Tuesday — The Day Everything Felt… Off
I walked into class expecting chaos, but instead, I walked into something worse:
silence.
Everyone was staring at someone—or rather, at us.
Group 3.
Me.
Kaelor Han.
Derek Rao.
Devin Lee.
Honestly, we could've formed our own TV drama franchise at this point.
Mira whispered, "The tension is so strong, I could iron clothes with it."
Adivi added, "If someone breathes wrong today, the whole group is going to explode."
I groaned.
"I just want to pass this mid-term without losing my sanity."
The universe laughed.
---
Group Meeting — Round 2 of Torture
We took our seats again.
Kaelor looked… calmer?
But not normal-calm.
More like controlled calm, like he forced himself to look unbothered.
Devin smiled at me.
A soft, familiar one—like our old Section C days.
"Hey, Arista… I can bring the reference books today. Still remember how we used to divide the work?"
I nodded. "Yeah. That system worked."
Derek?
He watched that tiny exchange with a face that could curdle milk.
He tapped his pen.
Hard.
Kaelor finally spoke, voice steady: "We can finalize the outline today. Arista can take research since she's fast. Devin can handle drafts."
"And what about you?" Derek snapped.
Kaelor didn't blink.
"Editing."
"And me?" Derek demanded.
Kaelor looked him straight in the eyes.
"You choose. Since you like doing everything your way."
Devin coughed a laugh.
I choked on air.
Derek stared at Kaelor with something dark brewing underneath—but Kaelor didn't flinch.
Something between them was shifting.
I couldn't name it yet, but it felt important.
---
Lunch — Sana's Section C Update, Part 2
Sana slid beside me, balancing her tray like she was entering a board meeting.
"So, Arista. News."
I sighed. "Please, no."
"Too late," she said. "It's about Derek."
I froze.
Mira leaned in. "Spill."
Sana lowered her voice.
"You know how he's been acting weird? Well… someone said he got into a fight yesterday after school."
My heart skipped.
"A fight? With who?"
"No one knows," Sana said. "But… he looked angry. Really angry."
Mira added, "I've said this before and I'll say it again: keep your guard up."
I wasn't scared.
Just… uneasy.
Something about Derek Rao had changed.
And I didn't like the direction.
---
After School — Unplanned Moment
The hallway was almost empty when I packed up.
I felt someone walk past and recognized the familiar scent—mint and rain.
Kaelor.
He slowed down… then stopped.
"Arista."
I looked up. "Yeah?"
He hesitated.
Again.
He was doing that a lot lately.
"You don't have to worry about Derek."
My brows knitted. "Why would I worry?"
He didn't answer.
His fingers tightened around the strap of his bag.
"He's unpredictable these days," Kaelor said quietly. "Just… stay careful."
The way he said it—low, serious, almost protective—sent a weird flutter through me.
"I can handle myself," I whispered.
"I know."
A tiny smile.
Barely there.
"And you do it well."
…What was that?
My brain blue-screened.
Before I could respond, someone called his name from down the hall.
He nodded at me once and walked away, leaving my thoughts in a tangled ball.
---
Evening — Clue #2 From Home
At dinner, Sarvin sat beside me, poking his rice dramatically.
"Didi," he said, "that boy… the one with the serious face…"
"Kaelor?" I guessed.
Sarvin nodded. "Yes. Him. I saw him today near the gate. He wasn't talking to anyone. Just staring inside like he was checking something."
My chopsticks froze.
"Maybe he was waiting," Dad shrugged.
"No," Sarvin insisted. "He looked worried."
Mom glanced at me knowingly.
"You've been involved in too many dramatic circles lately."
"…It's not my fault my classmates are professional chaos generators."
---
Night — That Feeling Again
I tried to sleep.
Really tried.
But something kept tapping my thoughts like a pencil:
Kaelor's warning.
Derek's fake smile.
Devin trying to reconnect.
Sana's updates.
A pattern was forming.
I just couldn't see the picture yet.
I turned on my side.
Stared at the ceiling.
Why did it feel like everyone around me was preparing for something?
And why did I feel like I was standing at the center of it?
A storm wasn't coming.
It was already here.
I just hadn't seen the lightning yet.
---
Night Scene — Derek (What I Still Don't Know)
Derek stood behind his house, scrolling through another message.
This one said:
"Don't let her drift toward him. Watch closely."
His jaw tightened.
His reply was short:
"I always do."
He deleted the chat.
And the screen went dark.