Time's Cruel Twist: A Second Chance Amidst the Ruins

"Amaya?"

Hearing her name, she looked up from the paper and saw Zeya's mom standing in front of her. Her eyes warmed at her sight, a radiant smile on her face. "Aunty! How're you doing?" She asked cheerfully.

"Aunty is doing fine. How about you? How is your leg?" She asked with her soft and sweet voice, warming Amaya's heart more.

Amaya smiled and showed her leg with a grin like a child ready to go to Disneyland after recovery.

Zeya's mom chuckled at her childish behaviour, soon her gaze went to the paper Amaya was holding and furrowed her brows a little seeing the L.R University name on it. Her smile disappeared from her face like a candle snuffed out by a gust of wind.

"You want to study at L.R University?" She asked, her voice cold and distant.

Amaya glanced at the paper in her hand and nodded her head. "Uh.. it's a recommendation form for me and my friends."

Zeya's mom held Amaya's hands, slowly patting them, as she whispered, "I know it's your life and maybe your dream too but Amaya, leaving alone far from–"

"Aunty," Amaya interrupted, her voice soft and sweet like a gentle breeze, "Whether I live here or there, how far or close I live, at last I'm going to live alone. It's not like I was living with guardians over here."

Zeya's mom's heart broke hearing her wistful voice, her face etched with a mixture of sadness and resignation. "But you tried to stop me, that's enough for me. I'll always be grateful for you, Aunty."

Zeya's mom nodded her head as she wiped her tears and smiled at Amaya, her eyes twinkling with both sadness and pride. "Zeya was also pestering me to let her study there. Whose mom can see their daughter live far away alone? But recently she stopped talking about it. I don't know what to do? Whether to let her go or stop."

Amaya chuckled and grabbed Zeya's mom's hand, slowly placing it in heart, she smiled, "Every mother in this world knows what's best for their daughter. Don't listen to her just because she whined or threw temper. Listen to what mother's heart says. It can never be wrong."

"How sweet." She caressed Amaya's cheeks like her own child, her touch gentle and loving. Amaya smiled and touched the hand that was caressing her cheeks then kissed it. "You might get diabetes if you keep on touching this sweet." Both of them laughed, the sound of their laughter echoing through the room.

"Umm Aunty, can you keep it a secret from Zeya that I'm going to study at L.R University? We aren't on bad terms or anything but I want her to follow her dreams." Zeya's mom nodded her head without any further questions, her eyes filled with understanding. "I'll go to my class now." Amaya hugged her before walking towards the Library again, hiding the paper behind her back.

"Boo!"

Amaya's eyes narrowed at Mina's childish antics as she rolled her eyes with audible disdain. Stepping into the library, her eyes were met with a complete emptiness.

"Grade 12 students are requested to assemble in the auditorium to listen to a motivational speech," Mina's voice echoed through the library, her words tinged with an urgency that belied her playful demeanour. "I came to inform you since I didn't spot you with your friends."

Mina's grip tightened on Amaya's arm, her nails digging into her skin as she saw Amaya heading towards her own classroom instead. With determination, Mina pulled Amaya towards the auditorium.

"C'mon, Mina!" Amaya groaned, her voice laced with exasperation. "Spare me! My eyelids will be dropping by the time they're done."

"Sleep then, but you're going!" Mina retorted, her voice unwavering. "Amaya, this is your final day of high school."

Amaya's eyes widened in surprise. "It's not my last day! And you're not even in my grade, you're my junior. Don't try to boss me around!"

Mina ignored her protests, dragging her towards an auditorium. The lights dimmed, plunging the room into a soft twilight. Students rustled and whispered, their voices creating a low hum that filled the air. A lone figure stood in front of the big screen, his silhouette cast in sharp relief against the vibrant ocean wallpaper that adorned the screen.

"I've other students to call too. I'm leaving," Mina whispered conspiratorially before giving Amaya a gentle push inside.

Amaya strode confidently towards the corner seat, her eyes scanning the room. Her gaze met Fred's, his eyes twinkling with amusement from the corner, waving at her.

"Where's my seat?" Amaya asked, her voice carrying a hint of playful challenge as she walked past me towards Fred. Her eyebrows arched in surprise as she took in the scene before her.

Somiya on Sophia's lap, her laughter mingling with the soft chatter of the room. Demi occupied Elli's lap, her head resting comfortably on Elli's shoulder. Seth had somehow managed to squeeze onto Fred's lap, his long legs stretched out in front of him. I sat alone, amidst the sea of entwined bodies.

"It was already full. We only got four seats. Sit on Zeya's lap," Seth said, leaning on Fred, sitting on his lap. Amaya glared at him, her eyes narrowing slightly and her lips pursed into a thin line. My eyes were still on her, watching her reaction.

"When you have a chance to sit in a girl's lap, why are you sitting on a boy's?" She asked, a mischievous glint in her eyes while looking at Seth. "What a waste of a perfectly good opportunity! Go and–" Grabbing her arm, suddenly Fred pulled Amaya and made her sit on my lap.

"You two are the biggest disappointments to the entire male gender!" Amaya exclaimed, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

"I'm sorry…" She apologised to me and stood up hurriedly. She glared at Seth and Fred before scanning the room again for an empty seat. "I'll be with Jay," she muttered under her breath. But Seth grabbed her again, throwing her in my lap. "Keep quiet and sit here!" he glared at her before going back to looking at the screen. I could feel her hesitation sitting on my lap, her hands fiddling, gaze slightly lowered. "I–"

"It's okay. You can sit," I whispered nonchalantly, my heart pounding like a drum in my chest. She nodded her head and sat quite comfortably on my lap.

