Monday had already felt like a storm waiting to happen…
but Tuesday decided to actually bring one.
Literally.
---
Morning — The Group Project Tension Thickens
The moment I entered class, Meera slid beside me like she'd been waiting at the door for an hour.
"There you are. Your group is already chaos, FYI."
I groaned.
"Don't remind me."
Derek was flipping his pencil like he was plotting something.
Devin looked… nervous.
Kaelor sat silently, watching all three of us like he was mapping a battlefield.
And the worst part?
The teacher walked in and said,
"I hope all groups began their outlines yesterday."
Our table?
Not even close.
We sat together again, forced into a square of awkwardness.
Devin tried to lighten the mood.
"So, uh… should we divide the sections?"
Kaelor's tone came out low.
"You handle research. I'll organize the structure."
Derek smirked.
"You two already dividing everything? Convenient."
I narrowed my eyes.
"Derek, what is wrong with you lately?"
He smiled that strange, unreadable smile again.
"Nothing. I just pay attention."
Something in my stomach twisted.
Kaelor's jaw tightened.
Devin suddenly pretended his notebook was the most interesting thing in the world.
And me?
I was stuck in the middle of three different storms.
---
Lunch Break — Meera's Investigation Mode
Meera dragged me near the stairs to "talk privately."
"Arista," she said dramatically, "I need you to understand something."
"What?"
She pointed at our group table like it was a crime scene.
"Those boys? They're all acting weird. All three. And you're the common factor."
"I didn't do anything!" I defended.
"I know! That's the scary part!"
She looked genuinely concerned now.
"Kaelor's quiet-level increased. Derek's smirk-level increased. Devin's awkward-level increased.
And you? Your confusion-level is at MAX."
"…thanks?"
She patted my shoulder like I was a patient.
"I'll keep my eyes open."
Great.
Now Meera was in detective mode.
---
After School — The Rain Hits Different Today
The moment the final bell rang, the sky cracked open.
In five seconds, the courtyard turned into a gray sheet of rain.
Of course, I had no umbrella.
Of course.
Meera looked at the sky, horrified.
"I'm not ruining my hair for chemistry notes. I'm calling my driver."
She waved and rushed away, leaving me at the entrance, staring helplessly at the downpour.
I sighed.
"Guess I'm getting drenched."
Just as I stepped forward—
"Arista."
I turned.
Kaelor stood behind me, school bag slung over one shoulder, rainwater already dotting his shirt from running across the courtyard earlier.
"You're going alone?" he asked.
"Everyone else left. And I forgot my umbrella."
He looked at the sky, then at me, then at the ground like he was doing calculations in his head.
"I'll walk with you."
My heart skipped for half a second — not romantically, just… surprised.
"You don't have to—"
"Your house isn't far from mine," he cut in softly.
"It's fine."
"But you live completely opposite from my house side" I said
"Don't worry. I have my own ways" he said
I nodded, unsure.
We stepped into the rain.
No umbrella.
No shelter.
Just the sound of heavy raindrops hitting pavement.
He didn't talk.
I didn't either.
But the silence wasn't uncomfortable.
It was… thick.
Heavy.
Like everything unspoken between us hung in the air with the rain.
At one point, my shoe slipped slightly on the wet ground.
Before I could fall, Kaelor steadied me with one hand on my arm.
"You okay?"
"Y-yeah. Just slippery."
He nodded and let go gently — almost too carefully.
I guess universe love the drama happening in my life.
But something in his eyes looked tense.
Like he was fighting thoughts he couldn't say out loud.
---
At My Gate — A Strange Warning
We finally reached my house, both dripping wet from head to toe.
I turned to him.
"Thanks for walking with me."
He shook his head.
"You shouldn't walk alone when the weather's like this."
I smiled a little.
"You sound like my dad."
He didn't laugh.
He just looked at me for a long second.
Then he said something I didn't expect.
"Arista… if anyone bothers you or makes you uncomfortable… tell me."
I blinked.
"What? Why?"
He hesitated.
Then his voice dropped to a quiet, controlled tone.
"Because someone is trying to. I can feel it."
My throat went dry.
"Are you talking about Derek?"
A pause.
A long pause.
Kaelor didn't confirm.
He didn't deny.
He just said:
"Be careful. That's all."
And before I could ask more, he turned and walked away through the rain.
Leaving my heart pounding with a mixture of fear… and questions.
---
Night — The Message I Don't See
Far away, in an empty classroom lit only by the hallway lamp, Derek sat alone, phone in hand.
A notification popped up.
📩
Unknown Number:
She's getting too close. Move faster.
Derek's lips curved again.
That same strange, unsettling smile.
The one I felt even without seeing.
The storm wasn't outside anymore.
It was here.
And definitely not over yet