The hallway was quieter than the cafeteria.
But not peaceful.
Liam walked beside me, unusually serious for once.
"…lstill can't believe you did that," he said.
"Did what?"
"Spilled a drink on a guy who looks like he owns half the school."
"He'll survive."
"Will we survive?"
I glanced at him.
"…You're dramatic."
"I'm realistic."
We turned the corner,Then stopped. Three boys. Leaning against the wall.
Waiting. I didn't recognize them. But their expressions?Yeah.Not friendly.
Liam whispered...
"…I don't like this."
"Stay behind me," I said calmly.
"WHAT..... no, I'll protect you"
"Liam."
"…Okay, I'll stay behind you."
One of them stepped forward.
"You're the new girl, right?"
I didn't answer. He smirked.
"You've got attitude."
"I've got places to be."
"Not yet."
Another one laughed.
"First day and already making scenes in the cafeteria?"
Liam whispered—
"…I take back what I said earlier. We're not surviving."
I shifted slightly. Calm. But ready.
"I don't have time for this."
"Make time."
He reached out, Not touching yet. But close enough. Too close.
Then,
A hand grabbed his wrist. Firm.Sudden.
The boy froze. So did the others.
"…I think she said she's busy."
Adrian.
His voice was light.
Almost lazy.But his grip?Tight. Controlled. Dangerous.The boy tried to pull back. But didn't work.
"…Let go."
Adrian tilted his head slightly.
"Why?"
Silence.The air shifted again.But this time,It wasn't tension.It was pressure.
Liam whispered behind me,
"…I like him again."
"Quiet."
"I'm appreciating protection"
"Quiet."
Adrian finally let go.The boy stepped back immediately, rubbing his wrist.
"…This doesn't concern you."
Adrian smiled.
"Everything concerns me when it's annoying."
"That girl—"
Adrian cut him off.
"Is not your problem."
His tone didn't change.Still casual.
But the meaning?Clear.The boys hesitated.Then one scoffed.
"Whatever."
They stepped back.
"Stay out of trouble."
I raised an eyebrow.
"You came to me."
He didn't reply.
They walked away.Silence.For a
moment.Then.Liam stepped forward dramatically.
"I KNEW IT."
I looked at him.
"…What now?"
"You're secretly important."
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
"YES."
I sighed.
"…You're exhausting."
"And you're suspicious."
Adrian was still there.Hands in pockets.
Like nothing just happened.I looked at him.
"…You're breaking your own rules again."
He shrugged.
"Rules are flexible."
"You said not to get involved."
"I said you shouldn't."
"That includes you."
"No, it doesn't."
I crossed my arms.
"…Hypocrite."
"Smart."
"You're annoying."
"You missed me."
"I didn't."
"You did."
"I didn't."
"You definitely did."
I stepped closer slightly.
Lower voice,
"…Stop calling me that."
"Adopted?"
I glared.
He smirked.
"Make me."
I kicked his leg again.
"Aaawwwwww"
Liam clapped once.
"YES. VIOLENCE IS BACK."
"Stay out of it."
"I can't. This is my favorite show."
Adrian straightened.
Still looking at me.
But this time,There was something quieter behind his eyes.
"…Be careful," he said.
I frowned slightly.
"That doesn't sound like you."
"It's not."
A pause.
Then
Back to normal.
"Also, try not to embarrass me again."
I stared at him.
"You deserved it."
"I did not."
"You did."
"I didn't."
"You fell emotionally."
"…That doesn't make sense."
"It does to me."
Liam whispered,
"…I don't understand anything but I support her."
"Good," I said.
Adrian shook his head slightly.Then turned and Walking away.But just before he left,"…I'm serious," he said without looking back. "Don't pick fights you don't understand."
I didn't reply.
Liam leaned closer.
"…Okay, serious question."
"What?"
"Do you two hate each other… or—"
"Yes."
"That's not an answer."
"It is."
We started walking again.
"…He helped you," Liam added.
"I noticed."
"You didn't say thank you."
"I don't need to."
"…You're scary."
"Smart."
But as I walked,I slowed slightly.Just for a second.Because I knew,That wasn't just interference.That wasn't just annoyance.
That was protection.And he broke his own rule for it.
Aurthor's POV:
The final bell rang like a warning.Not freedom.Not peace.Just… the beginning of chaos. Students flooded out of the building in waves, laughing, shouting, complaining. The front gate quickly turned into a crowded mess of noise and movement. And right in the middle of it
Rifat was waiting. Leaning against the metal gate like he had nowhere else to be. Arms crossed. Expression unreadable. Watching. Specifically Watching her.
Ruz stepped out a few seconds later, bag slung over one shoulder, walking like she didn't have a single problem in life.
She saw him immediately. Of course she did. Her steps didn't slow. Didn't stop.
She walked straight toward the gate like he didn't exist. Bad decision.
"Oi."
She kept walking.
