A week had gone by since that awkward study date, and the air between Rudd and Scarlet felt thick with silence—like a fog nobody wanted to break. Their chats, which used to flow easily with playful banter, had turned stiff, almost like they were two strangers sitting on a bench, trying to ignore each other. Meanwhile, school life carried on as usual. There were assignments to tackle, sports tryouts happening, debates on the horizon, and new prefects being announced soon enough.
Scarlet was doing her best not to dwell too much on it. She tried focusing on her studies, hanging out with friends like Amaka and Aisha, and putting on a brave face even when her heart raced at just the sight of Rudd.
As for Rudd, he was wrestling with guilt and a nagging sense of fear—fear that maybe he'd missed his chance and that he'd irreparably damaged their connection. So, he pulled into himself, diving into books and responsibilities, lost in a whirlwind of silent 'what-ifs.'
That's when Dayo picked up on things.
"You ghosting everyone now or what?" Dayo asked one day, plopping his tray down next to Rudd in the cafeteria.
"No," Rudd mumbled, hardly touching his food.
"Man, you haven't shown up for our 5-a-side since last week. You skipped English class, and you totally brushed me off when I called you by the library stairs."
"I didn't hear you."
"Rudd, c'mon," Dayo pressed, more serious now. "This isn't just about being tired or missing class. What's up with Scarlet?"
Rudd sighed, rubbing his forehead. "I messed it up."
"Okay, and?"
"I totally botched the study plan. I made some lame excuse, and now she's been… well, distant."
"She was waiting for you to make a move, man. Now she probably thinks she imagined all that chemistry between you."
Rudd looked up, surprised. "You noticed it too?"
"Everyone did. Except you, I guess."
They fell into silence for a bit before Dayo spoke again. "Listen, if you're not ready to be honest with her, at least act like she exists. Ignoring her is worse."
Rudd nodded slowly, feeling the weight of his thoughts.
Meanwhile, Dayo's situation wasn't quite as straightforward either. Unknown to most, he had been texting late into the night with Simi, a girl in SS1 who'd just joined the music club. What started as a simple mentorship had morphed into something more complicated. She was sharp and witty, making Dayo feel wanted and respected—something refreshing. But she was younger, and he wasn't sure he should cross that line.
He hadn't mentioned it to Rudd yet.
That evening, after school, Dayo found himself outside the music room. Simi waved him in, flashing her usual grin.
"I added the new harmony like you said," she said, showing him her notebook.
"Cool," Dayo replied, forcing a smile.
"You okay?" she asked with genuine concern.
He hesitated. "Just got school stress."
Simi stepped a little closer. "You know you can talk to me, right?"
Dayo chuckled softly. "You keep saying that."
"I mean it."
He paused again, then gently stepped back. "Thanks, but let's just focus on the music arrangement for now, alright?"
Simi didn't push, but her gaze lingered.
Back in class, Rudd finally spoke to Scarlet. They were assigned to collaborate on an English lit project, an awkward but unavoidable situation.
"Hey… want to split the pages or brainstorm first?" he asked, trying to sound casual.
Scarlet, her eyes glued to her textbook, replied without looking up. "I already wrote up the analysis for Chapter 3. You can handle Chapter 4."
"Okay," Rudd said, a bit hesitant.
There was a pause.
"I'm sorry about before," he added, mustering some courage.
She finally looked at him. "It's fine. Let's just get through the project."
It wasn't really fine. But she didn't have the energy to dive into it.
That night, Rudd lay awake in bed, scrolling through old chats with Scarlet. The jokes, the memes, the shared moments felt like a distant memory. He hovered over the keyboard, but ultimately, he didn't type a thing.
Meanwhile, Gab's absence was becoming more evident. Rumors swirled that he had transferred after some conflict with the school board. Some whispered he was suspended. Others claimed he'd been caught cheating. Scarlet tried to ask around, but nobody seemed to know for sure. Honestly, she was too caught up in her own emotional turmoil to care too much.
Still, she remembered Gab's words from their last conversation—"You don't know what people are capable of when they think they're losing." It echoed in her mind, unsettlingly.
By Friday, the atmosphere was thick with mid-term anxiety. Teachers hinted at upcoming tests, and the prefects were more on edge than usual. Scarlet sat with Amaka at lunch, stirring her rice without much thought.
"You've been in your head all week," Amaka pointed out.
"Just tired."
"Is it about Rudd?"
Scarlet didn't answer.
Amaka placed her hand over Scarlet's. "Then let him go. If someone really wants you, they'll show it. No need to wait forever."
Scarlet nodded slowly, feeling the weight of those words.
And just two tables away, Rudd overheard all of it.