Ruz's POV
The cafeteria was louder than the hallway had been. Louder than the classroom. Louder than any place I had stood in all morning.
But this time, I did not mind.
Because there was food. Actual good food. The kind that smelled like someone had put effort into making it.
My eyes moved slowly across the counter, carefully, as if this were the most important decision of my life.
Rice meals sat in neat trays, steam curling lazily into the air. Pasta in cream sauce and tomato sauce competed for attention beside each other. Fried chicken gleamed golden brown beneath the warm lights, crispy and perfect.
Then I saw the desserts.
I stopped walking.
"…Yeah," I muttered under my breath, staring at a slice of chocolate cake that looked as though heaven had personally delivered it for me. "I like this place. I really like this place."
"OH MY GOD."
I did not turn around.
I knew that voice. I had only known its owner for approximately two hours.
"That's it," Liam continued, growing louder as he approached. "I've been replaced. Our friendship is over before it even begins."
I sighed slowly. "Go away."
"I refuse," Liam declared, suddenly appearing beside me like a stray puppy that had decided I was its new owner. "You looked at that cake with more love and affection than you've shown me during our entire friendship."
I picked up a tray without looking at him. "I met you this morning, Liam."
"And yet," he said, placing a dramatic hand over his heart, "the pain is already unbearable. The betrayal runs deep. I thought we had something special."
I carefully placed the slice of chocolate cake onto my tray with the reverence it deserved.
"This one understands me," I said. "It doesn't talk too much. It doesn't follow me around asking questions. It simply exists and brings me joy."
He clutched his chest as though I had physically wounded him.
"BETRAYAL. This is betrayal of the highest order."
I walked forward with my tray, weaving through the crowded cafeteria in search of an empty table.
He followed immediately, practically glued to my shoulder.
"Wait! Don't leave me alone in this cruel, uncaring world full of people who choose cake over friendship!"
"You're not alone," I replied flatly. "The cafeteria is full of people."
"I feel alone," he insisted dramatically. "I feel abandoned and unwanted and.."
"Eat your food," I interrupted, spotting an empty table near the window. "You'll feel better once there's something in your mouth, besides your own complaints."
We sat down.
Well, I sat down properly, placing my tray neatly on the table and arranging everything with calm precision.
Liam collapsed into the chair across from me like gravity had personally attacked him.
I picked up my fork. My first bite would be perfect. Peaceful. Sacred.
Cake.
Always cake first. Dessert was not something to save for later. Dessert was the reward for surviving the rest of the meal.
Liam froze mid motion, his fork hovering halfway to his mouth as he stared at me in horror.
"…You started with dessert," he said slowly, as if he needed confirmation that his eyes were functioning correctly.
"Yes," I replied, taking another bite without shame.
"That's illegal," he declared. "There are laws against that somewhere. I'm certain of it."
"Report me to the authorities," I said around my fork. "I'll wait."
He leaned closer across the table, lowering his voice into a loud whisper that probably carried three tables away.
"You are a dangerous person, and I did not sign up for this."
"I've been told," I said calmly, reaching for another bite.
He shook his head dramatically enough that a girl at the next table turned to stare.
"I chose the wrong friend. I made a terrible mistake. I should've sat beside someone normal."
"You chose nothing," I reminded him. "You declared yourself my friend without my consent."
"I chose everything," he shot back, pointing his fork at me accusingly. "And I stand by my choices, even the bad ones."
I took another bite of cake, letting the chocolate melt on my tongue.
Peaceful. Finally,
For approximately five seconds.
"Hey, adopted."
My fork paused midair.
Only for a second. But it was long enough for Liam to notice something was wrong.
Liam blinked, glancing past me toward the voice. "…Okay, who walks into a cafeteria and greets someone like that?"
Slowly, I looked up from my cake.
Adrian stood behind me with his tray in one hand, completely shameless.
He looked entirely unbothered, as if he had not broken the rule he himself had made this morning.
We do not know each other at school.
