CIE'S POV
"Zane…"
"Hm?" He turned to me, looking at me with questioning eyes.
We had just come out of the cafeteria. As usual, he and Dustin were walking us back to our classroom before heading to theirs.
Dustin and Ven were walking ahead of us, chatting like they had known each other their whole lives—laughing freely, completely unconcerned about their surroundings.
Jesy, on the other hand, was behind us. I wasn't sure if she could hear me, but I didn't worry—Jesy wasn't the type to tell anyone anything anyway.
I tightened my grip on my thoughts for a second.
"Zane…" I called again, softer this time.
"Hm?"
"What do you think of me?" I asked, finally gathering the courage I had been building up for days. "Did I really change that much?"
I had been thinking about it lately—ever since Dustin said I had changed a lot. And I was dying to know if Zane thought the same.
When Dustin mentioned it, Zane only nodded and agreed… but that wasn't enough for me. I needed more. Something clearer. Something only he could tell me.
"Of course." His voice was quiet, but he didn't hesitate. "You seem very different from the Cie I used to know." He kept his eyes forward, as if he were choosing his words carefully—not in a rushed way, but as if they actually mattered. "Until now, it's still hard to believe that the Cie I know… and the one walking beside me right now… are the same person. I didn't think someone could change this much in just a few years,..."
"But you did." Zane continued, after a brief pause. "I don't know… it just feels like I'm meeting a completely new version of you."
His words lingered in my head.
"Then, if this version of me was the one you met back then, would you have talked to me?"
Zane was quiet for a moment.
Then he finally spoke.
"Back then," he said softly, "I couldn't talk to you because I was afraid you'd cry if I did."
I blinked. "…What?"
He glanced at me briefly, then looked forward again as we walked.
"You were always so quiet," he continued. "Always looking down. Always avoiding people." His voice lowered slightly. "It didn't feel like you were just shy… it felt like if I said the wrong thing, you'd break." A pause. "So I didn't try."
I felt my chest tighten, but I didn't interrupt.
Zane exhaled softly. "But now…" he added, "you don't look like that anymore."
He finally looked at me again. Just for a second. "And I think… if I met this version of you back then, I would've talked to you."
A brief silence settled between us.
"Well, I think you've changed, too," I said, finally breaking the quiet. "Back then, you seemed free… careless," I continued slowly, my eyes fixed on him. "You've become so composed and... and I can tell you're hiding something. I don't know what it is—but I know it isn't simple. It's not the kind of thing you can brush aside. It's something far more serious. Like you're carrying something heavy on your shoulder—"
Zane suddenly stopped walking. I stopped too.
His gaze shifted to me. Deep. Unreadable.
It wasn't cold… but it wasn't soft either. It was something in between—like he was trying not to let anything slip through.
"Ouch—sorry!"
Jesy accidentally bumped into me from behind. She was looking down while walking. "I'll head first," she said quickly, already stepping between us before either of us could react.
And just like that—
She was gone. Leaving silence behind her.
The air felt heavier this time.
Zane didn't speak. A faint breeze passed between us, but neither of us moved.
Zane didn't look away.
Neither did I.
It felt like something was being understood without being fully said.
We both fell quiet as we continued walking. I kept glancing at him, worry slowly creeping in. Did I say something wrong? Did I go too far?
I opened my mouth a few times, ready to say something—anything—to break the silence. But every time, I hesitated.
I really am hopeless… aren't I? Don't tell me he won't talk to me ever again.
I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn't even notice we had already reached our floor.
We were just a few steps—maybe ten meters—from the classroom door when— "I don't know how you noticed it in such a short time," he suddenly said.
I flinched slightly.
"…when even Dustin didn't." I looked at him, surprised. His gaze was forward, his expression calm—but his voice… was quieter than before. Not guarded. Just… honest.
For a moment, I didn't know what to say. "I wasn't trying to figure you out," I replied softly after a beat. "I just… saw it."
He didn't respond. So I continued.
"Sometimes, it's easier to notice things when you're not looking for them." A small pause. "And sometimes… It's easier to see what someone's carrying when you're carrying something too."
That made him glance at me. Just briefly. But this time, there was something different in his eyes. Not unreadable. Not distant. Just… a little less guarded.
