian," I finally called out. 

My chest tightened instantly. My palms grew cold. Just saying by his name made my heartbeat pound so loudly I thought he could hear it. A dozen times, I wanted to take the words back and pretend I hadn't spoken. But I reminded myself: It's now or never. 

He turned to me, waiting. My throat went dry.

"I... I want you to teach me," I blurted out at last. "I couldn't understand the way our professors explained it."

The words sounded too blunt, almost desperate, but they were the truth. 

"Alright," he said without pause. "I'll help you." 

I blinked. "Y-you will?" 

He nodded, as if it were the simplest thing in the world. 

Relief washed over me so strongly that I nearly laughed. All that fear, all that hesitation, and for what? People always said no student rejects a classmate who sincerely asks for help. Now I finally understood---it wasn't just kindness. Teaching someone else was also a way for them to learn better.

Still,  I couldn't help but think back to how awkwardly I had asked. Maybe I should have softened it, worded it better so it didn't sound like I was demanding. But then again, maybe honesty was enough.

"Thanks," I murmured, still embarrassed by how fast I had spoken. "Really." 

He smiled. "Don't worry about it."

From then on, we would meet at the tennis field---a quiet, hidden corner of the school few people ever noticed. The library was too strict about silence, but here, we could talk without disturbing anyone. The place became our secret classroom, tucked away from the noise of the campus. 

The hours passed quickly there. Studying felt less draining, less lonely. And though my weakness still weighed on me, I discovered something more important: asking for help wasn't weakness at all. Sometimes, it was the first step toward strength.