The sun felt warmer than I remembered. After weeks stuck in that hospital room, the sight of the school gates almost felt strange — familiar yet distant. My heart pounded as I took a deep breath and walked in.
"Jay!" C-in's voice sliced through the crowd, and before I could blink, he had thrown himself onto me like a hyperactive koala. "You're back! The school was boring without you!"
"C-in, get off her before she breaks again," Aries said, pulling him away. Despite his stern tone, I caught the slightest smile tugging at his lips.
"Welcome back, Jay." David handed me a paper cup of iced coffee. "You look better."
"Thanks," I said softly
Hey." The voice I'd been waiting for made me freeze.
Keifer stood just a few feet away, his bag slung low on one shoulder, eyes softer than I'd ever seen them. He scratched the back of his neck awkwardly. "You okay?"
I nodded. "Better now."
He walked up beside me, the familiar scent. "I'm just glad you're here. Everything feels weird when you're not around and keiren and keigan miss you ."
"Yeah," I said, smiling faintly. "Feels good to be back."
The bell rang, and everyone started scattering. C-in waved wildly. "Come on! We're gonna be late!"
As I stepped into the classroom, I caught Keifer's hand for a second, fingers brushing lightly. He smiled.