CIE'S POV
We were still in the middle of talking when I noticed something off. Jesy wasn't listening anymore. She was staring at something—no, someone—with a look I rarely saw on her face. A death glare.
I only caught it because I was sitting across from her and Ven.
My brows furrowed. Who is she looking at?
I subtly leaned back and glanced behind me. And there he was. Dale. Sitting at the table right behind us with his group of friends. Of course.
Out of all the tables in the cafeteria, they had to choose that one. As if sensing my gaze, he looked up. Our eyes met. Just for a brief moment.
No smile. No greeting. Nothing. Just… eye contact.
Then I immediately turned back around as nothing happened. I pretended to fix my hair, but in reality, I was trying to shake off whatever that was. That felt weird.
I glanced at Jesy again. Yeah… she was definitely not happy.
Meanwhile, Ven— My eyes shifted to her just in time to catch her staring behind me again. Not at Dale. At someone else from his group.
Her eyes lingered a second too long before she quickly looked back at us.
Interesting.
But I didn't ask. Not now. The timing wasn't right. Besides…
Even without turning around, I could feel it. Dale's gaze.
It wasn't constant—but it was there.
Lingering. Noticeable. And for some reason, it made me a little uneasy.
"Cie!" I blinked, snapping out of my thoughts.
That voice— Bright. Familiar.
I turned. Dustin. Of course.
Standing there with his usual sunny grin. And behind him— Zane.
He didn't say anything. He just smiled. And somehow, that was enough to make my heart do that thing again.
"Hey," Dustin greeted, already pulling a chair closer. "Can we join?"
"Yeah, sure," I replied.
Ven and Jesy nodded.
"Umm.. Guys, this is Dustin… and Zane," I introduced. "My classmates back in junior high."
Dustin waved dramatically. "Nice to meet you!"
Ven smiled. "Ven."
Jesy gave a small nod. "Jesy."
Zane gave them a slight nod as well. "Hi." Simple. Calm. Very Zane.
Moments later, we were already eating. And talking.
Well, Mostly Dustin and Ven.
"I really still can't believe it." Dustin suddenly said, pointing at me like I was some kind of unbelievable discovery.
Ven laughed. "Why?"
"Because she changed so much!" he exclaimed. "Like—look at her now! Long hair, all shiny and—" he gestured vaguely, trying to find the right words. "She used to have short, frizzy hair!"
"Hey!" I protested. They laughed.
"It's true, though," he continued, grinning. "Before, she always had her head down. Super quiet. Couldn't even look people in the eye."
I rolled my eyes, slightly embarrassed.
"That sounds like Jesy," Ven teased.
Jesy lightly nudged her. "Hey."
"But," Dustin added, raising a finger, "she was already smart back then. Like, top student level. Always."
Then Dustin leaned forward slightly. "So how was she on your first day in senior high?"
Ven didn't hesitate.
"Confident already," she answered. "Not like what you described. Though… she still had short hair on the first day."
I blinked.
Why do you remember that?
"And we weren't even close at first," Ven continued. "We only became friends during the second year."
Jesy nodded in agreement.
"We all had our own worlds before that," she added quietly.
"And she had a close friend back in her first year," Ven said, glancing at me briefly. I stiffened for a second.
"But something happened," she continued casually, shrugging, "and yeah… we ended up becoming close."
Dustin hummed. "I see." There was a brief pause.
Not awkward— Just… something that didn't need to be explained further.
"So basically," Dustin grinned, "Cie had a whole character development arc."
"I hate you," I muttered. He laughed loudly.
The conversation flowed again after that—mostly between him and Ven. I would occasionally respond, adding short comments.
Jesy? She listened.
And beside her—
Zane stayed quiet most of the time. But not completely.
"Still overthinks?" he asked suddenly, glancing at me.
I frowned. "Excuse me?" A small smirk appeared on his lips.
"Nothing."
I narrowed my eyes at him. But I didn't miss it. That tone. Teasing. Subtle. And somehow, it made my chest feel lighter.
Time passed quickly. Too quickly.
Before we knew it, we had already finished eating.
"Let's go?" Dustin said, standing up. We all agreed and started heading out of the cafeteria.
They walked with us. Of course they did.
Dustin kept talking—nonstop as usual. Ven responded just as energetically. Jesy walked beside me. And Zane was on my other side. Quiet. But present. Very present.
When we reached our room, we stopped.
"Well," Dustin said, smiling, "this is where we part ways."
"Yeah," I nodded.
"See you around," he added.
"See you."
