Monday morning hit me like a brick.
I walked into Section A with my half-awake zombie face, and Mira instantly stared at me like I'd committed a crime.
"You didn't sleep," she accused.
I dropped my bag on the desk. "I tried, okay? My brain was replaying Friday like a broken TV."
Honestly, the weekend had been so peaceful at home—puzzles with Sarvin, mom's calm voice, dad's occasional "Did you study or not?"—yet my mind kept floating back to school.
To Kaelor's stare.
To Devin suddenly talking to me again.
To Derek acting… strange.
Sana slid into her seat beside me with her usual dramatic sigh.
"Good. Because I have fresh updates from Section C."
I raised a brow. "Let me guess—Devin?"
"Nope." She smirked. "This time it's about Derek."
A weird shiver ran through me. Derek had been unpredictable recently—never rude, but always watching. Observing. As if studying me.
But before Sana could continue, Kaelor walked in.
I swear the atmosphere shifted.
He looked the same—cool, calm, unreadable—but something in his expression was tight. Focused. And he didn't look away from me, even for a second.
I quickly looked down at my notebook before my brain made it weird.
---
Homeroom — Grouping Disaster
Mr. Hayes made the worst announcement of the year:
"Group mid-term assessment. Groups of four. I'll assign them."
My heart dropped.
Group assessment = chaos, drama, unnecessary suffering.
"Manifest good luck," Mira whispered.
But the universe? The universe hated me.
Group 3:
• Me
• Kaelor
• Derek
• Devin
I froze.
Mira grabbed my arm. "This is a whole web series."
Sana added, "Actually, this is a triangle with an extra point."
I covered my face.
"Why me?"
---
Group Discussion — Chaos in Four Seats
We sat at one table.
I landed between Kaelor and Devin. Of course. Derek sat across from me like he planned it.
Devin cleared his throat first.
"So… long time no group project. Last one was in Section C, remember?"
I smiled awkwardly. "Yeah… long time."
From the corner of my eye, I saw Kaelor stiffen for half a second. It was tiny, but I caught it.
Derek leaned forward, voice too sharp, "We're wasting time. Just choose a topic."
I frowned. "Why are you acting like this today?"
He gave me a smile.
Not a nice one.
A smile that said I know something you don't.
It made my stomach twist.
---
After School — Hallway
As I packed my bag, Kaelor suddenly appeared beside me.
I jumped a little. "Oh. Uh—hey."
He hesitated.
"You okay?"
That surprised me. "Why? Do I look not okay?"
"You seem… distracted."
I blinked. That was true, but—
"Kaelor… are you okay? You're acting strange too."
He paused.
A single second where something unreadable flickered behind his eyes.
Then he nodded.
"I'm fine."
Except he wasn't.
I could tell.
---
Evening at Home — My Chaos Crew
"Dinner!" Mom (Serena) shouted from downstairs.
Dad (David) appeared behind her. "Did someone stress you again? If I find the culprit—"
"Dad, please don't go fight my classmates," I groaned.
Sarvin peeked from the doorway.
"Name them. I'll assist."
"My house is unbelievable."
Dinner helped a bit. But at night, lying in bed, everything hit me again:
Derek's fake smile.
Devin's awkward friendliness.
Kaelor's tension.
Sana's warnings.
Our cursed group assignment.
I didn't know what it was, but something felt…
heavy.
Like a storm building quietly.
---
Night Scene — Derek (What I Don't Know Yet)
I didn't see this, of course—but something in me felt it:
Somewhere outside school, Derek stood under a streetlight, staring at a message:
"She's getting closer. Be careful."
And he smiled that same strange smile.
The one that made me uneasy all day.