Eclipsed Echo

CHAPTER ELEVEN

IYAN

No matter how hard I try, the dirt on my shirt just won't come off. My fingers scrub the fabric, but it's useless—I'm sure it's going to leave a stain. I regret not going home to change out of my uniform first. My phone buzzes in my pocket, and when I pull it out, Syha's name lights up the screen.

Syha : Aren't you coming?

Iyan : Just on my way. Is everyone there?

Syha : Yes. Except you. Come fast. 

I shove the phone back into my pocket and start running. This place, thankfully, isn't far from Aafia's dad's apartment. Though, honestly, I wouldn't call it an apartment—it looks more like a haunted house, with its old creaking walls and dim, eerie corners. But for some reason, the girls are obsessed with it. Ever since Aafia brought them here the first time, they declared it their "happy escape"—the spot to run to whenever school felt suffocating or their parents too demanding.

I reach the gate in five minutes, panting slightly, still rubbing the stubborn stain on my shirt. As I step inside, I can already see them coming out of the building, laughter floating in the air.

"Look, your boy is here," Inaya teases, giving Syha a nudge on her arm. "But you're late, Mr. Lover Boy. We're leaving."

I run a hand through my hair as my head drops, feeling my ears heat up with embarrassment. Syha walks up to me, her eyes scanning me like she always does, making it impossible to breathe.

"Didn't you go home?" she asks, plucking a small stick out of my hair. I shake my head.

"Where were you, then?" she presses, curiosity lighting her eyes.

Before I can answer, Nomi's voice cuts in from a short distance away. "Aren't you two coming?" she calls, her voice casual as she watches us lag behind.

I shout back, "No, you guys go ahead. We've got something to do." Syha gives me a confused look, eyebrows raised, but I just shrug, trying to play it off.

"Yeah, yeah, we get it," Aafia calls out with a grin. "You two have your own plans." They laugh together and wave as they turn the corner, disappearing from sight.

Syha lets out a small sigh, dropping her head slightly. "They're going to tease me about this for days. This better be something important."

I swallow, feeling the nerves bubble up. "It is. I just need to show you something."

"What?", She asks. Without wasting more time I take her hand and start running. She goes along with me without asking anything further. We stop when we reach the path I have been clearing up for this long. 

The path winds through a small hill, once blocked with dirt, sticks, and rubbish. Clearing it took me two hours, which explains the mess on my uniform. As we reach the end of the path, I keep my eyes on Syha, silently hoping she'll like it. She lets go of my hand and steps forward.

"Wow," she whispers, her eyes widening as she takes in the view of the lake and the peaceful surroundings.

"This is... beautiful, Iyan. How did you find this?"

"You like it?" I ask, my heart pounding a little.

"I love it." She glances around, her voice softening. "This place is... I don't even know what to say." She walks over to the edge of the lake, her legs dangling over the shore as she sits down. I follow and sit beside her.

"It smells so fresh here. It's like the air is different," she says, taking a deep breath. "But seriously, how did you find this?"

I pause, trying to calm the nerves. "Remember how you always say that when you and the girls hang out in that old building, it feels like the only place that's real? Like you're far away from school and all the stress with your parents?" She nods, listening closely. "Well, I wanted us to have something like that too. A place just for us. Our own little spot to escape to."