"She wants to be friends. She doesn't want to date me," Matthew said calmly.
He didn't look up, his voice steady as he flipped a page in his book, his left elbow resting on the table, his head supported by his hand like the topic didn't matter.
Philip went quiet.
Felix's eyes widened.
"Damn," Felix said slowly, leaning forward, confusion written all over his face. "Who wants to be friends like that?"
"Oh, she got interested in my personality," Matthew continued, tone cool, almost indifferent. "Wanted to know me more… like a puzzle. So now she wants to be friends."
A small pause.
"Just friends."
The page turned.
Silence.
Philip and Felix both stared at him, mouths slightly open.
"…Oh," Philip finally managed, blinking. "Well… she is indeed unique."
"Who the hell kisses their friends and acts that possessive?" Felix added, frowning, clearly trying to process it. "Does she want to be friends with benefits or what?"
Philip burst out laughing at that.
Matthew rolled his eyes, not even sparing them a glance.
"Can you give me your phone, Matthew?" Felix said suddenly, leaning over the desk. "I want to make a call. My phone's off—Philip forgot his in the hostel."
Matthew didn't bother questioning it.
He simply lifted his pen and pointed toward his bag.
Felix grinned immediately.
"Nice."
He reached over, unzipped the bag, and pulled out the phone, already unlocking it like he owned the place.
Philip leaned closer, watching lazily.
Felix opened the message app and quickly sent himself a message, so he can save Matthew's number. A satisfied smirk tugged at his lips
But just as he was about to lock the phone—
Something caught his eye.
A pinned contact.
"Do Not Disturb 1."
Felix paused.
Curiosity flickered across his face.
He tapped it.
The messages loaded.
His eyes moved quickly across the screen, the casual tone, the way the other person texted.
He didn't need long.
It's her.
Ava.
A subtle glint passed through his eyes.
Without saying anything, he typed quickly—
Bring drinks and snacks.
Sent.
He locked the phone immediately after and slipped it back into Matthew's bag like nothing happened.
Ava really knows how to get her hands on the good stuff, Felix thought, leaning back casually. The kind that's hard to buy…
He smirked slightly.
And who knows… maybe she won't even see the message in time and Matthew won't know and even if she see it he is helping them get closer.
"Have you made your call?" Philip asked, glancing at him.
Felix shook his head.
"Nope. I just wanted to message myself with Matthew's number so I can get it."
Philip blinked—then sat up straight dramatically.
"Damn, it's true?" he said, placing a hand over his chest. "I really don't have Matthew's number."
He turned to Matthew, looking personally betrayed.
"Wow, Matthew. What a betrayal. We—your sweet dorm roommates—don't even have your number. So sad."
Matthew shrugged slightly, still not looking up from his book.
Meanwhile — Rooftop
The wind moved lazily across the rooftop, carrying faint sounds from below.
Jane stood by the railing, both hands resting on it as she looked down at the school grounds, completely at ease.
Behind her, Jordan stood close—too close.
His chest pressed lightly against her back, one arm wrapped around her waist, holding her in place as his head rested against her neck. His fingers idly played with strands of her hair while she talked, completely unbothered by the proximity and he listened.
Luna sat a short distance away on the railing, one leg crossed over the other, her attention fully on her phone.
Every now and then, she glanced sideways at the pair with visible annoyance.
Like they were an eyesore.
Which they were.
The rooftop door pushed open.
Ava stepped in, dragging Jake behind her by his arm.
Jake stumbled slightly before she let go, dropping him like he weighed nothing.
He stayed on the ground for a second, clearly not in the mood to move.
Ava walked past him without a glance, one hand settling on her waist as she exhaled lightly.
"How did your mission go?" Jane asked, not bothering to turn around.
Jordan didn't react at all, still buried in Jane's hair.
"What happened to Jake?" Luna asked, finally looking up from her phone, her gaze flicking toward the boy on the ground.
Ava ran a hand through her hair, slightly messy from earlier, her expression somewhere between annoyed and thoughtful.
"Too many questions," she muttered.
She tilted her head slightly, rolling her shoulders as if shaking off the tension.
"Jake is just being Jake."
She clicked her tongue softly.
"As for my mission…"
A pause.
"Matthew—dude is on his period."
Luna raised a brow.
Jane's lips twitched slightly.
"One moment he's sweet," Ava continued, her tone laced with mild frustration, "the next he's moody. Like, damn."
She sighed, dragging her fingers through her hair again.
"And I don't even know why."
"Have you tried noticing when he gets moody?" Jake asked, still lying flat on the ground, one arm thrown over his eyes like he had given up on life.
Ava didn't even look at him.
"Like—do you notice when and why?" he continued, shifting slightly. "What makes him just… switch? What's the catalyst?"
Jordan finally pulled back from Jane, his hand sliding away from her waist as he straightened.
He turned to face Ava properly, his expression more thoughtful now.
Ava narrowed her eyes slightly, already reaching into her skirt pocket. She pulled out a pack of cigarettes, tapping it lightly against her palm.
