I drop onto my bed again, arms stretched out.
Full.
Satisfied.
Alive.
"…I'm not moving for the next five hours," I mutter.
Behind me—
"…you say that every time you eat," Niran replies.
I turn my head slightly.
"…and I mean it every time."
"You're weak."
"I'm peaceful."
"You're useless."
"I'm resting."
He steps closer.
Of course he does.
Always closer than necessary.
"…you look too happy," he says.
I shrug.
"…my mom apologized."
A pause.
Then softer—
"…so yeah."
He doesn't joke immediately this time.
Just watches me.
"…good," he says.
I blink.
"…that's it?"
"…what, you want a speech?"
"…a little."
"…no."
I huff.
"…rude."
Then I sit up.
Look at him properly.
"…you still caused chaos at school."
He sighs immediately. "…we're doing this again?"
"Yes."
"They grabbed you."
"You nearly ended someone's life."
"I didn't."
"You almost did."
"He'll recover."
"That is not comforting!"
He leans in slightly. "…you didn't hate it."
I stare at him. "…what."
"…being protected."
I roll my eyes. "I wasn't being protected, I was being accused of witchcraft."
"…dramatic."
"…accurate."
A pause.
Then—
he suddenly smirks. "…say something."
I blink. "…what."
"Something nice."
"…why."
"Because I deserve it."
I stare at him. "…no you don't."
"I saved you."
"You escalated everything."
"I handled it."
"You caused it."
He steps closer.
Again.
Too close.
"…say it," he murmurs.
I lean back slightly. "…why are you like this."
"Say it."
"…fine," I mutter.
I think for a second.
Then— "…you're… slightly useful."
He freezes. "…slightly?"
"That's all you're getting."
"That's disrespectful."
"It's honest."
He narrows his eyes. "…say it properly."
I cross my arms. "…you're not getting anything else."
He leans closer again.
Lower voice.
"…say it properly."
I blink.
Why does that sound like a threat.
"…you're… helpful sometimes," I say.
"…worse."
"How is that worse?"
"You're ruining the moment."
"What moment?!"
He sighs dramatically.
Then—
very softly—
"…try again."
I stare at him.
Then—
I don't know why—
but I laugh.
"…you're actually fishing for compliments."
"I deserve them."
"You don't."
"I do."
"You don't."
"I do."
I shake my head.
Still smiling.
"…fine."
I pause.
Then say, a little softer—
"…you're good at staying."
He goes quiet.
Just for a second.
Then—
"…that's better."
I blink.
"…that worked?"
"…yeah."
"…your standards are low."
"…your delivery improved."
I grab a pillow and throw it at him. "…don't get used to it."
He catches it easily. "…too late."
He tosses it back.
I dodge.
Barely. "…hey!"
"You started it."
"I did not!"
"You complimented me."
"That's not starting a fight!"
"It is for me."
And just like that—
we're back to chaos.
"You're impossible!"
"You like it!"
"I tolerate it!"
"That's the same thing!"
"It's not!"
I'm laughing again.
Actually laughing.
Trying to dodge another pillow.
Failing.
Completely.
At some point—
I stop.
Breathing a little uneven.
Still smiling.
"…we're weird."
He leans against the wall. "…you're just realizing that?"
"…I say it every day."
"And it's still true."
A pause.
Then—
"…I meant it," I say quietly.
He looks at me.
"…what."
"…what I said."
Another pause.
Then—
"…I know."
And somehow—
that's enough.
----
The next morning doesn't feel like morning.
It feels like a decision.
The hallway is loud—
but not around me.
Sound moves.
People move.
But there's a space.
A gap.
And I'm in the middle of it.
I walk past a group—
they stop talking.
Another—
they don't even pretend.
Just stare.
Then look away too fast.
Whispers follow anyway.
"...that's him—"
"...I told you—"
"...he was there—"
"...Niran—"
I keep walking.
Same pace.
Same posture.
Chocolate in hand.
Because apparently, this is who I am now.
Class is worse.
Way worse.
The moment I step in—
it shifts.
Not loudly.
Not dramatically.
Just—
chairs slightly turning away
bags moved off nearby desks
conversations stopping mid-sentence
eyes watching like I might do something
I sit down anyway.
Same seat.
Same place.
Like nothing changed.
Like everything didn't.
Jea-Hyun drops into the seat beside me.
Loud.
On purpose.
Chair scraping.
Breaking the tension.
"...good morning," he says like he's announcing it.
I glance at him.
"...you're dramatic."
"Someone has to be."
He leans back.
Looks around.
Then mutters—
"...they're scared."
"...I noticed."
"You okay?"
I unwrap chocolate.
"...define okay."
"...fair."
A voice from behind—
not quiet enough—
"...why is he even here?"
Another—
"...shouldn't he be suspended or something?"
"...or exorcised."
Laughter.
Weak.
Nervous.
Still annoying.
Jea-Hyun turns halfway in his seat. "...you want to repeat that?"
Silence.
No one answers.
Of course not.
I tap his arm lightly. "...don't."
He looks at me. "...they're talking about you."
"...I know."
"...and you're just—what—fine with that?"
I take a bite.
"...I don't have the energy to fight everyone before first period."
He stares at me.
Then sighs.
"...you're impossible."
"...accurate."
The door opens.
And everything resets.
Not calm.
Not normal.
Just—
focused.
Lalita walks in.
Slow.
Measured.
Like she doesn't belong to the noise.
Like she controls it.
Her uniform is perfect.