"…Hoy, Miss. Adopted."
She stopped.
Slowly turned her head.
"…You really want to die today?" Ruz said calmly.
Rifat pushed himself off the gate, unfazed. "You left earlier."
"You survived," she replied. "Be grateful."
"I wasn't done talking."
"You were done embarrassing yourself."
A few nearby students slowed down. Not obvious. But enough. They knew. Something was about to happen.
Rifat took a step closer. "You think you're funny."
"I know I am."
"You poured a drink on someone."
"He needed a personality upgrade."
"That was my friend."
"Then upgrade your taste too."
A sharp pause.
Someone behind them whispered, "It's starting…"
Rifat tilted his head slightly, eyes narrowing. "You're getting bold."
Ruz shifted her bag higher on her shoulder. "You're getting repetitive."
"Oh, so now you critique me?"
"No," she said. "I'm fixing you."
A few students choked back laughter.
Rifat exhaled slowly. "You've been talking a lot since morning."
"You've been falling a lot since morning."
"..th....That was one time."
"Gravity disagrees."
A louder reaction this time.
Someone actually clapped.
Rifat shot a glare toward the crowd. Silence instantly.
Then he looked back at her.
"…You enjoy this."
"A lot," she said without hesitation.
He stepped closer again. Too close now.
"Careful," he said quietly. "You're attracting attention."
Ruz leaned in slightly too. Not backing down.
"Careful," she echoed. "You're losing again."
That hit.Hard.
From behind , "OOOOHH... "
Rifat didn't even look. "Say one more word and I'll throw you out of the gate."
Silence.Immediate.
Ruz smiled faintly. "You threaten strangers now? That's new."
"I don't need to threaten you," he said. "You do that to yourself."
"Explain."
"You don't think before acting."
"And yet," she said, tilting her head, "I'm still winning."
Another pause. Tension tightened.
Then.Rifat reached out suddenly, and flicked her forehead. Light.But deliberate.
Ruz froze.
"…You just touched me."
"You just poured a drink on my friend."
"That was different."
"How?"
"He deserved it."
"And you don't?"
She stared at him for a second.
Then,Without warning She stepped forward and shoved him.
Not hard enough to hurt.
But enough that he actually stumbled back a step. Again.Silence.Then,
"…HE FELL AGAIN."
"I DIDN'T FALL". Rifat snapped immediately, regaining his balance.
Ruz folded her arms. "Balance issue."
"I hate you."
"You're obsessed with me."
"I'm concerned for public safety."
"You're the danger," she said.
"You started it."
"You exist."
That one,That one hurt.
Even the crowd reacted to that.
Rifat ran a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply. "You're impossible."
"You keep coming back."
"Because someone has to control you."
"Control me?" she repeated, amused. "Try."
Big mistake.
He stepped forward again.
She didn't move.
Now they were really close.
The air between them, Sharp.Charged.
"You think you're untouchable," Rifat said quietly.
"I know you won't touch me," she replied.
A beat.
"…Why?"
"Because you already tried," she said softly. "And lost."
That,That shut him up for half a second.
Which for him was rare.
From somewhere behind...
"…This is better than TV."
Rifat closed his eyes briefly like he was reconsidering his life choices.Then opened them again. Locked on her.
"…You're not normal."
"Finally," Ruz nodded. "You said something correct."
He huffed out a quiet laugh. "You're proud of that?"
"Very."
"…You're going to get in trouble one day."
She leaned closer slightly.
"Then you better be there," she said, voice low, "to fall again."
A pause.
Then—
Rifat laughed.
Actually laughed.
Short. Sharp. Disbelieving.
"You're insane."
"And you're still here."
"…Yeah."
"…Yeah."
For a second—
Neither of them spoke.
The crowd didn't either.
Thena
"RUZ!"
A voice cut through the moment.
Liam.
Running toward them like he just escaped something.
"I TURNED MY BACK FOR FIVE MINUTES WHY ARE YOU FIGHTING AGAIN."
Ruz didn't look away from Rifat. "He started it."
"I said one word."
"You breathed."
"I regret that."
"I don't."
Liam stopped between them, looking back and forth like a referee who didn't sign up for this.
"I'm tired," he said. "Both of you are banned from talking."
"Tell him," Ruz said.
"Tell her," Rifat said at the same time.
"I'm going home," Liam decided. "Alone. For my mental health."
Smart choice.
He left.
Immediately.
Ruz finally stepped back, adjusting her bag again. "Done?"
"For now," Rifat said.
She nodded once. "Good."
Then turned,And started walking away.
After three steps,
"Ruz."
She didn't stop.
"…Next time," he called out, "don't run."
She raised a hand slightly without turning.
"I don't run," she said.
A small pause.
Then
"People just fall behind."
And she kept walking.
Rifat watched her go. Silent. Still.
Then muttered under his breath.
"…Yeah."
A faint smile appeared.
"Clearly."