From afar, Thivi watched, her chest heavy. Felicia stood too close to Kaivan. Something sharp stirred inside her. Strange, yet undeniable.
She approached, her voice calm but hesitant. "Why are you always so close to Kaivan now?" Felicia turned. Her smile was soft, yet deep. "Because he asked me to stay by his side."
Kaivan overheard. His face lifted, his voice cutting in. "By the way, where's Frans?"
Silence fell. Upstairs, in the quiet mall, Frans lay alone. His breathing was ragged, neon lights flickering in his half-closed eyes. The corridor was cold as a grave, as empty as being forgotten.
Dawn crept in, washing the city with a golden light that slipped gently through the thin curtains of Kaivan's guest room. Beyond the misted window, Thivi stood still, her gaze fixed on the sky slowly breaking open, while her thoughts lingered on the echoes of last night, the quiet weight of Kaivan and Felicia's conversation that refused to leave her mind.
By late morning, the workshop had grown somber. What once brimmed with resolve now lay in ruins, tables overturned, tools scattered, shards of glass strewn across the floor. Amid the wreckage stood Kaivan. Weariness lined his face, yet his eyes still burned with an unshakable resolve.
"We'll fix everything," he said softly, but his voice rang out like a promise spoken over the rubble of hope. "From the beginning, without hesitation."
Radit moved at once, his eyes alight as though answering a battle's call. Frans stepped in to help, though his hands trembled, the shadow of last night still etched in his gaze.
Felicia and Thivi worked side by side, the one lifting heavy beams as though they were weightless, the other arranging small tools with deliberate care. Yet between them, a quiet unease settled. Felicia's eyes flickered now and then toward Thivi, while Thivi kept herself buried in her work, pretending not to feel the air growing denser between them.
At last, Felicia's voice broke the silence. Sitting on a wooden chair near the window, the soft afternoon light brushed against her dark hair as she combed loose strands from her shoulder. Her tone was gentle, yet it struck deep: "Thivi… you're close to Kaivan. Tell me, what kind of woman does he like?"
Thivi froze mid-motion. The cloth in her hands slipped to the floor, landing with a soft thud that felt like something shattering inside her. She turned slowly, narrowing her eyes, her voice caught in her throat. "Why are you asking me that?" she whispered, flat yet trembling, betraying a restlessness she could no longer hide.
Felicia met her gaze, a faint smile curving her lips, cold, almost wounding. "Maybe… because I want to be the kind of woman he likes," she said, as if dropping a hammer against Thivi's chest.
The words shook Thivi to her core. Her breath hitched; heat rose behind her eyes. She wanted to speak, but her voice vanished. Her trembling fingers reached for the fallen cloth, but what scattered wasn't fabric, it was the calm she had always guarded, crumbling into silence.
Drawing a long breath, Thivi straightened, shoulders lifting slightly as if to shield herself from something unseen. Yet her tone couldn't hide the storm rising in her chest. Her gaze locked onto Felicia's.
"A beautiful woman," she said, her voice sharp as a blade. She stepped closer, each movement deliberate, edged with challenge. "Tall, over one eighty-five. A perfect figure, curves that turn heads. Clothes that dare, a neckline that tempts. Makeup just enough to look clever. Long hair spilling down like silk."
Felicia remained still, her stare steady, undisturbed. When Thivi finished, a faint smile touched her lips, soft but creating a distance too wide to cross. She ran a hand through her hair, as if nothing warranted a reply. "Oh, is that all?" she asked lightly, teasing without mockery, like a breeze that could not be caught.
Her words pierced Thivi like an icy nail driven deep. She stood frozen, her eyes shifting as wild thoughts whispered in her heart. She's only ahead by two points. I have curves too, a decent face. I like daring clothes. My neckline shows. I already meet four of the marks.
Time slid by. After hours of quiet effort, the workshop regained order. Tools lined up neatly; chaos surrendered to calm. Kaivan stood in the center, surveying the restored space, though his mind wandered, drifting toward unfinished matters lingering in the hush.
Thivi sat alone in a corner, shoulders slightly hunched, eyes vacant. Machines clicked softly, underscoring the heavy stillness. At last, Kaivan spoke, low but steady. "Let me take you home."
Thivi turned. Their eyes met, and after a hesitant pause, she nodded. As she gathered herself, her gaze brushed over Kaivan's workbench. A small smile flickered on her lips, brief, then gone. Behind them, Felicia watched in silence, her expression blurred: a quiet jealousy, a faint worry, and a fragile hope.
Their footsteps echoed down the hall as Kaivan and Thivi left. Felicia stayed behind, staring at Kaivan's retreating back. Her hand curled into a fist, as if holding something she couldn't name.
In the corner, Radit grinned to himself. Hah, what a show, he thought. Always the silent observer, storing everything away. Inwardly, he wondered: did Kaivan notice the brewing storm, or was he too tangled in his own battles to see it?
The afternoon sun blazed outside, but a hidden storm raged inside Felicia's chest. After school, she stood before the mirror, studying her face in silence. Her hands moved deftly, smoothing her hair, dusting powder, brushing on a faint blush. Mascara framed her eyes, as if urging her to speak the words she couldn't say aloud.
"All of this is for Kaivan," she whispered, clutching a hope she had woven in secret. She picked up her glasses, a rare accessory for her, but today she wanted to look different. Smarter. More mature. Ready to be loved.
Her footsteps echoed along the quiet corridor of Kaivan's school. The light outside dimmed, making the hush feel like a test. She sent him a message. No reply. The silence waited for no one. Her shoes clicked against the walls, heartbeat trembling in her bones.
Radit appeared at the far end of the hallway. "Hey, Radit," Felicia greeted, calm on the surface, quivering inside. "Have you seen Kaivan?"
Radit scratched his head. "I think he's still in class… but I'm not sure. Haven't seen him today."