The sun had dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the campus. Amara sat on the rooftop of the hostel, a bottle of cheap wine cradled in her hands. The city lights flickered in the distance, mirroring the turmoil within her.
Nia emerged from the stairwell, two plastic cups in hand. "Thought you might need some company," she said, settling beside Amara.
Amara offered a weak smile, pouring the wine into the cups. They clinked them together silently, the unspoken understanding between them louder than words.
After a few sips, Amara broke the silence. "Do you ever feel like you're invisible? Like, no matter how much you do, someone else always gets the spotlight?"
Nia nodded, her gaze fixed on the horizon. "All the time."
Amara's voice trembled. "I spent the whole night working on that backdrop. Then the labels. And Liana... she just stood there, smiling, taking all the credit."
Nia placed a comforting hand on Amara's shoulder. "I'm sorry. You deserve better."
"I just... I don't know why I keep letting it happen." Amara snapped.
"Because you're kind," Nia said softly. "But kindness shouldn't come at the cost of your self-worth."
They sat in silence, the weight of unspoken emotions hanging heavy in the air. The wine dulled the edges of their pain, but the wounds remained.
As the night deepened, Amara leaned her head on Nia's shoulder, finding solace in her friend's presence. "Thank you," she whispered.
The weekend sun cast a lazy glow over the campus, but inside the dorm room, Amara and Nia were ensnared in a cocoon of blankets and half-eaten snacks. The air was thick with the scent of buttery popcorn and the soft hum of a fan.
"We've officially become sloths," Nia declared, stretching her arms above her head.
Amara chuckled, her eyes half-closed. "Speak for yourself. I'm a very productive sloth."
As the afternoon light began to wane, Nia sat up abruptly. "Let's hit the badminton court. Just a quick game to shake off this lethargy."
Amara groaned, burying her face in a pillow. "Do we have to? My bed and I have formed a deep bond."
Nia grinned mischievously. "Come on! It'll be fun. Plus, some of the club members usually show up on weekends. It'll be a nice change of pace."
Reluctantly, Amara agreed. She threw on comfortable athletic wear and tied her hair into a messy bun.
Upon arriving at the badminton court, the familiar sounds of shuttlecocks being hit and sneakers squeaking on the floor greeted them. To Amara's surprise, Ryan was already there, engaged in a friendly match.
Noticing their arrival, Ryan waved and approached them. "Hey, Amara! I heard you're part of the photography club."
Amara smirked, teasing, "If it's not your club, I can't come?"
Ryan chuckled, "It's not like that. Everyone's welcome."
Nia smiled, enjoying the banter, and soon they all took turns playing a few rounds.
During a break, as they sipped water and caught their breath, Nia's eyes lit up. "Hey, Keiran!"
Amara turned to see Keiran entering the court, dressed in sports attire that accentuated his athletic build.
Rolling her eyes, Amara muttered, "Why does he have to show up everywhere?"
Nia grinned mischievously. "I don't know who to ship you with—Ryan or Keiran."
"Stop it," Amara snapped, playfully swatting Nia's hand.
Kieran joined the game seamlessly when someone invited him in. His movements on the court were precise and sharp, like a chess player in motion. While others went for flashy smashes, he relied on control—drop shots that just skimmed the net, unexpected angles that left his opponents scrambling.
"He's... actually good," Amara murmured, eyes narrowing as she tried not to seem impressed.
Nia leaned closer to Amara. "Is it weird that I'm both intimidated and attracted?"
Amara shot her a look. "You need help."
Midway through a game, the shuttlecock flew toward Amara, who had just stepped in to substitute. She missed by a split second, her grip off.
"Your stance is too rigid," Kieran said, casually walking over. His voice wasn't mocking, just matter-of-fact. "Relax your wrist. Let it move with the birdie, not against it."
Amara blinked at him. "Since when are you the badminton whisperer?"
He met her gaze, expression unreadable. "Since you almost took out your own teammate."
She huffed, but adjusted her grip, mimicking what he said.
When the game resumed, Amara hit the shuttle cleanly the next time—and scored.
Kieran gave a small nod, then turned away, already preparing for the next serve.
Nia watched with narrowed eyes, then leaned in with a smirk. "Okay, I take it back. Definitely Kieran."
Amara rolled her eyes, but this time, she was smiling—just a little.
After a short break, players gathered around, stretching and sipping water.
"Let's mix things up!" someone called from the side. "Time for doubles!"
Pairs quickly formed. Before Amara could slip away to the benches, Ryan waved her over. "Hey, team up with me!"
Kieran adjusted his wristband, saying nothing as Serena, a stylish senior with an easy smile, joined him with a bounce in her step. "Ooh, this'll be fun," she said brightly, giving Kieran a little nudge with her shoulder. "Let's crush them."
Amara groaned under her breath. "Why does it feel like we just stepped into a drama?"
Ryan chuckled, handing her a shuttle. "Because you're the main character and I'm your charming sidekick."
She gave him a mock glare. "You mean I'm the disaster and you're the damage control."
The match began.
Ryan played with a casual confidence, coaching Amara with light encouragement. "Nice try! Just twist your wrist a little on those returns." He moved close to demonstrate, gently adjusting her grip. "Like this. Loosen up—don't fight the birdie, guide it."
Amara tried again. This time, her return cleared the net smoothly.
"Atta girl!" Ryan cheered.
Across the net, Kieran's eyes flicked toward them. Just a glance. Quick. But enough.
Serena noticed.
"So serious," she said, stepping a little closer to Kieran during the pause. "We're supposed to be having fun, you know?"
He didn't respond, already preparing for the next serve.
Serena tried again, brushing her fingers down her braid and nudging his arm. "Hey, don't ignore your teammate. We've got chemistry too, right?"
"Ready?" Kieran asked the others instead, voice low, not even looking at her.
The game resumed.
Amara missed a couple of shots but kept her focus, thanks to Ryan's steady encouragement. She began to find her rhythm, her confidence growing with each play.
"Look at you go!" Ryan grinned after a sharp rally. "Remind me to always pick you as my partner."
Amara laughed, a little breathless. "Don't get cocky—we haven't won yet."
But her eyes were sparkling.
Another quick glance from Kieran. And again, Serena saw it.
The next serve was harder, faster—Kieran's intensity had sharpened.
Serena huffed quietly and tried once more to lean close between plays. Kieran stepped aside, completely unfazed. "Watch the back corner," he said coolly, pointing to the court.
That was the only interaction she got.
Meanwhile, on the other side, Amara nailed a clean shot—earning a cheer from Ryan and a high-five that lingered a second too long.