The morning corridor was its usual mess—footsteps echoing, voices bouncing between walls, a sea of uniforms and sleepy faces.
Joel strolled in late, as usual, guitar slung lazily over his back, earbuds in, volume up. But something made him pull one earbud out as he reached his classroom door.
Across the corridor, Elena stood near her class entrance, notebook hugged to her chest. Nothing unusual—until Adam sir passed by.
He wasn't even in uniform today—just a crisp shirt, sleeves rolled up. He nodded at a few students, calm and unreadable as always. But then his eyes caught Elena's.
And lingered.
Just for a second. Maybe two.
Elena didn't smile. But something in her face softened. Her eyes held his just long enough for Joel to notice.
Joel blinked.
The look wasn't obvious. Nothing scandalous. But it was... something.
Adam nodded at her, almost imperceptibly, then moved on. Elena stood still for a heartbeat longer before slipping into her class without a word.
Joel frowned slightly. That wasn't the Elena he knew—cold, sharp, always on the defensive. That girl just looked... different. Open. Like she'd let someone see her.
And it wasn't him.
He stood there, silent, one hand still gripping the strap of his guitar.
For the first time in weeks, he didn't feel like laughing.