The night sky outside Bibxy's dorm was painted in velvet and stars, but inside, sleep took its time finding her.
Her thoughts looped restlessly — the strange encounter with Josh at the hidden library, the way he spoke like he knew more than he said. Her pulse still echoed from the way he'd looked at her. Like he'd seen her before.
By the time she drifted off, her limbs heavy with exhaustion, the line between sleep and wakefulness felt paper-thin.
And then, she was no longer in her bed.
She stood barefoot in a place she didn't recognize — a quiet clearing lit by soft moonlight, the trees whispering in a language she didn't understand. Everything felt calm. Dreamlike. Weightless.
A silver mist curled around her ankles. The air shimmered gently, and fireflies danced like tiny lanterns. It was beautiful — otherworldly — but not frightening.
In the center of the clearing stood a boy.
Bibxy froze.
He was tall, not as rough-edged as Josh, but graceful — like a song in human form. His dark curly hair fell just above his brows, and his skin glowed faintly in the moonlight. He wore a simple white tunic that fluttered lightly in the breeze. His eyes — soft, kind, almost… knowing — locked with hers.
He smiled.
Warmth bloomed in her chest.
"Who are you?" she asked, her voice sounding far away, like it wasn't her own.
The boy didn't answer right away. He just walked toward her with unhurried steps, stopping a few feet away. No tension. No fear. Just peace.
"My name is Sleek," he said gently.
The name landed softly on her ears, but something inside her stirred — like a quiet note had been struck on a forgotten instrument. Sleek. The sound of it felt familiar and comforting, as if it belonged in a memory she hadn't made yet.
She repeated it. "Sleek."
And in that moment, she felt a strange connection — not just to the name, but to him. Like meeting a friend you didn't know you missed.
"You're closer now," he said, his voice calm and steady. "Closer to remembering."
Bibxy's brow furrowed. "Remembering what?"
But Sleek only tilted his head gently, like he was listening to something only he could hear.
"You don't have to force it," he said. "The truth will come when you're ready."
"Have we… met before?" she asked, searching his face for answers.
He didn't say yes or no — just gave her that serene smile again, like time didn't matter here.
Before she could ask anything else, the wind picked up, the clearing faded, and the stars folded in on themselves like a closing book—
Bibxy sat upright in bed, breath catching in her throat.
Her room was dark, quiet again. The faint hum of the fan filled the silence.
But her heart was still racing. And for some reason, her fingers itched like they'd just touched something… real.
She whispered his name into the darkness.
"Sleek."
The morning sun filtered softly through the curtains, but Bibxy was already awake. She hadn't slept well — not since that strange dream. The boy named Sleek. His voice still echoed in her head, calm and sure, like he had whispered truth straight into her soul.
"You're closer now."
Whatever that meant.
Shaking the sleep from her limbs, she got ready for the day — a light denim skirt, white tank top, and a soft lavender cardigan. Something about today felt… different. She couldn't explain it, but it settled in her chest like a flutter.
She walked to campus with Soya, who chatted excitedly about their next class — a general writing course. Bibxy nodded along, but her mind was far away.
They reached class just as the bell rang, sliding into seats at the center row. The teacher, a tall woman with sharp glasses and a gentle smile, welcomed the class and began introducing the semester's topics.
Then the classroom door creaked open.
Heads turned.
A boy stepped in.
Bibxy's breath caught in her throat.
He looked… familiar. Not like someone she'd met in real life, but someone who had stepped straight out of her dream.
The teacher turned to him. "Ah, yes. You must be the transfer student. Please, introduce yourself."
The boy glanced at the class and gave a small, confident smile. "My name is Sleek."
The name hit her like thunder in her chest.
Bibxy froze, her pen dropping soundlessly onto her notebook. Was she still dreaming? Her heart raced.
Sleek. The Sleek. The boy from the forest clearing. The boy who told her she was getting closer.
The teacher scanned the room and pointed. "You can sit beside Bibxy, there's a free seat next to her."
He nodded and made his way down the aisle. Bibxy sat perfectly still, hands in her lap, mind spinning.
He didn't seem surprised to see her. If anything, his expression was calm — like this was how it was always meant to be.
Sleek slid into the chair beside her with a quiet, "Hey."
Bibxy blinked. "Hi."
That was all she could manage.
The class continued, but she barely heard a word. Her senses were tuned only to the boy beside her. She stole glances — his posture relaxed, his handwriting neat. He wasn't loud or flashy. Nothing about him screamed mystery like Josh had. But there was something grounding about his presence. Like… safety.
When the bell rang for lunch, students stood, stretching and chatting their way to the exit.
Bibxy reached down to grab her bag when she heard his voice.
"Hey," Sleek said, looking at her with a gentle smile. "Would you mind showing me where the cafeteria is? I haven't figured this place out yet."
Her throat went dry. "Oh—uh, sure. Of course."
"And… maybe a quick tour? Just to know where not to get lost?"
She nodded, heart fluttering.
As they walked out of the class side by side, Bibxy felt the strangest sensation.
Like she was exactly where
she was supposed to be.