"Ahem! My dear students…" The principal took the microphone and spoke, his voice slightly trembling. The air in the auditorium was thick with tension and anticipation. Everyone's heart is heavy with unknown emotions. A voice cracked the sudden tense environment, "We and dear students of principal sir? Now I see why there was sun in the sky today!" Everyone burst into laughter hearing Sophia's joke. The sound of her laughter was like a ray of sunshine, cutting through the anxiety and filling the auditorium with warmth. I could feel Amaya's body trembling slightly with laughter. Her fingers intertwined with mine, and I felt a surge of electricity coursing through my body. I glanced at her, her gaze focused on the principal sir. A small smile played on her lips, and I felt a surge of warmth spread through me.

"Just a figure of speech." Principal said, making everyone laugh even more. The sound of their laughter filled the auditorium, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. "Now, I had practised a lot to say seriously but look, in front of my mischievous students how can I talk formally, right?" He asked, a little joke to lift the mood more. His voice was filled with warmth and humour, and his eyes sparkled with mischief. "It's okay, sir! You can be yourself in front of us!" Jay shouted, encouraging principal sir. Few other students agreed with Jay, making Principal sir smile warmly. His face lit up with gratitude, and he nodded his head.

"As I stand before you today, on this bittersweet occasion, I am filled with a whirlwind of emotions. Joy, because I have had the privilege of watching you grow and learn over the past four years. Sadness, because this is our last day together as a class. And relief, because I finally don't have to grade any more essays.

Just kidding! I will miss you all dearly."

A smile appears on everyone's face, their hearts throbbing in their chests. The auditorium is filled with a sense of warmth and nostalgia.

"But before we part ways, I want to leave you with a few thoughts that I hope will stay with you long after you leave this second home. Life, my dear students, is a precious gift. It is a journey filled with both joy and sorrow, laughter and tears. But it is a journey that is worth taking, every step of the way." He paused, and the auditorium was filled with a hush. We all listened in silence, our hearts heavy with the weight of his words.

"There will be times when you stumble and fall. There will be times when you feel lost and alone. But I urge you to never give up. Never stop believing in yourself. And never stop reaching for your dreams.

Remember, you are not alone on this journey. You have your family and friends to support you. You have your teachers and mentors to guide you. And you have each other. Lean on each other. Support each other. And most importantly, love each other."

Though I heard this in my last life too, still I could feel my heart heavy with emotions. A wave of nostalgia washed over me, and I felt a lump in my throat.

"Love is the most powerful force in the universe." Tears formed in my eyes as I rested my head on Amaya's back. "So my love was never powerful," I whispered, my voice breaking.

"It can conquer hate. It can heal wounds." He said. I smiled, but my smile was tinged with sadness. "But my love never healed you nor conquered your world."

"And it can make the world a better place." I hugged her tighter, my arms trembling slightly. "My love only made it worse." The words hung in the air between us, heavy with regret and sorrow.

"So go out there and love with all your heart. Life is too short to waste on anger, resentment, or regret. Fill your life with love, and you will never be truly alone." My hands trembled, tears rolled down my cheeks. "Love only made me feel lonely though," I whispered, my voice barely a breath.

"One of the best things about being an adult is the freedom to make your own choices. You can choose where you want to live, what you want to do for work, and who you want to spend your time with." The principal's voice boomed through the auditorium, but all I could hear was the sound of my own heartbeat pounding in my ears.

"Of course, with great freedom comes great responsibility. But I know that you are all up to the challenge. Don't be afraid to fail. Everyone fails at some point in their lives. The important thing is to learn from your mistakes and keep moving forward." His words washed over me, but I couldn't focus on their meaning. All I could think about was the feel of Amaya's soft hair against my cheek and the warmth of her body pressed against mine.

"It doesn't mean you need to take your life too seriously. Life is too short to be anything but happy. So laugh often, love deeply, and dance like nobody's watching." His voice grew louder, more insistent, but I couldn't hear him anymore. I was lost in my own world, a world where it was just Amaya and me.

"And finally, never forget your roots. Mystic will always be your home. Come back and visit us whenever you can. We'll be here, waiting with open arms and detention slips. Just kidding… again." The principal's voice faded away, replaced by the sound of applause. I opened my eyes and looked around, but I couldn't see anything. All I could see was Amaya, her beautiful face illuminated by the dim lights.

"Go forth and continue to make your mark. The world needs your passion, your creativity, and your terrible jokes." The principal's words echoed in my mind, but they didn't make sense. All I could think about was Amaya, and how much I loved her.

"Congratulations, Class of 2024!" The applause grew louder, and louder making me anxious. Suddenly she abruptly stood up from my lap, her eyes dark and unreadable again. "I'll sit with Shreya." She walked away, her footsteps echoing in the silence of the auditorium. I gulped, my hands trembling. I could feel the warmth of her body fading from my lap, and I felt a chill run down my spine.

"Now we'll watch a short movie together for the last time."

A screen lit up, and a video began to play on the big screen. Everyone sat on their seats, some students hugging each other. Among them were Amaya and Shreya. I clenched my jaw, tightening my grip on my dress. I saw Amaya sitting on Shreya's lap, hugging her neck and talking with an endearing smile on her face. Her laughter filled the air, and I felt a pang of jealousy shoot through me.