The school courtyard buzzed with life during lunch. Students sat at picnic tables or lounged on the grass, their laughter and chatter blending into the usual midday hum.
Ningning walked briskly across the yard, her sharp eyes scanning the crowd until she spotted Ara sitting under a tree, knees drawn up, absentmindedly picking at her lunch. Without hesitation, Ningning made a beeline for her.
She plopped down beside Ara and playfully swatted her arm. "There you are! I've been looking for you everywhere. Why are you hiding under this tree like a squirrel?"
Ara flinched slightly at the sudden touch, looking up with a weak smile. "I just wanted some quiet," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. She didn't meet Ningning's eyes.
Ningning's grin faltered as she took in the sight of her friend. Ara's lunch tray was barely touched, and her shoulders were hunched... an all-too-familiar posture lately.
Ningning crouched down beside her, brows knitting together. "Hey... what's up? You okay? You've been quiet lately."
"I'm fine, Ningning. Really. Just tired." Ara's reply came too quickly, too rehearsed.
Ningning narrowed her eyes, unconvinced. She plopped down properly, sitting cross-legged and nudging Ara's shoulder.
"You're a terrible liar, you know that?" Ningning said, tilting her head. "What's wrong? Did something happen?"
Ara didn't answer right away. She fiddled with the hem of her skirt, twisting the fabric in a nervous rhythm. Ningning waited, her usual playful energy softening into something gentler.
"Ara." Ningning's voice dropped, quieter now. "Talk to me."
Ara's lip quivered slightly before she pressed it into a thin line. She swallowed hard, her voice finally breaking through hesitation, soft and shaky.
"It's just... people. They're not... nice."
Ningning's expression darkened. She immediately sat up straighter. "Who?" Her tone sharpened, laced with protective anger. "What people?"
Ara's gaze flickered across the courtyard, landing on a nearby picnic table where Karina and Winter sat, laughing over something. The sound rang hollow in Ara's ears. She quickly looked away, but Ningning had already followed her line of sight.
Ningning's jaw clenched.
"It's them again, isn't it?" Her voice was low, controlled, but the edge of anger was unmistakable. "What did they do this time?"
Ara stayed silent. But she didn't have to say anything. Her silence said it all.
Ningning exhaled sharply through her nose, trying to keep her emotions in check. She was quiet for a beat, then spoke again, voice steady.
"Ara, listen to me. Whatever they're doing, it's not okay. And you don't have to deal with it alone. You have me. You have the Dreamies. We're not going to let this slide."
Ara finally looked up, searching Ningning's face for reassurance, hope, a reason to believe things could get better.
Ningning gave a small but determined smile and nudged her again. "I've got your back. Always."
A small, shaky nod was all Ara could manage, but her shoulders loosened just a little.
Ningning leaned back on her hands, already planning her next move. One thing was for sure... she wasn't letting this go.
Across the courtyard, Chenle walked toward his group of friends until his gaze landed on them.
Ara, sitting tense and small beneath the tree. Ningning, steady and unwavering beside her. And then... Karina and Winter at the table, laughing as if nothing was wrong.
Chenle's chest tightened.
He didn't need to ask what was happening.
He already knew.