That was what he had said. His rule. His decision.
And now here he was.
I looked back down at my cake and took another bite deliberately, slowly, with pointed emphasis.
I was ignoring him.
Completely.
Liam leaned closer, whispering in confusion, "…Do you know him?"
"No," I answered flatly.
"Yes," Adrian said at the exact same
time, setting his tray on the table like he belonged there.
Liam's head snapped between us so quickly, I worried for his neck.
"…I'm already confused," he announced. "I've been here less than two minutes, and I already hate this feeling."
Adrian pulled out a chair and sat down without invitation. Uninvited. Unbothered.
"You're ignoring me?" he asked casually, reaching for his drink.
"Yes."
"Rude."
"Leave."
"No."
I kept eating calmly, as though he were simply another piece of cafeteria furniture.
He tapped the table lightly.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
I did not react.
He tapped again. Louder this time.
Still nothing.
"Wow," he muttered, sounding genuinely impressed. "You've improved. You used to crack after three seconds."
Liam leaned toward me again, somehow whispering and shouting simultaneously.
"…Should I leave or stay? I need guidance. I need adult supervision. I was not emotionally prepared for this.
"Stay quiet," I muttered.
"I can't promise that," he whispered back. "I have never been quiet a single day in my life. It's not in my skill set."
Adrian leaned forward slightly, lowering his voice so only I could hear him over the noise around us.
"Miss me?"
I finally looked at him.
Flat expression. Empty eyes. Nothing he could use against me.
"No."
He smirked slowly, confidently, like he had already won whatever game he thought we were playing.
"Liar."
I kicked him hard under the table.
"AaaWw…"
Adrian jerked back, grabbing his leg as genuine pain crossed his face.
A small, petty satisfaction bloomed in my chest.
Liam nearly knocked over his drink in alarm.
"VIOLENCE," he hissed. "There is violence happening, and I am a witness."
"Stay out of it," I said calmly.
"I'm emotionally invested now!" Liam protested. "I've invested in this relationship! I cannot simply stay out of it!"
Adrian rubbed his leg, glaring at me without any real anger.
"You've gotten aggressive," he accused. "You were never this aggressive before."
"You started it."
"I always start it," he admitted, and there was something almost fond in his tone.
"Exactly."
Liam looked between us like he was watching a tennis match.
"…Is this flirting or fighting?" he asked.
"Both," I answered immediately.
"I KNEW IT…."
Before Liam could continue, a shadow fell across the table.
A familiar one.
"…You again."
I looked up.
The guy from this morning stood beside our table, tray in hand, watching me with an unreadable expression.
Then his gaze shifted to Adrian.
Something passed between them. Recognition. Surprise. Something unspoken.
"You know her?" he asked carefully.
Adrian did not hesitate.
"No."
I kept my face perfectly neutral.
But Liam looked as though his brain had shattered into a thousand pieces.
"…You literally said yes earlier,"
Liam whispered, pointing accusingly at Adrian.
"Stay quiet," I warned.
"I am suffering," Liam whispered dramatically. "I genuinely did not ask for any of this."
The guy frowned slightly, eyes narrowing as he looked between Adrian and me.
"But you're sitting together."
Adrian shrugged lazily. "Free country. I can sit wherever I want."
I added calmly, "He talks too much anyway. I barely notice he's here."
Liam gasped loudly enough to attract attention from nearby tables.
"WOW. That was unnecessary."
The guy ignored him entirely, his focus remaining on me.
"You're not careful," he said quietly.
I set my fork down and met his gaze directly.
"I don't need to be."
"You think so?"
"I know so."
Silence stretched across the table, tension tightening with every passing second.
Then Adrian leaned back in his chair, watching us with clear amusement.
"What's going on between you two?"he asked casually, though it was obvious he already suspected.
The guy never looked away from me.
"She embarrassed me."
I nodded once. "He fell."
"I slipped," he corrected tightly.
"You fell."
Liam buried his face in his hands.