"You don't have to explain it," I added, looking ahead again. "I wasn't asking you to."
We kept walking. Side by side. Close enough to hear each other breathe. And somehow, the silence didn't feel heavy anymore.
As I entered my bedroom, I placed my bag on my study table and immediately opened it.
I took the snacks out one by one, setting them neatly on the table. Delight. Dewberry.
I stared at them for a moment.
Actually,... these used to be my favorites.
Back in junior high… even senior high, I always had something sweet with me. It was almost a habit.
But now? I already decided to cut down.
College felt like a fresh start—new environment, new people… new version of me. And sweets just weren't part of that anymore.
I exhaled softly.
Whoever kept leaving these clearly didn't know that.
Until now, I still had no clue who was behind it.
At first, I tried to convince myself it was just a mistake. Maybe someone from another section accidentally placed it on my desk, thinking it belonged to someone else.
It happens. Right?
I leaned against the edge of my table, crossing my arms as I stared at them.
Still— Instead of overthinking it again, I just shook my head lightly and pushed the thought aside.
I left the snacks there, neatly arranged and very visible.
If Rania comes in, she'll definitely see them.
A small smile tugged at my lips. At least someone would be happy about it.
I turned away and sat on my bed, reaching for my phone.
DALE'S POV
Friday. I decided to come early. Earlier than usual.
I headed straight to our classroom, hands in my pockets, the hallway still quiet with only a few students around.
But when I reached our floor, I saw someone step out of our room.
Gray oversized hoodie. Black pants. White shoes.
They were about to walk in my direction… but the moment they saw me, they stopped.
Then turned away. Fast.
Like they didn't want to be seen. Like they were afraid I'd go after them. I watched them leave. But I didn't follow. I didn't bother.
Instead, I continued walking toward the classroom as if nothing had happened.
When I stepped inside, Everything looked normal. No signs of anything missing. No mess. No noise. Just silence.
Then my eyes landed on her desk. Cierra.
And there it was again. The same snacks she'd been receiving these past few days. A bottle of Delight. Three pieces of Dewberry. The same. Consistent. Intentional.
My brows furrowed slightly.
So it wasn't a one-time thing. Interesting.
My stomach suddenly growled.
Right. I haven't eaten yet.
I checked the time—6:30. Still early. Our first subject starts at 8.
I exhaled lightly. Guess I'll just grab something from the cafeteria first.
I turned around, about to leave— When footsteps echoed from the hallway.
Voices followed. Loud. Familiar.
"—I'm telling you, it's true!" Veronica.
I paused.
A second later, they entered the room. Cierra. And Ven.
Cierra's eyes met mine for a brief moment. Then— Just as quickly— She looked away.
Her gaze shifted to her desk. And I saw it. The way her brows slightly creased. The way her expression changed. Confused. Suspicious. Thinking.
I leaned casually against the desk beside mine, watching quietly.
I already knew what was going through her mind. She thinks it's me. Of course she does. Who wouldn't? Same seat. Same timing. Same… convenience.
I let out a faint breath, almost amused. But I didn't say anything. Didn't explain. Didn't deny.
I just watched her for a second longer before pushing myself off the desk.
"Morning," I said casually, like nothing was out of the ordinary. Then I walked past them, heading toward the door.
Whoever that was earlier…
They're consistent. Careful. And for some reason, they don't want to be seen.
My lips curved slightly. This just got interesting.
Walking to the cafeteria, I saw familiar figures. But not too familiar.
They were heading toward the Engineering building.
I slowed down a little, eyes following them.
Two guys. The same guys who are always around her. One of them was talking nonstop—animated, loud, like the world revolved around whatever story he was telling. The other one— Quiet.
I looked away, continuing to walk.
Dustine Maverick Zanoria. Zane Cassian Guevarra. I read their names again, eyes scanning the photos Rob—my most trusted friend—had handed me earlier.
We were at our usual hideout, sitting across each other on the sofa.
"Dustin, Zane, and Cierra were junior high classmates," he noted. "But from what I heard, they weren't nearly as close back then as they are now."
"Continue digging about them." My voice came out low. Firm.
Rob didn't hesitate. "Got it."