**A Sleepy Afternoon and Sweet Encounters**
Sofia, a twelve-year-old introvert girl in class seven, often found comfort in the company of her two closest friends, Daisy and Simi. She wasn't one to stand out, except perhaps for her feisty nature, hidden beneath a quiet demeanor. On one particularly exhausting day, the class was in the middle of yet another Social Studies period - one of the two back-to-back sessions with the same teacher who always seemed to stretch into their game period.
It was just after lunch, and Sofia had enjoyed the meal she brought from home. But that satisfaction came with a price - she couldn't resist the wave of sleepiness that soon followed. As the teacher droned on, the room felt heavy, and both Daisy and Simi had already dozed off. Before long, Sofia, too, succumbed to the sleep coma.
The classroom, however, wasn't silent. The boys, always whispering and snickering, were clearly up to something. It wasn't long before Sofia was startled awake by a gentle poke to her cheek. She jumped, her eyes snapping open in alarm, fearing the worst. Their Social Studies teacher was known to be strict, and Sofia worried she might have noticed her dozing off. If caught, the teacher wouldn't hesitate to call her parents. But, to her relief, it wasn't the teacher who had disturbed her - it was just her classmates laughing at how innocently she had fallen asleep.
Sofia narrowed her eyes at the boys, feigning annoyance, and playfully punched one of them on the arm. They all laughed, including a few girls who had gathered around, amused by the situation. The class quickly returned to normal, and soon enough, the bell rang, signaling the end of the period. As students flooded the corridors, Sofia, along with Daisy and Simi, headed towards their usual path home.
As they walked, Sofia noticed Parth, her brother's best friend, coming up behind her. He was three years older and about to finish his matriculation exams, but despite the age difference, they had developed a playful friendship. Sofia, however, always felt a bit tongue-tied around him. Parth was everything she admired - smart, funny, and charming. He had this effortless way of making her heart race, even when he was simply teasing her.
"Hey! Where've you been? I've been talking to you for the last five minutes, and you didn't even notice," Parth called out, playfully tapping her on the shoulder.
Sofia turned quickly, gasping at the sudden touch. "Oh, uh, sorry! I was just? heading home," she stammered, trying to smile and act normal, though her heart raced as she looked up at him.
Parth grinned, knowing he had her flustered. "Yeah, yeah. You remember my chocolates, right? It's exhausting finishing classes and walking home alone," he said, extending his hand expectantly.
Sofia rolled her eyes but couldn't help but smile. "Here, take them. But stop running into my class! People laugh at me when they see someone as crazy as you hanging around with me." She handed him the chocolates she had brought, teasing him back.
Parth laughed, his embarrassment barely hidden behind his usual charm. "You know I can't resist. I love chocolate. And you know it."
Sofia nodded, her face softening as they walked the familiar path together, their homes just a few houses apart. Although their banter was light, Sofia cherished these moments with him, even if he was just there for the sweets.
As they parted ways at the end of the street, Sofia's heart still raced, and a small smile lingered on her face. It was just another day, but somehow, every encounter with Parth felt a little more special.