Posture straight.
Eyes sharp.
Too sharp.
She doesn't look at anyone.
Until—
she looks at me.
Direct.
Unblinking.
And keeps walking.
Right past her seat.
Right to mine.
Jea-Hyun leans back slightly.
"...oh, this is about to be interesting."
"...shut up," I mutter.
Lalita stops in front of my desk.
Doesn't sit.
Doesn't hesitate.
"...we need to talk."
Straight.
No softness.
I look up at her.
"...good morning to you too."
"...don't," she says.
Sharp.
I raise my hands slightly.
"...okay."
She studies me for a second.
Like she's measuring something.
Then—
"Do you know anything about Niran?"
The room goes quiet.
Not fully.
But enough.
Enough that people listen without looking like they are.
Jea-Hyun goes still beside me.
I don't answer immediately.
Because that question—
isn't simple.
"...why are you asking me that?" I say instead.
Her eyes narrow slightly.
"Because everything that's happening is connected to him."
A pause.
Then softer—
"...and you were there."
I hold her gaze.
"...so were you."
She doesn't react to that.
Which is… suspicious.
"People don't just get thrown into walls for no reason," she continues.
"...you'd be surprised."
"Don't deflect."
"I'm not."
"You are."
Jea-Hyun leans in slightly.
"...maybe not in the middle of class?"
Lalita ignores him completely.
Her focus stays on me.
Too focused.
"Did you see anything?" she asks.
"...no."
That's a lie.
She knows it.
I know it.
The problem is—
she doesn't call it out directly.
Instead—
she shifts.
Leans slightly closer.
Voice lower.
"...he wouldn't hurt people for no reason."
That lands differently.
I blink once.
"...you sound like you know him."
She doesn't answer immediately.
Then—
"...I did."
Simple.
Flat.
Honest.
The room feels smaller.
"Before he died," she adds quietly.
That word—
hangs.
Jea-Hyun exhales slowly.
"...okay, this is definitely not a hallway conversation—"
"Then leave," Lalita says without looking at him.
"...rude."
But he doesn't leave.
Of course he doesn't.
I watch her.
More carefully now.
"...what do you mean, you knew him?"
Her expression doesn't change.
But something in her eyes does.
"...I mean exactly that."
"...that's not an explanation."
"...you're not in a position to ask for one."
I tilt my head slightly.
"...and you are?"
A beat.
Then—
"...yes."
The room shifts again.
Not physically.
Socially.
Everyone pretending not to listen—
failing.
Before I can respond—
the door opens again.
Softer this time.
Less attention.
But I notice.
Seo-Yeon.
She steps in quietly.
Uniform neat.
Expression unreadable.
She pauses when she sees the room.
Sees me.
Sees Lalita standing in front of me.
Something flickers in her eyes.
Then disappears.
She walks in.
Slow.
Measured.
Just like yesterday—
she doesn't look like herself.
She looks… careful.
Like she's thinking three steps ahead.
And then—
she stops.
Right beside Lalita.
"...what's going on?" Seo-Yeon asks.
Her voice is calm.
Too calm.
Lalita doesn't look at her.
"Talking."
"About what?"
A pause.
Then—
"Niran."
Seo-Yeon freezes.
Not visibly.
But I see it.
Small.
Controlled.
Her fingers tighten slightly around her bag strap.
"...why?" she asks.
Lalita finally glances at her.
Quick.
Sharp.
"Because he's not random."
Silence.
Seo-Yeon looks at me now.
Really looks.
"...you think he is?"
I don't answer.
Because both of them are watching now.
Different expressions.
Same tension.
Lalita speaks again.
"...he was never the type to lose control."
Seo-Yeon's gaze flickers.
"...people change."
"...not like that."
"...you don't know that."
"...I do."
"...how?"
Silence.
They're not looking at me anymore.
They're looking at each other.
And something—
something is off.
I sit there.
Between them.
And suddenly—
I'm not the center anymore.
I'm the connection.
Jea-Hyun leans slightly closer to me.
"...why do they both sound like suspects," he mutters.
"...I was thinking the same thing."
Lalita turns back to me.
"...if you know something, say it."
Seo-Yeon adds quietly—
"...before it gets worse."
That line—
doesn't sound like concern.
It sounds like warning.
I look between them.
One sharp.
One quiet.
Both hiding something.
Then I say—
calm.
Careful.
"...if I did know something…"
A pause.
"…why would I tell you?"
Silence.
Lalita's eyes narrow.
Not offended.
Interested.
Seo-Yeon's expression doesn't change.
But her gaze sharpens slightly.
And just like that—
I know.
This isn't just about Niran anymore.
This is about:
what happened to him who was there and who isn't telling the truth
The bell rings.
Loud.
Breaking everything.
No one moves immediately.
Then slowly—
Lalita straightens.
"...this isn't over," she says.
Seo-Yeon doesn't say anything.
Just looks at me one last time.
Like she's trying to read something I'm not showing.
Then they both walk away.
Different directions.
Jea-Hyun exhales.
"...yeah, no. I don't trust either of them."
"...same."
I sit back in my chair.
Chocolate still in my hand.
Unfinished.
And somewhere—
just faintly—
behind me—
that familiar presence shifts.
Watching.
Listening.
Waiting.
"…you're not telling them," Niran murmurs quietly.
I don't turn.
"…should I?"
A pause.
Then—
"…no."
I almost smile.
But I don't.
Because now—
it's not just people watching me.
It's people hiding things from me too.