"Always when the conversation is about to end," she said, slipping one between her lips, "or when I'm about to leave to come talk to you guys."
She paused, then added calmly—
"He's definitely not angry because I'm leaving and he miss me. I know when not to be delulu."
She tucked the pack back into her skirt.
Luna smiled faintly, finally locking her phone and setting it aside.
"So you're saying everything is normal," she said, tilting her head, "then the moment you leave—or come back to talk again—he gets moody. Like… distant?"
"She just said that," Jake muttered, pushing himself up into a sitting position.
Ava ignored them completely and walked over to Jane.
Jane didn't even look at her—just reached into her own pocket, pulled out a lighter, and flicked it open.
A soft flame lit up between them.
Ava leaned in slightly, letting the tip of the cigarette catch fire before straightening, taking a slow drag.
"Shut up, Jake." Luna said
Smoke curled from her lips as she exhaled.
"This morning—you and Matthew were normal, right?" Luna continued, her tone sharper now. "You gave him a drink, but he didn't drink it. He gave it to his friend."
She paused briefly.
Ava glanced at her.
Luna's smile deepened slightly.
"When he was about to drink it," she added, "I saw him looking outside. That was when you and Jake were talking."
Ava stilled for a second.
"Then he threw the drink to his friend." Luna added
Jordan eyes flickered.
"Does he get moody anytime you get close to Jake?" she asked, finally turning her head slightly.
Ava scoffed, exhaling another stream of smoke.
"Nope. Always the same attitude," she said flatly. "Definitely not jealous."
Jake sat up straighter at that, immediately offended.
"I don't like Ava, what the—"
Ava didn't even let him finish.
She raised her hand and showed him the middle finger without looking.
Jordan let out a quiet breath, rubbing the back of his neck as he thought it through.
"He isn't jealous," he said slowly. "It's pride."
Ava glanced at him.
"When you were close to Jake before," Jordan continued, "you said you wanted to chase him. So he didn't feel anything."
He shifted his weight slightly.
"But now… you say you want to be his friend."
A pause.
"At the same time, you're still close to Jake—or any other guy."
His gaze stayed steady on her.
"To him, it looks like you found someone new… and now you're keeping him as backup."
The rooftop went quiet for a beat.
Ava's expression didn't change much—but her eyes sharpened slightly.
"I see," she said after a moment, her voice lower now.
She took another drag, then flicked the ash off the edge.
"Well, it all started when I overheard him talking with his friends," she continued. "He said he saw me as someone who could chase all his admirers away."
Her lips curved faintly, but there was no humor in it.
"That's why he keeps me at bay."
She tilted her head slightly.
"So why the hell is he mad I talked to Jake?"
Another drag.
"Then I confronted him," she added, waving the cigarette lightly. "Told him I wanted to be his friend and—"
She paused mid-sentence.
Her eyes shifted slightly as something clicked.
"Oh."
Flashback
"I talked to my friend Jake, and I came to a conclusion…"
Ava's voice echoed lightly in her memory, casual, almost playful.
"I'm in love with your personality and want to know more—bla bla bla…"
Matthew's voice overlapped, calm, unreadable—
"Did your friend Jake tell you that…?"
The rest blurred.
End of flashback
Ava blinked, skipping past the rest of it.
"...I see," she muttered, more to herself this time.
She exhaled slowly, smoke drifting into the air.
"Now I get why he's acting more distant than before."
The others watched her quietly.
"It's more like he thinks I'm wasting his time," she continued. "Playing with him."
She shrugged lightly.
"To sum it up so you people understand…"
A faint smirk tugged at her lips.
"I look like a playgirl who just wants to bed him and leave."
She tapped the cigarette.
"And the cool prince hates mortals like me. He's seen too many."
Luna let out a soft, amused laugh.
"That's… one way to explain it."
Ava ignored her.
"I can be anything," she said calmly. "But I don't go back on my word. Most of the time."
A small pause.
"I'm trustworthy."
Jane glanced at her, unimpressed.
"Even you don't believe that."
Ava didn't respond.
Her phone buzzed.
The sound cut cleanly through the air.
She pulled it out casually—
Then froze.
Her eyes widened slightly as she read the message.
No hesitation.
She turned and ran.
The rooftop door slammed shut behind her.
The others stared after her.
Jake blinked.
"…What just happened?"
Jake clicked his tongue
Then gagged again, his whole body jerking slightly as the taste hit him all over again.
"Are you pregnant?" Luna asked dryly, not even looking up from her phone.
"I wish I was," Jake croaked, clutching his throat like he had just survived something traumatic. "Anything would be better than eating Ava cooking he thought"
He gagged again, bending forward.
"I need to wash my mouth, damn it—!"
Without waiting for a response, he shot to his feet and bolted toward the door, nearly slipping as he ran out of the rooftop.
The door slammed behind him.
Jane and Jordan didn't even react.