"NOT AGAIN," he groaned. "This is the second time today. I'm not strong enough for this." Slowly, a grin spread across Adrian's face.
Not kind of dangerous.
"…You lost," Adrian said carefully, savoring every word, "to her?"
The guy's jaw tightened. "Watch it."
"Twice?" Adrian continued. "You lost twice?"
I calmly added, "Balance issue. He should get that checked."
"STOP," Liam whispered into his palms. "I CAN'T BREATHE."
The guy exhaled sharply through his nose, still staring at me.
Then he said quietly, "You talk too much."
"You fall too much."
"DAMN," Liam wheezed, slapping the table softly. "She keeps doing it."
Adrian laughed.
"Hah….haahahahaa…."
A real laugh.
Not a smirk. Not a quiet puff of amusement through his nose.
An actual, genuine laugh.
Then he looked at me with something unexpectedly warm in his expression.
"…You're getting bold."
I tilted my head slightly, the faintest smile tugging at my lips.
"I learned from the best."
That one landed.
Liam shot upright instantly.
"OOHHHH," he shouted, pointing at Adrian. "She blamed you specifically! This is entirely your fault!"
The guy's eyes narrowed again, suspicion deepening.
Adrian paused for half a second, something flickering across his face before he recovered.
Then he smirked.
"Careful," he warned. "You're becoming embarrassing."
I stood up.
"Me?" I asked innocently.
Too innocently.
Before anyone could react, I reached across the table, grabbed his drink, and shoved it directly toward him.
Too fast.
Too careless.
A small spill splashed across the front of his white shirt, staining the fabric red.
Silence.
Beautiful, absolute silence.
Liam's jaw dropped.
"…NO WAY," he breathed. "NO WAY THAT JUST HAPPENED."
The guy blinked slowly.
Adrian looked down at his ruined shirt.
Then he looked up at me.
I met his gaze calmly. Coldly. Completely unapologetic.
"…Oops."
Another beat of silence.
Then Liam exploded.
"SHE ENDED HIM," he screamed, slamming the table. "THIS IS THE GREATEST DAY OF MY LIFE."
Adrian stared at me.
One second.
Two.
Three.
Then, impossibly, he smiled.
Not his usual smirk.
Something sharper. More dangerous.
Something that promised revenge.
"…You're dead later," he said softly, completely serious.
I stood up and grabbed my tray.
"Get in line," I replied. "There are already plenty of people ahead of you."
I looked at Liam.
"Let's go."
He stood instantly, grabbing his tray with trembling hands.
"Yes," he said quickly. "Escaping is smart. I support this decision entirely."
We walked away.
Behind me, Liam continued talking loudly enough for the entire cafeteria to hear.
"I think I just witnessed a murder," he whispered loudly. "I think I watched someone die smiling."
"You should've eaten your food," I said without looking back.
"I couldn't eat!" Liam protested.
"There was drama happening!"
Back in the cafeteria, people were still staring at us, whispering behind their hands.
Probably about me.
The new girl who had just ruined Adrian Cruz's pride and his shirt with a single drink.
Back in the table that boy still staring at us,
He wasn't laughing anymore.
His eyes moved between Adrian still sitting there in his stained shirt, still smiling faintly.
And me, walking away with Liam trailing after me like a confused duckling.
Something did not add up.
He could see it in the way Adrian looked at me.
On the way I looked at Adrian.
In the way we spoke to each other like people who had known one another for years.
Author's POV
"…You don't know her?" Rifat asked quietly.
Adrian leaned back in his chair, finally looking away from the cafeteria doors, Ruz had disappeared through.
He wiped at his stained shirt with a napkin as though none of this mattered. As though he had not just been publicly humiliated by a girl he claimed was a stranger.
"…No," he said.
But this time, there was a smile on his lips.
A real one.
Not a smirk. Not sarcasm.
Something softer.
Something dangerously close to affection.
Rifat did not believe him.
Not even a little.