Euphony Trio: The Missing Piece

Sunny returned to school that week, the chill of autumn sharper now, matching the undercurrent of unease she carried with her. She smiled as always, radiating her usual cheer, but to those who looked closely, there was something unmistakably off. Her golden eyes, typically bright with optimism, seemed dimmer, and her laugh felt hollow. She had a lot to catch up on after her absence—assignments, band rehearsals, and the unspoken task of restoring the image of the ever-energetic Sunny that everyone expected.

The collaboration with Zane was nearing its conclusion, and though she worked hard to focus on the project, the thought of it ending gnawed at her. This was a one-time gig, after all. Zane was a solo artist, and once this was done, he'd go back to his own path. The idea of saying goodbye left a weight in her chest she couldn't shake.

At school, her classmates began to notice the cracks in her facade. Whispers followed her in the hallways, subtle at first but growing louder with each passing day. Speculation and rumors spread like wildfire.

"What's wrong with her?" "Did you hear she's failing?" "Maybe she's just overwhelmed with her band stuff. She thinks she's so special."

Sunny kept her head high, pretending not to hear, but every word stung. She clung to her routine, to the stability of her rehearsals with the band, but even there, her energy wasn't the same. Laura and Axel exchanged worried glances, but neither pressed her, sensing she wasn't ready to talk. Zane, in his own way, tried to cheer her up during rehearsals, throwing in his usual dramatic flair and teasing remarks. She appreciated the effort, but even his vibrant energy couldn't chase away the shadows.

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It happened after school one day, when most students had already left. Sunny lingered by her locker, organizing her books and mentally preparing for another long evening of catching up on work. She was so focused that she didn't notice the group of girls approaching until it was too late.

"Hey, Sunshine," one of them sneered, leaning casually against the lockers. The saccharine tone of her voice sent a chill down Sunny's spine.

Sunny turned, her cheerful mask firmly in place. "Hi. Can I help you with something?"

The group closed in, their smirks sharp and predatory. "We were just wondering," another girl began, "how it feels to be so... perfect all the time. Must be exhausting, right?"

Sunny's smile faltered. "I'm not perfect," she said softly. "I'm just doing my best."

"Doing your best?" The first girl scoffed. "Oh, please. You think you're better than everyone else just because you're in some dumb band? Guess what? No one actually cares."

The words hit like a slap. Sunny tried to respond, but her voice caught in her throat. The girls pressed closer, their words growing sharper, more cutting.

"You're not even that talented." "The only reason people like you is because of that fake smile of yours." "Bet your bandmates are sick of you too."

Sunny's hands trembled as she clutched her books to her chest, her vision blurring with unshed tears. She had never been treated like this before. The cheerful persona she'd built, the armor that had protected her for so long, shattered under the weight of their words. For the first time, she felt completely powerless.

She didn't remember how she got away. Maybe they grew bored and left, or maybe someone interrupted them. All she knew was that she ended up sitting on the floor of an empty hallway, her knees drawn to her chest, tears streaming down her face. The weight of everything she'd been carrying finally came crashing down, and she let herself break, alone in the quiet shadows of the school.