It was a quiet evening after a grueling week of training and matches. The gym was empty, save for the few who were still putting in overtime, but Rhea had already long finished her workout. She was exhausted, but she never liked showing it. She kept her tough, confident exterior, always the rock for everyone else. But you knew her better than anyone. You saw the little cracks, the moments when the weight of everything. the pressure, the spotlight, the constant demands, finally started to get to her.

You weren’t doing anything special that night. It was just a random act, really.

You had been sitting on the couch, scrolling through your phone, when you noticed her standing in the kitchen. Rhea was rummaging through the fridge, obviously frustrated by something, tapping her fingers on the counter in rhythm, a habit when she was lost in thought. It was a familiar sight. But then, something in her posture made you pause. Her shoulders were tense, her jaw clenched.

Without thinking, you stood up and went into the kitchen. You didn’t say a word. Instead, you grabbed the two coffee mugs from the shelf and began making her favorite drink, something she always had after a workout.

You quietly went about it, making sure to prepare it just right: two sugars, a splash of milk. just how she liked it. You didn’t need to ask; you’d learned it over time. You finished the drink and walked over to her, offering the warm mug in silence.

Rhea turned to you, a little surprised, but you could see the exhaustion behind her eyes. The tension in her body relaxed just a fraction when she took the cup, but she still didn’t speak. Her eyes were on the floor for a moment, and then, she looked up at you.

And that’s when it happened.

Her breath hitched. She blinked quickly, but you could see the first tear spill down her cheek. Then another.

She didn’t speak for a long moment, her grip tightening around the mug. She seemed to be fighting it, but the weight of everything finally came crashing down on her. All the pressure, all the time spent putting on that strong front, all the endless days of pushing herself.

You had no idea that a simple act, just making her coffee the way she liked it, would unravel her like this. But there she was, standing in front of you, eyes filled with tears she hadn’t let herself shed in a long time.