They had already gone back to hugging each other, like nothing else existed—Jane leaning against the railing again while Jordan slipped back into place behind her, arms wrapping around her waist naturally.
"Damn, get a room," Luna snapped, finally looking up, clearly irritated.
Jane smiled faintly, tilting her head as Jordan brushed his lips lightly against her cheek.
"Not everything is R18, Luna," she said calmly. "We're just showing love."
Jordan hummed in agreement, his chin resting on her shoulder.
"If you were in a relationship, you'd understand."
Luna rolled her eyes so hard it was almost dramatic.
"Who knows," Jane added casually, glancing toward the door Ava ran through. "If Ava manages to date Matthew, we could go on a double date."
Jordan smirked slightly.
"Jake and you can join as the third wheels. You know… to feel seen."
"I hate you guys I'm going to wash my eyes from your scene," Luna said flatly, already turning away.
She slid off the railing and walked toward the exit without another word.
Back in the classroom
Felix tapped his fingers impatiently against the desk, his leg bouncing slightly under the table.
"Damn, why are they not here yet?" he muttered, glancing toward the door for the hundredth time.
Philip didn't even bother looking up.
"You do realize school isn't over yet," he said lazily. "This is a free period. Just wait another five… or two minutes."
Felix clicked his tongue again, about to complain
When noise erupted outside the classroom.
Voices.
Sharp. Loud.
Both of them looked up.
At the doorway
Ella stood there with her group making five , blocking the entrance completely.
Her arms were crossed, posture straight, chin slightly lifted as she stared down the hallway like she owned it.
Ava had just reached the stairs.
She paused mid-step, lifting her gaze.
Their eyes met.
"I knew it," Ella said, her voice dripping with mockery. "When my friend told me you went to buy something… I knew you were trying to buy something to win Matthew again."
She tilted her head slightly, a cold smile forming.
"Can you be any more desperate?"
Ava didn't respond.
Her gaze moved lazily across the group.
Five girls.
Standing too stiff.
Too coordinated.
Some of them had their hands hidden behind their backs.
Ava's eyes narrowed slightly.
Then—
She rolled her eyes.
And kept walking up the stairs.
Like they didn't exist.
That was enough.
Three of the girls stepped forward immediately.
Buckets in hand.
Before anyone could react—
They tipped them forward.
Dirty water came crashing down.
One after another.
But Ava moved.
Fast.
She stepped back, pivoting smoothly, avoiding most of it—
But not all .
The water splashed across the floor, some of it catching the edge of her shoes.
Silence.
Then—
"Oops," one of the girls said, covering her mouth dramatically. "Sorry. This floor is for Class Two only—we're supposed to be cleaning which we are doing."
Another one smirked.
" this would be avoided if you stay in your class sigh We did warn you. So don't blame us."
The third girl didn't even bother pretending.
She tossed the empty bucket toward Ava—
It hit the wall beside her with a loud clang before dropping to the ground.
"Oops hand slipped," she repeated, laughing.
The others joined in.
Ella chuckled softly, arms still folded, watching it all with satisfaction.
"Luna isn't here," she said calmly. "So you don't have any reason to be visiting here."
Her eyes hardened.
"If not for you and Luna , I would still be in the same study group as Matthew."she thought
A flicker of resentment flashed through her gaze.
"Get lost, Ava."
For a second—
Nothing happened.
Then Ava lifted her hand slowly, running her fingers through her slightly damp hair.
A soft laugh left her lips.
Low.
Amused.
It didn't match the situation at all.
She tilted her head slightly, her hazel-blue eyes sharpening as they locked onto Ella and the others.
The air shifted.
"Do you want to die so badly?" Ava asked quietly.
Not loud.
Not angry.
Just—
Cold.
Controlled.
And somehow, far more dangerous than shouting.
Ella frowned, her brows pulling together as Ava's calmness got under her skin.
"What are you going to do—beat me?" she scoffed, lifting her chin slightly. "You're such a tyrant. No wonder you've been put in your place."
She took a step forward, her voice rising just enough for the people nearby to hear.
"It's all over the school—you were beaten and hooked to a tree branch by your collar." Her lips curled in disgust. "How embarrassing."
A few students nearby slowed down, pretending not to listen—but not leaving either.
Ella folded her arms tighter.
"You seriously have the nerve to show your face after embarrassing the school like that?" she continued coldly. "Disgusting. Just get lost."
Her eyes swept over Ava from head to toe.
"Daddy and mommy's money would cover your whole life. You're already useless already."
Silence followed.
Ava didn't move immediatel she smirked knowing she was talking about how Mattew hooked her by the collar to the tree they didn't know it was Matthew and rumors twisted that she was beaten too how stupid.
She laughed.
Soft.
Genuine.
Like she had just heard something amusing instead of insulting.
"How funny," Ava said lightly, tilting her head. "Am I supposed to be sad over some words?"
She took a step forward.
Slow. Unhurried.
Her gaze slid over Ella like she was barely worth focusing on.