Beyond The Unwritten Horizon

The night settled softly over the Clark household after a quiet dinner at the table. Mrs. Clark had made a light meal, and the atmosphere remained calm—no tension, no awkward silences. It almost felt like any normal day, and yet, Alina couldn’t shake the feeling that nothing about today had been normal.

After dinner, Allen excused himself politely and returned to his room to study. Alina, too, quietly walked into the guest room, which she was currently calling her own. She sat down on the bed, still in her uniform, her school bag leaning against the wall.

Today had been...unimaginable.

Not in a terrible way. But in a way she hadn’t expected. From bumping into someone at the bicycle parking lot, being misunderstood all day, getting punished, and then discovering she would be sharing a roof with that very same person—it felt surreal.

She pulled her blanket over herself and stared at the ceiling, whispering softly, “Why did so many things happen today that I never even imagined?”

Sleep eventually found her, but the thoughts stayed tucked somewhere behind her eyelids.

The next morning, Mrs. Clark brought up something for breakfast.

“Allen, you and Alina should go to school together. It’s easier if you both head out at the same time,” she said with a warm smile.

Allen, munching his toast, paused and glanced at Alina.

Before he could say anything, Alina shook her head gently. “Thank you, Mrs. Clark, but I’ll go by myself. I don’t want to cause any trouble.”

She gave Allen a quick glance before continuing, “I’ll take the bus. It’s more convenient for me.”

Allen didn’t argue. Maybe it really was better that way—for now. He finished his breakfast and headed out with his bicycle, while Alina left shortly after to catch her bus.

School started with a regular schedule. The academic year had officially begun. Teachers began their lessons, setting the tone for the term, and students started noting down chapters, exam patterns, and upcoming assignments. The classroom was livelier than the previous day, filled with chatter, curiosity, and early excitement.

During the lunch break, Alina and Grace sat together under the shade of a tree near the school canteen. Grace opened her lunchbox and gave Alina a warm smile.

“So, how’s it going so far? Feeling less like an Allen today?” she asked teasingly.

Alina laughed. “A little. Everyone seems nicer today. Or maybe I’m just getting used to the noise.”

Grace nodded in agreement. “The food here’s not that bad either. I mean, it’s not home-cooked, but it won’t poison us.”

They giggled.

Grace leaned in and said, “Hey, you know, Allen doesn’t usually talk to many people. He’s kind of quiet. So if he was... well, rude yesterday, don’t take it personally.”

Alina blinked. “I don’t. I think we just got off on the wrong foot.”

“I think so too,” Grace said thoughtfully. “But hey, now that you’re here, we can make school more interesting.”

They smiled at each other—something about that conversation made them feel more like friends than just classmates.

After lunch, the bell rang, and everyone returned to their seats.

The biology teacher, Ms. Bennett, walked in with a large stack of printed sheets and a spark in her eyes.

“Alright, class,” she said, placing the sheets on the desk. “We’re starting something exciting. I’m assigned a group biology play project.”