Velithra woke up with the kind of tired happiness she never admitted to anyone.The sunlight was too bright, her hair was a mess, and her alarm had gone off twice before she actually sat up…but still, she felt lighter than usual.
Maybe it was Kai's fault.
She pushed that thought away immediately — then brought it back just as fast.
She got ready slower than usual, catching herself smiling at nothing like an idiot. She didn't stop it.
By the time she reached school, people were already gathering near the gate.Voices, footsteps, chatter.The usual chaos.
But something about today felt different.
She spotted Kai before he saw her — leaning against the railing, hood down, earbuds in, head tilted back like he didn't care about anything.
Except the moment he noticed her, he straightened slightly.Barely.Subtle.But definitely there.
Velithra walked over, pretending she didn't see the quick shift in his eyes.
"Morning," she said.
Kai tugged out one earbud.His voice came out rough, like he hadn't talked yet today.
"…Hey."
Just that.But there was a heaviness behind it — not bad, more like he was thinking too much.
She stepped closer. "Did you sleep?"
Kai huffed a laugh through his nose. "Not really."
"Oh." She hesitated. "Bad night?"
He looked at her for a beat too long.
"…You could say that."
Something warm crawled up her neck, but she kept her voice steady."What happened?"
Kai looked away, jaw tightening — the way he always did when he was trying not to say something honest.
Then he muttered, so low only she could hear:
"You kept showing up in my head, that's what happened."
Velithra froze.
Kai clicked his tongue, annoyed at himself. "Forget it."
"No." She stepped closer without thinking. "Say it properly."
He met her eyes again — this time without running from it.
Fine.If she wanted honesty, he'd give her honesty.
"You're distracting," Kai said quietly."You make it hard to sleep. And you make it even harder to not think about you."
Her breath caught.
He didn't look embarrassed.Just frustrated.Like he wasn't used to wanting someone this much.
Velithra swallowed. "…Good."
Kai blinked. "What?"
She lifted her chin, heart pounding. "Good. Because you do the same thing to me."
For a second, Kai didn't move.
Then a slow, disbelieving smile tugged at the corner of his mouth — the kind of smile he only ever gave her.
Before he could say anything else, the first bell rang.
They both turned slightly, but neither stepped away.
Kai leaned in just the slightest bit — close enough that his shoulder brushed hers.
"Walk with me?" he asked, voice low.
Velithra nodded.
"Yeah. Okay."
They walked inside together, pretending nothing had changed.But everything had.