The feeling didn't go away.
Jared noticed it before lunch.
Not obvious.
Not direct.
But consistent.
Observation detected.
Source: unidentified.
"…you're doing that thing again," Iris said, dropping her bag onto the table.
"…define."
"…the 'I'm scanning the entire environment like a robot' thing."
"…accurate."
She sat across from him, squinting slightly.
"…what's wrong?"
Jared didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he replayed the past few hours.
Classroom.
Hallway.
Stairs.
Every location—
Same result.
Someone was watching him.
"…new variable," he said finally.
"…you keep saying that like it's normal."
"…it is."
"…it's not."
Jared shifted his gaze slightly—
Not directly.
Never directly.
And then—
He saw him.
Back corner of the cafeteria.
Alone.
A man.
Not a student.
Not a teacher.
Too still.
Too composed.
Holding a tablet.
Not eating.
Not talking.
Just watching.
"…found him," Jared muttered.
"…found who?" Iris asked.
"…observer."
She froze.
"…you're joking."
"…no."
"…where?"
"…don't look directly."
"…I'm going to look directly."
"…inefficient."
"…I don't care."
She turned her head.
Immediately.
"…I don't see—"
Then she paused.
"…okay, that's not normal."
Because now she saw it too.
The man wasn't pretending.
He didn't look away.
Didn't hide.
Didn't react.
"…he's not even subtle," Iris whispered.
"…confidence indicates authority," Jared replied.
"…or he's just weird."
"…possible. Low probability."
The man tapped something on his tablet.
Then—
Stood up.
And started walking.
Toward them.
"…he's coming here," Iris said.
"…confirmed."
"…what do we do?"
"…observe."
"…YOU'RE NOT HELPING."
The man stopped in front of their table.
Calm.
Neutral.
"…Jared Alonzo," he said.
Not a question.
A statement.
Jared looked up.
"…yes."
The man studied him for a moment.
Long enough to be uncomfortable.
"…interesting," he said.
"…define," Jared replied.
A small pause.
Then—
A faint smile.
"…faster than expected."
Silence.
Iris leaned back slightly.
"…okay, who are you?"
The man didn't look at her.
Not even once.
"…irrelevant."
"…RUDE."
Jared stood up slowly.
"…you're observing me," he said.
"…correct."
"…why?"
Another pause.
Measured.
Controlled.
"…evaluation."
Silence.
"…for what?" Jared asked.
The man tilted his head slightly.
"…you'll find out."
Then—
He turned.
And walked away.
Just like that.
No explanation.
No warning.
Nothing.
Silence sat heavily between them.
"…I don't like him," Iris said.
"…agreed."
"…he knew your name."
"…yes."
"…and he's been watching you."
"…confirmed."
Iris leaned forward.
More serious now.
"…this isn't normal, Jared."
"…correct."
"…this is bad."
Jared didn't answer immediately.
Because his mind—
Was already moving.
Observer identified.
Behavior: confident.
Knowledge: pre-existing.
Conclusion—
This wasn't random.
This wasn't coincidence.
This—
Was connected.
Jared looked toward the exit where the man disappeared.
Eyes narrowing slightly.
"…pattern expanding," he murmured.
"…what does that mean?" Iris asked.
A pause.
Then—
"…this isn't just about me anymore."
And somewhere—
Beyond the school—
The system had officially taken notice.