Capítulo 38: Unseen Connections and Silent Struggles

The morning light cast a soft glow across the classroom as Ani settled into her seat, the slight rustle of her movements drawing Adam's attention.

Watching her discreetly from his place, Adam noticed how Ani exuded an effortless grace, her silvery-white hair framing her face with an almost ethereal glow.

She exuded an air of quiet confidence and intelligence, traits he had long admired in her.

As Ani reached into her bag to retrieve a book, Robin, one of her classmates, suddenly appeared before her, blocking her view.

He looked concerned, his gaze fixed intently on her. "Ani, I heard you were sick yesterday. Are you okay?" he asked, his voice tinged with worry.

Without looking at him, Ani responded with a simple, "Yes, I'm fine," her tone polite but distant as she focused on her book.

Her fingers brushed the cover, and she began reading, clearly hoping Robin would take the hint.

Undeterred, Robin continued, "You shouldn't have taken on so much work. You should've let me handle more of those documents to ease your load." He sounded genuinely earnest, as if he wanted to prove he could be of help.

Ani's only response was a quiet silence as she kept her eyes on the page, her mind obviously somewhere far from the conversation.

In the middle of this awkward exchange, her friend Monica burst into the room, her face lighting up at the sight of Ani.

"Ani! You're finally here! Do you know how worried I was about you?" Monica exclaimed, her voice full of relief and affection.

Ani looked up from her book and smiled, her expression softening. "I know, Monica. Thank you for caring." A rare warmth passed between them, one that made Ani feel truly understood.

Just then, Robin interjected again, his gaze lingering on Ani. "You're really hardworking, Ani," he said, his admiration barely concealed.

He seemed determined to catch her attention, to break through the walls she kept so firmly in place. But Ani only sighed inwardly, finding his persistence exhausting.

Doesn't he understand I'm ignoring him? she thought to herself, wondering if he'd ever take the hint.

Adam watched the entire scene unfold from a distance, his gaze unwavering as he observed Ani's subtle reactions.

He could tell that Robin's attention was getting on her nerves, yet she remained calm, her demeanor impeccably polite and composed.

Adam couldn't help but admire Ani's restraint, though part of him felt irritated by Robin's persistence.

It was obvious that Ani had little interest in him, yet Robin continued to hover around her, seemingly blind to her indifference.

Adam's thoughts were interrupted as the homeroom teacher entered the class, prompting Robin to finally return to his seat.

The lessons began, but Adam found his focus drifting back to Ani. He stole glances at her throughout the class, noticing how deeply absorbed she seemed in the lecture, her attention unwavering as she took detailed notes.

The way she carried herself—focused, poised, unbothered by distractions—only deepened Adam's admiration for her.

When the bell rang, signaling the start of lunch, the teacher dismissed the class, and a group of Adam's friends approached him. "Adam, are you eating alone again?" one of them teased, knowing he often preferred solitude during lunch.

Adam merely shrugged, pulling out his lunch box. Just as he was about to leave for his usual quiet spot, he noticed Robin heading back toward Ani, his face lighting up as if he had a plan.

Adam clenched his jaw, a flicker of frustration crossing his face. Not again, he thought, resisting the urge to intervene.

Robin approached Ani with a confident stride, his voice brimming with enthusiasm. "Ani, we have a meeting with the Student Council. We should head there now."

Ani looked up at him, her expression neutral as she nodded.

Without another word, she gathered her documents from her bag and walked alongside Robin, heading toward the meeting room.

Watching her leave, Adam sighed. He quietly left the classroom, his frustration evident as he made his way to his secluded lunch spot, away from the bustling crowd.

---

In the meeting room, Sakura, the Student Council President, stood waiting. She greeted Ani with a warm smile. "Ani, how are you feeling today?"

Ani returned the greeting with a polite nod, her expression composed as ever. "I'm fine, thank you. Can we begin the meeting?"

Sakura chuckled softly, admiring Ani's no-nonsense attitude. "Of course, let's get started." She gestured for Ani to present her work.

With quiet efficiency, Ani distributed her documents to the council members, guiding them through her meticulously prepared plans for the upcoming Annual Sports Festival.

Her presentation was thorough, covering each aspect of the event with a level of detail and precision that left the council members deeply impressed.

Ani's confidence shone as she outlined strategies, budgets, and schedules, her voice steady and clear.

Several of the boys in the room exchanged glances, clearly captivated by Ani's intelligence and beauty.

To them, she was the "Ice Queen"—aloof, untouchable, and fiercely talented. Her appearance, with her striking silver-white hair and the effortless grace with which she conducted herself, only added to her allure.

When she finished, Sakura nodded approvingly, a hint of admiration in her eyes. "Ani, you've done a fantastic job. We trust you with these responsibilities because you handle everything with such perfection."

Ani simply nodded, accepting the praise with her usual humility. She didn't crave recognition; her motivation stemmed purely from a commitment to excellence.

Behind her, Robin sat watching, captivated. He'd been trying for days to win her favor, but the more he observed her, the more he realized he was the one growing more and more impressed.

Though he knew Ani rarely gave him a second thought, he couldn't shake the encouragement his mind had given him: to stay close to Ani, to win her over somehow. He told himself that someday, maybe, Ani would recognize his feelings.

As the council members wrapped up the meeting, Sakura turned to Ani once more, her tone warm. "Ani, I know we've asked before, but I'll say it again. Would you consider joining the Student Council permanently?"

Ani looked at her, her expression firm but respectful. "I appreciate the offer, but I'll have to politely decline."

Sakura nodded, a smile playing on her lips. "I respect your decision, Ani."

As Sakura concluded the meeting, she addressed the other students. "If anyone has questions or concerns about the documents, now's the time."

But no one raised their hand; everyone seemed more than satisfied with Ani's thorough planning.

Her work had been precise, budget-friendly, and impressively comprehensive.

"Alright then," Sakura announced. "We'll implement this plan for the Annual Sports Festival. I'll personally assign tasks based on this layout."

She glanced at Ani with a warm smile. "Ani, you've done a fantastic job, and I'd usually assign you a task, but given you've been unwell, I'll exempt you from additional responsibilities this time."

Ani nodded, bowing her head slightly. "Thank you, Sakura."

With that, the council members began to disperse, a few girls approaching Ani to congratulate her on her successful presentation.

Ani accepted their congratulations graciously, her head inclined respectfully as she acknowledged their words.

As the room cleared, Robin approached Ani, his face serious. "Ani, I need to talk to you."

She raised an eyebrow, her expression curious. "Go ahead."

Robin hesitated, glancing around. "Not here. I'd like to talk… privately."

Ani sighed, her patience wearing thin. "There's no one here, Robin."

Blushing, he stammered, "No, I mean… meet me alone after school. In the school backyard."

With that, he left the room, leaving Ani perplexed. What's gotten into him? she wondered, feeling a sense of dread at the thought of whatever he wanted to discuss. But for now, she pushed the matter aside.

Returning to her classroom, Ani scanned the room, searching for Adam, only to realize he still hadn't arrived.

Just then, Monica called her over, and Ani joined her friend, sharing a quiet lunch together.