Between Bruises and Butterflies

CUT TO: SIENNA'S BEDROOM — NIGHT

The room is suffocatingly quiet, save for the ticking of the clock. Sienna lies curled beneath her blanket, her body trembling from fever and exhaustion. Her face is blotchy from crying, pillow soaked with tears. The air smells faintly of medicine, but nothing soothes the ache in her chest.

Her phone lies face down on the nightstand, screen dark. She hasn't turned it on since the breakup. She can't bear to.

SIENNA: (hoarse whisper) I'm sorry...

Her vision blurs as she clutches her necklace — the tiny pendant Damien gave her. She grips it so tightly it leaves an imprint on her skin.

Her fever burns, but the ache in her heart burns hotter.

CUT TO: DAMIEN'S ROOM — NIGHT
Damien lies awake, staring at the ceiling, heart pounding like a war drum. His room, once a place of escape, now feels like a cage.

His father watches him like a hawk, ensuring he doesn't leave. His phone buzzes with messages from teammates, but none from Sienna.

He scrolls through their old texts — the ones filled with her sarcastic replies and his endless flirting. His thumb hovers over her contact.

DAMIEN: (softly) Why aren't you texting me?

He grips his chest, feeling like he's being crushed from the inside out.

CUT TO: SIENNA'S HOUSE — DAY
Jayjay stands at her door, knocking frantically.

JAYJAY: Sienna, open up! You've been gone for days!

Inside, Sienna shivers beneath her blanket, eyes glassy. She barely registers the sound. Jayjay, panicked, calls her mom, and minutes later, he's by her bedside, practically begging her to drink water.

JAYJAY: (voice cracking) Why are you doing this to yourself?

Sienna sips the water, tears spilling over.

SIENNA: (choked whisper) I promised... I promised I wouldn't ruin him.

Jayjay clenches his jaw, heart breaking for her.

JAYJAY: (softly) But you're ruining yourself...

CUT TO: CLASSROOM — MORNING
The classroom buzzes with chatter, but it all fades when Sienna finally steps inside. She looks... hollow. Dark circles shadow her eyes, and her usually fiery presence is reduced to something fragile, like she might shatter if someone breathed too hard.

Damien's head snaps up the second she walks in. His heart jumps to his throat — relief, confusion, and anger twisting inside him like barbed wire.

But she doesn't look at him.

TEACHER: Castillo, you'll sit here from now on.

The teacher points to a seat far from Damien, beside Jayjay.

DAMIEN: (frowning) Wait, what? Why?

The room goes silent. Sienna freezes, fingers tightening around her bag strap.

TEACHER: It's a seating change. No questions.

Damien pushes his chair back, the legs scraping loudly. He looks directly at Sienna, voice low and sharp.

DAMIEN: Did you ask for this?

Her throat closes up. She grips her desk like it's the only thing keeping her upright, and for the first time ever, she refuses to meet his eyes.

SIENNA: (barely audible) No...

Her voice is so broken that it physically hurts him to hear. But before he can say anything, she sits down — as far from him as possible.

Damien watches her for the rest of class, his chest caving with each passing second she doesn't look back.

And Sienna?

She stares at her notebook, biting her lip so hard it bleeds — because if she cries, she won't stop.

TO BE CONTINUED....