The night stretched on, a heavy blanket of silence enveloping Polaris’s room, punctuated only by the occasional creak of the old house settling around her. The moonlight filtered through her curtains, casting a pale glow that highlighted the mess of sketches scattered across her desk. Each piece was a testament to her passion and creativity, but tonight they felt like reminders of a dream that had slipped away.“Hey, Pola! You okay?” The sudden sound of her best friend’s voice broke through the darkness like a beacon of light.Polaris sighed and picked up her phone, seeing the caller ID flash across the screen— Maya . “Yeah, I’m fine,” she said, trying to inject some cheerfulness into her voice, but it came out strained.“You sure? I’ve been trying to reach you. I thought you were going to call me after school today.” Maya’s concern was palpable, even through the phone.Polaris hesitated, the weight of the day settling heavily on her chest. “I got caught up with some stuff. Just… tire
The morning light filtered through the window, casting a warm glow in Polaris’s small room, but the warmth did little to lift the chill in her heart. She lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, replaying the moment of betrayal over and over in her mind. Each recollection twisted like a knife in her chest. William had always been the light in her dark days, but now he felt like just another shadow.As she reluctantly pulled herself out of bed, she fought against the weight of sorrow threatening to pull her back down. “Just act normal,” she whispered to herself in the mirror, forcing a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. She dressed quickly, pulling on her favorite oversized hoodie, hoping it would somehow shield her from the world outside.At school, the halls buzzed with laughter and chatter, but Polaris felt like an outsider looking in. She navigated through the sea of students, exchanging brief nods with classmates, but avoiding eye contact with William at all costs. The few times their g
The rest of the day dragged on, each class feeling longer than the last as Polaris replayed her conversation with Daryl over and over. The words hung in her mind, a constant reminder that she needed to face the truth about her friendship with William. It felt easier to avoid him, to pretend everything was fine, but deep down, she knew that wasn’t a solution.As the final bell rang, she took a deep breath, steeling herself for what lay ahead. Students poured out of classrooms, their chatter echoing through the hallways, but Polaris felt like she was moving in slow motion. She had to find William and talk to him—she couldn’t let the silence stretch any longer.With each step, her heart raced faster. What if he didn’t want to talk? What if he refused to listen? The thought gnawed at her, but she pushed it aside. She wouldn’t let fear hold her back anymore.Finally, she spotted him leaning against a wall near the entrance, his backpack slung over one shoulder, chatting animatedly with a c
As Polaris walked away, the bustling sounds of the school faded into a dull hum in her ears. Her mind raced, replaying the conversation over and over. She felt a mix of anger and sorrow, each emotion battling for dominance. Could things ever be the same between her and William after this?She decided to head to the garden—her usual escape—hoping the fresh air would help clear her thoughts. The late afternoon sun cast a warm glow over the vibrant flowers, and she took a moment to breathe deeply, inhaling the sweet scent of blooming roses and lilacs.Finding her usual spot beneath a large oak tree, she settled onto the bench and rested her head against the cool bark. Daryl’s words echoed in her mind, nudging her to confront her feelings and confront William. Yet, as much as she knew she had to be honest with him, it was harder than she had anticipated.While she picked at the remnants of her lunch, she tried to push away the lingering frustration. It wasn’t just William’s joke that both
“Hey! You must be Polaris, right?” Sebastian Levitan said, leaning against the school’s courtyard wall, a relaxed smile on his face. He was dressed casually, a T-shirt emblazoned with the name of his father’s basketball team, and a pair of basketball shorts.Polaris looked up from her lunch, surprised. She had heard about Sebastian, the stepson of the legendary basketball player, but this was the first time they were actually speaking. “Uh, yeah, that’s me. And you’re…?”“Sebastian. Nice to finally meet you,” he said, stepping closer. “I’ve seen you around but never got a chance to say hi.”She studied him for a moment. He seemed friendly enough, not at all like the other popular kids who often intimidated her. “It’s cool. I guess I’m not really on the radar, you know?” she replied, shrugging her shoulders as she took a bite of her sandwich.“Hey, don’t sell yourself short. Everyone’s talking about the new girl. You’ve made quite the impression,” he said, flashing a grin that made her
Polaris sat alone at her usual spot in the cafeteria, picking at her food. The hum of conversation filled the air, but she kept to herself, grateful for a quiet moment. She liked it this way—sitting in the corner, unnoticed. After the last few days, it felt better to stay under the radar.But her peace was short-lived. She caught movement out of the corner of her eye and looked up to see Sebastian making his way through the crowded cafeteria. His easy, confident stride drew attention from nearly everyone. Students started whispering, their eyes flickering toward him, and then, toward her.No way. He wouldn’t… not here.Before she could react, Sebastian plopped down across from her, setting his tray on the table. “Hey, thought I’d join you for lunch. Hope that’s cool.”Polaris stared at him, wide-eyed. Her fork hovered mid-air. “Um… yeah, sure,” she mumbled, but her voice lacked conviction.As soon as he sat, the murmurs grew louder. Heads turned in their direction, and a few of the gi
