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She recited a poem about stars, about being a small thing in a vast universe, and about the courage it takes to shine anyway. Her voice cracked once, but she kept going.
"Hey," he said, rubbing the back of his neck. "That poem. The part about the stars… that was really something."
"It's raining."
But this year felt different. This year, there was Arga.
When she finished, the applause surprised her. But what surprised her more was Arga, waiting by the door afterward. cewek sma
Maya forgot how to breathe. "Thanks."
"The weather is hot."
They both giggled, and for a moment, Maya forgot the weight of an upcoming physics exam, the quiet pressure from her mom to get into a good university, and the way her heart raced whenever Arga walked past her classroom.