While Leonel was still scratching his head, Sky drifted back to his group of friends near the pillar-lined corridor.
As he neared them, the shadow on his face vanished, replaced by a mild, innocent smile that looked practically airbrushed.
"What are you doing talking to that part-timer boy?" one friend asked, flipping a pen between his fingers.
"Leonel?" Sky answered lightly.
"Yeah," another butted in. "We saw him once at the convenience store near the east gate. Night shift."
"He doesn't belong in our circle. See how no one approaches him?"
"Better distance yourself," a girl said, adjusting a pearl clip in her hair. "If this keeps up, he'll end up a bully target."
Sky hid the curl of his mouth behind an apologetic laugh. "You're too harsh. I only wanted to know him. He's our classmate—and he looked kind of sad, sitting alone."
"You're too nice, Sky."