Polaris shifted in her seat, her hands gripping the edge of the table. The auditorium buzzed with low murmurs, the anticipation of the upcoming science quiz thick in the air. Banners hung across the stage, proudly displaying the school’s name and the event title: Annual Science Quiz Bee Competition .She glanced around at the other contestants, each of them seeming composed, their faces focused. For a moment, doubt flickered through her mind. She had studied hard for this, but being here, in front of a crowd, the pressure weighed on her more than she had expected. Polaris wasn’t the kind to put herself in the spotlight, but she had promised herself she would try something new, push herself.The quizmaster’s voice suddenly rang through the microphone, calling for the students to take their places. Polaris stood up, her legs slightly shaky as she walked toward the stage. Her heart pounded in her chest, each beat reminding her of the challenge ahead. She could feel the eyes of the audien
Polaris sat in the hallway outside the auditorium, still clutching the small trophy she had earned from the school’s science quiz bee. Her win should have brought her more satisfaction than it did, but the subtle tension she felt whenever she thought of William weighed her down. The air outside was cool, carrying the faint sounds of students shuffling to their next classes. She leaned against the wall, trying to take in the moment of victory, but her thoughts kept drifting.Just then, she heard footsteps approaching. She looked up, and her stomach dropped slightly when she saw a tall figure, a boy dressed neatly in a uniform with a stack of books under his arm. His strides were confident, purposeful. His sharp eyes scanned the room with a mix of curiosity and indifference.Hero Jinro, the famous boy genius, son of a Nobel Prize-winning scientist. She had heard of him, of course—everyone had. His academic accolades were intimidating to say the least. At just 16, he was already an intel
The morning light seeped through the blinds, casting long, muted shadows across Polaris’s apartment. The soft hum of the city outside, the far-off sounds of traffic and conversation, filtered in through the cracks, but inside, there was nothing but stillness. She hadn’t moved from her bed yet. Her body felt like it was cemented into the sheets, her limbs heavy, and her mind was miles away, lost in thoughts she couldn’t shake.She thought of Sebastian.And that thought sent an immediate tension through her chest. She hadn’t wanted to think about him, not really, but his face, his voice, his words—they lingered, stubborn and impossible to ignore.It was confusing. Because while she didn’t want to feel anything for him, she couldn’t deny the small, unspoken connection that lingered between them, one that was impossible to ignore. Or maybe she just didn’t want to face the truth—that part of her was still drawn to him.But no. She couldn’t. She shouldn’t.Polaris shifted, sitting up and dr
Polaris stared at the phone in her hand, the lingering sound of Sebastian’s voice echoing in her ear. He’d apologized for not being able to introduce her to his family. “I’m sorry, Polaris,” he’d said, his voice warm yet distant. “I just… I wasn’t ready.”She hadn’t wanted to ask why, though she knew. She could feel it in her bones: he was pulling away. But she couldn’t bring herself to admit it, not even to herself.“It’s okay,” she had said, though the words felt hollow. They were a lie, and they tasted bitter on her tongue. “It’s fine. I understand.”But as soon as she said it, she knew it wasn’t. It wasn’t fine. It never would be.She didn’t give him a chance to say more. “I have to go,” she had added quickly, her voice tight. Without waiting for his response, she hung up.The sharp click of the phone disconnecting echoed in the empty room. She stood there for a moment, the silence pressing in, before shaking herself from the stupor of her thoughts.She needed to get out. She need
Polaris was bent over a stack of fabric samples, her hands flipping through the various textures, when a quiet sob reached her ears. At first, she dismissed it, thinking it was just the wind playing tricks. But then it came again, sharper this time, followed by the soft shuffling of footsteps.She looked up, expecting to see a colleague, but instead, she saw a young girl standing by the fabric shelf. The girl was no more than seven or eight, her tear-streaked face twisted in confusion and fear. She wore a bright pink jacket, the sleeves slightly too long, dragging on the floor as she shuffled awkwardly on her tiny feet.Polaris’s first instinct was to approach, but she hesitated. She hadn’t been around children much since… well, since a long time ago. But the girl’s sobs grew louder, and Polaris found herself stepping closer, her hands instinctively smoothing over the fabric, trying to calm her own nerves before speaking.“Hey, are you okay?” Polaris asked softly, crouching down to th