I glanced at Zane. He was already looking at me. "See you," he said.
Just that. But it lingered.
"See you," I replied softly.
They turned and started walking away. We were about to enter the room when I noticed something. From the other end of the hallway, Dale and his group were approaching. Perfect timing.
As Dustin and Zane walked past them, Dale slowed down. And then— He looked at Dustin. Not just a glance. A stare. Deep. Unreadable.
There was something there. Something I couldn't explain.
Then they just— Passed each other. Like nothing happened. But it didn't feel like anything. Not at all. I swallowed. Why would he look like that at Dustin? Weird.
I didn't have time to think about it. Because we were already inside. I went straight to my seat. And just as I settled down, Someone sat beside me. I didn't even need to look. Dale.
"Hi," he said casually. I glanced at him.
"…Hi," I replied, a bit awkward.
And that was it. No follow-up. No explanation. Just— That.
The next thing I knew, we were back at Jesy's place. Lying on her bed. All three of us. Exhausted from the campus tour.
"Finally," Ven groaned. "I'm dead."
"No, you're just dramatic," I said.
"Same thing."
Jesy chuckled softly.
For a while, we just stayed like that. Quiet. Resting.
Then— Something clicked in my head. And slowly— A smile formed on my lips. Now it's my turn.
I turned my head toward Ven. "By the way…"
She glanced at me. "What?" I smirked.
"Who were you staring at earlier?"
She blinked. "Ha?"
I raised an eyebrow. "Don't 'ha' me. I saw you." Jesy immediately looked at Ven, too.
"Yeah," she added. "You were staring."
Ven sat up slightly. "I was not!"
I sat up as well, crossing my arms. "Oh, really? Then why were your eyes glued to one of our Mayor's friends?"
She froze. Just for a second.
Got you.
"I wasn't staring," she insisted, but this time, she was already smiling. A little too much.
"You like him!"
"I do not!"
Jesy sat up too, now fully invested. "Which one?"
Ven covered her face with a pillow. "You two are so annoying."
"Are we?" I grinned.
"Ohhh, look at you."
Jesy laughed softly.
"You're blushing," she pointed out.
"I'm not!"
"You are," I said. "And you're smiling."
Ven groaned loudly. "This is so unfair!"
"How?" I laughed.
"When I tease you, Jesy stops me," she complained dramatically. "But when you tease me, she joins you!"
Jesy shrugged innocently. "Because it's funny."
"See?!" Ven pointed at her. "Unfair!"
I laughed. "So life is unfair only when it comes to you?"
"Yes!"
That made all of us laugh. Loud. Uncontrolled. For a moment— Everything felt light again. Easy. Comfortable.
Then Jesy spoke again. "Anyway…"
We both looked at her. She glanced at me.
"Who do you think left the snacks?"
The mood shifted slightly. Not heavy— But curious.
I sighed. "I don't know."
Ven leaned back on the bed. "Well, starting tomorrow…" She grinned. "I'm observing everyone."
I raised an eyebrow. "Seriously?"
"Yes," she said confidently. "No one escapes my investigation."
Jesy smiled. "Detective Ven."
"Exactly."
I chuckled. But deep inside— I couldn't shake the feeling. Someone out there was watching. And I still had no idea who.
ZANE'S POV
"What was wrong with that guy just now?" Dustin's voice broke the silence as soon as we got a few steps away from the room. "Have you noticed the way he stared at me?" he continued, glancing back briefly before facing forward again. "Like I did something wrong to him."
I didn't answer. Dustin kept talking anyway. "Seriously, bro, I don't even know him. Why does he look like he wants to fight me or something?" He let out a short laugh. "Did I accidentally offend him just by existing?"
I slipped my hands into my pockets, walking at a steady pace. But instead of replying, I stopped. Just for a second.
Then I turned my head slightly. Behind us—That guy.
Just entered the same door Cie and her friends did.
My gaze sharpened slightly.
"…Zane?" Dustin's voice pulled me back.
"What?"
"You zoned out," he said, squinting at me. "What are you looking at?"
"Nothing." I turned away and continued walking.
Dustin followed, still clearly bothered. "I'm telling you, that guy's weird," he went on. "The way he looked at me—"
"I saw."
He paused.
"You did?"
"Yeah."
Silence settled for a moment.
Then Dustin let out a breath. "Right? It wasn't just me."
I didn't respond. I glanced back one last time. The hallway was empty now. But the feeling stayed.
Something about that guy— Was off. And whatever it was… I had a feeling this wasn't the last time we'd cross paths.