Before The World Changed
They had always been rivals.
From the moment they met in the dusty corridors of high schools, it was as if the universe had drawn a line between them—him on one side, her on the other. Both fighting, not for pride, but for something far deeper. Survival. A better life.
Aidan was the eldest of four, each sibling born exactly four years apart. Their home was always crowded, noisy, and filled with hand-me-downs and shared dreams. His father worked as a store manager in a small grocery shop, pulling long hours just to keep food on the table. Aidan never complained. He just studied harder.
Maya, on the other hand, was the second of five siblings, each spaced three years apart. Her mother worked tirelessly at a humble roadside stall, frying noodles and washing dishes until her hands cracked. Maya spent her nights helping her younger siblings with homework before studying by candlelight during frequent blackouts. She never let it slow her down.
They competed for everything—first place in class, debate competitions, even the 800-meter race during Sports Day. If Aidan won one year, Maya made sure she took the crown the next. Teachers whispered about their rivalry like it was a legend in the making.
But behind the sharp glares and sarcastic remarks, there was something else. An understanding. Maybe even respect.
High school passed in a blur of report cards, cheap shoes, and part-time jobs. Aidan folded clothes in a local mall after school. Maya served tables at a family-run café. They both pretended not to notice each other during shifts, though sometimes, when business was slow, their eyes would meet for a second too long.
Then came the university offers.
Both had dreamed of studying abroad. It was a golden ticket out of the cycle they were born into. But dreams cost money, and neither had enough.
Maya received a scholarship. Full ride. She cried alone in the storeroom behind the café when the email came through. She didn’t tell Aidan. She didn’t know how to.
Aidan didn’t get one. He was shortlisted—but with four younger siblings to care for, staying behind wasn’t a choice. It was a responsibility. He watched Maya leave from a distance, her figure small against the backdrop of the airport, carrying everything she owned in a single suitcase.
She never looked back.
And he never reached out.