The evening wore on, the city lights casting long shadows across the rooftop as the crowd mingled around the bar. Polaris had barely touched her wine, her mind still locked on the unexpected appearance of Sebastian. She had thought of him over the years, of course, but only in fleeting moments, like passing clouds. Seeing him here, in this city, in this moment—it stirred something deep inside her. Something she wasn’t quite ready to face.But she wasn’t about to let old memories dictate her life again. Not now. Not when she was so close to securing her future, to carving out a new identity for herself. So, after a few moments of silent contemplation, she straightened her posture and decided to push through.She glanced back toward the entrance, and this time, her eyes locked with Sebastian’s. He wasn’t looking her way, but when he turned toward the door, their gazes met. He didn’t hesitate; he walked toward her with that same calm, collected stride she remembered so well.“Polaris,” h
Polaris walked into the meeting room, carrying her tablet with the project sketches displayed. The room was sleek and modern, with large windows offering a panoramic view of the city. The client, a middle-aged man in a tailored suit, sat at the conference table, flanked by his assistant and a couple of other colleagues. Polaris set the tablet down, taking a deep breath before addressing the room.“Good morning, everyone,” she began, her voice steady but confident. “I’m Polaris. I’ll be walking you through our initial concepts for the new office complex project.”The client nodded, his arms folded across his chest, a slight air of expectation about him. Polaris flipped the tablet screen to the first design.“As per your brief, you’re looking for a space that not only meets your functional needs but also offers an innovative, modern design that stands out in this area. This building will serve as both a hub for your employees and a showcase of your company’s values—creativity, sustainab
The soft murmur of voices filled the air as Polaris stood by the entrance of the grand hall, adjusting the strap of her purse. The event was a swirl of lights, laughter, and chatter, a celebration of some local achievement, but to her, it felt like nothing more than a distraction. She wasn’t sure why she had come, but the invitation had arrived, and the idea of getting caught up in the whirlwind of it all seemed oddly tempting. She didn’t know what she was expecting, but she hadn’t expected this.As she glanced around the room, her eyes caught a familiar face across the crowd, a flash of dark hair and a strong, steady presence. It was him—Sebastian.Her breath hitched in her chest as the crowd parted, and he moved in her direction, his usual confident stride making its way toward her like a magnet. Time seemed to slow, the noise of the event fading into the background as memories rushed back—memories of their late-night conversations, their shared laughter, and the moments that had on
Polaris stretched her legs under the table, her fingers idly flipping through the project details displayed on her laptop screen. It was nearing dusk, the city lights starting to flicker to life outside her window, casting a warm glow into the room. She sipped her coffee, half-listening to the sounds of traffic outside, until her gaze fell upon the project location listed at the top of the document.Her hometown.She sat back, heart skipping a beat as she stared at the familiar name, the memories rushing in before she could push them away. She hadn’t been back since she’d left for good, vowing to carve out her own path far from everything familiar. And yet, here it was, pulling her back when she least expected it.The project itself was a career-defining opportunity—a collaboration that combined creativity and community, everything she valued in her work. It was the kind of project she would have leapt at… if it hadn’t been for the location. She let out a slow breath, scanning through
“Did you make it back safe, Polaris? Please tell me you at least took a cab this time,” Camille’s voice buzzed through Polaris’s phone, her concern palpable even across the line.Polaris let out a soft laugh, easing into the familiar warmth of her friend’s worry. “Yes, Camille, I’m home safe and sound,” she assured, dropping her keys on the small, rickety table by the door. “Took a cab, and everything.”“Good! You know I’ll show up on your doorstep if I find out you’re wandering around Paris at this hour alone,” Camille teased, though Polaris knew she meant it.A smile played on Polaris’s lips as she kicked off her shoes, feeling a comfort she rarely allowed herself. “You know I wouldn’t mind that. It’s only been two days, and I already miss our weekly coffee talks.” Her voice softened, the exhaustion from the long journey finally setting in.“Me too, P. It’s way too quiet without you around to shake things up,” Camille sighed. “But I’m glad you’re back and settling in. You really sou
The city skyline stretched across the darkening sky, a mixture of fading amber and deep violet, casting long shadows over the buildings. Polaris stood on the balcony of her apartment, the cool evening air tugging at her hair as she gripped the railing. It had been seven years since she left, seven years since she had said goodbye to the life she once knew, to the people who had helped her become who she was today—and to the ones who had nearly broken her.She thought she had buried the past, but standing here now, she could feel its weight returning, like old wounds reopening beneath a thin layer of scar tissue. Tomorrow, she would see them again—Sebastian, Hero, Daryl, and even Anne, each one holding pieces of a history they all had shared, but which time had distorted, fractured, and remade.The letter from the company had arrived two months ago. “We’re assigning you to a major project in your hometown,” it read, as if her past were simply a location on a map, waiting patiently for