「 𝙤𝙘𝙚𝙖𝙣 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙨 」

Aftermath Mayhem

The sun crept over Aquavista High School the morning after prom, casting a bright, unholy light over a scene that felt almost surreal. The once-proud front step of the school saw scattered remnants of the previous night’s grandeur: crumpled invitations, a half-eaten slice of cake, and even a glittering shoe lost in the frenzy of youth.

The day after prom, the school campus stood in disarray. The laughter and revelry of the night before had left a mark on everyone, but nowhere was this more evident than in the faces of the students dragging themselves through the hallways like lost souls.

Ayana leaned against her locker, trying her best to appear composed amid the chaos. Her hair, once perfectly styled, now fell in wild waves around her face.

She had worn an exquisite gown, but today, the memories of the night before threatened to swallow her whole.  She had fully expected the chaotic fun of prom to carry into this morning, but all that remained was the hollowness of what could have been. She wasn't intoxicated; instead, she grappled with the storm of feelings swirling in her mind.

Last night had started beautifully—the shimmering gown, the too-tight hairdo, the laughter shared with her closest friends, and even that moment of innocent eye contact with Rayyan, her ex-best friend.

But as the night progressed and drinks were consumed, Ayana found herself caught in a whirlwind of emotions. She had never imagined that Rayyan, usually so composed and confident, would fall into a drunken stupor or that he would pull her aside, whispering words that tasted of both desperation and unsaid truths.

“Ayana… I miss you. I really do…” His words had hit her like a ton of bricks.

But that was the Rayyan of yesterday, with the mixture of heartache and vodka staining his alluring charisma. This morning, when the shadows of the past hung low, Ayana felt a cold draft where warmth once thrived.

The bond they shared was tethered to a time before he had distanced himself, leaving her confused and abandoned.

"Hey," a voice broke her reverie, and Ayana turned to see Dylan approach her. His tousled hair and unshaven face spoke volumes about the wild night he'd had, but his eyes were sharp—focused.

"Look who's recovering from a hangover," Ayana managed a half-hearted smile, trying to mask her pain.

"Trust me, I feel worse than I look," he said, rubbing the back of his neck as if that could magically erase the memories of the night before. “But what about you? You okay?”

Ayana required no more prodding. “Rayyan… he… he was drunk last night.”

Dylan raised an eyebrow. “And?”

“And he said he missed me. Like, really, you know?” The hurt in her voice was palpable as the reality settled in. “But…what good is that? Is he really going to change?”

Dylan leaned against the lockers beside her, crossing his arms. "Look, Ayana. The truth is, drunk confessions are like butterflies—beautiful but fleeting. You don't know how they’d change in sunlight when sober thoughts kick in. Rayyan's not the same guy he used to be."

She scoffed at that. “So, what? I should just forget I ever mattered to him?”

“No,” Dylan replied firmly. “I’m saying you should think about whether you want someone like him back in your life.
The Rayyan who shut you out and made you feel unworthy is not the one you want to chase. People can change, but that doesn’t mean he will.”

Heavy silence draped over them as Ayana considered his words. Suddenly, the echoes of last night began to swirl in her mind—Rayyan surrounded by a sea of laughter, the glimmer of his infectious smile before he had slipped into the shadows.

Ayana could feel herself spiralling deeper into indecision, longing for a simplicity that no longer existed.

Just then, the cacophony of voices erupted nearby as a group of students turned the corner, joking and swaying slightly as they navigated the hall. One of them was Rayyan, his eyes clearer than before but still hazy—perhaps lingering remnants of whatever night he had created. Instinctively, he locked onto Ayana.

Their gaze met, and she felt the electricity in the air crackle. But instead of rushing to her, he simply turned away, laughing at a joke they all shared—without her.

Dylan noticed the sharp intake of breath, his own eyes hardening as he watched Rayyan retreat further. “You see that?” he said softly, almost painfully. “You deserved someone who’d remember you the next day. Someone who wouldn’t laugh at your pain.”

“But I do know Rayyan. He acts like he’s invulnerable, like nothing can hurt him. But last night? That was just a mask slipping. He’s not that person in the light of day. You’ll wake up today only to find that the ’prom king’ facade doesn’t last beyond the final curtain call.” His words echoed around her mind, the truth seeping in, soft yet insistent.

“I just don’t understand,” she murmured, her voice trembling with disbelief. “One moment, he’s declaring how much he missed me, and the next, I’m a ghost drifting in his memories.”

Dylan nodded, thoughtful. “Maybe he’s been haunted by something else. It’s easier to ignore what you can’t handle.”

Still lost in her turmoil, Ayana asked, “Do you think I should talk to him again—try to get it all out in the open?”

Dylan frowned, shifting uncomfortably. “I can’t make that decision for you. Just remember: you deserve more than blurry lines and wasted nights. Just because he wants you back now doesn’t mean he’ll fight for you tomorrow.”

A pang of longing stirred within her as she recalled the endless summer evenings she had spent with Rayyan, exploring the world in each other’s company—playing games, savouring icy treats, and dreaming of futures filled with glittering promise.

But the reality of their recent encounters felt like snippets from a fractured film, moments spliced with doubt and regret.

“I need to move on,” Ayana suddenly declared, surprising even herself. “Finding a resolution with Rayyan might help, but it can’t be the only solution.”

Dylan raised an eyebrow, impressed. “That’s the spirit. What do you have in mind?”

“We could go on an adventure. A road trip! Just the two of us. Somewhere we can get lost and find ourselves instead.”

Adventure, she thought, could erase the ghosts that lingered from her tangled relationship with Rayyan.

Dylan’s face broke into a mischievous grin. “Now that’s a plan! We can hit the coast and watch the sunset dip into the ocean. Just us, the waves, and the breeze.”