Alice leans back in his seat, tilting his head slightly to peek at Elara's book.
"So…"
He drags the word.
"What are we studying today, Miss Topper?"
Elara doesn't even blink.
No reaction.
No eye contact.
Page turns.
Alice smirks.
"Oh, wow. Ignoring me. Classic defense mechanism."
Lucien whispers to Victor,
"Ten bucks she snaps in five minutes."
Victor nods.
"Two pages max."
Alice leans closer.
"Is it philosophy? Science? Or another book about how fun is a sin?"
Elara calmly replies, eyes still on the page,
"Some people read to grow their brain. You wouldn't understand."
Lucien goes,
"OHHH."
Victor clutches his chest.
"Direct hit."
Alice pretends to be offended.
"Wow. Hurtful. I do read."
Elara finally looks at him—slowly.
"Oh? Instagram captions don't count."
Noah bursts out laughing.
"ELARA—"
Alice raises his hands.
"Okay, okay. Respect. But still—what are you reading?"
Elara ignores him again.
Alice is not done.
He leans even closer.
"Let me guess. Something boring. Something thick. Something that smells like depression."
Elara exhales sharply through her nose.
"Last warning."
Alice grins.
"Oh, I love warnings. They mean I'm winning."
Lucien whispers,
"He has a death wish."
Victor nods.
"RIP."
Alice continues, fearless.
"Does it have pictures? Or just words screaming 'I have no life'?"
That's it.
Elara slowly lifts the book higher—just enough.
The cover becomes visible.
BIG. BOLD. UNMISSABLE.
"HOW TO KILL AN ANNOYING MAN"
(A Psychological Guide)
Silence.
The van goes DEAD quiet.
Lucien's jaw drops.
Victor freezes.
Noah gasps so hard she almost chokes.
"…WHAT."
Noah grabs Elara's arm.
"BESTIE— WHY DO YOU OWN THAT BOOK?"
Alice stares at the cover.
Then at Elara.
Then back at the book.
"…Is that… a threat?"
Elara smiles sweetly.
"Educational purposes."
Noah wheezes.
"She's been waiting for this moment."
Lucien slowly scoots away from Alice.
"Bro, apologize."
Victor nods urgently.
"NOW."
Alice clears his throat.
"…So. Hypothetically. What chapter are we on?"
Elara flips a page calmly.
"Chapter seven."
Alice gulps.
"…What's chapter seven?"
Elara looks him dead in the eyes.
"'Identifying the Target.'"
Noah SCREAMS.
"I'M DONE— I'M SO DONE."
Lucien laughs nervously.
"I don't feel safe."
Victor mutters,
"I knew college would kill us."
Alice raises his hands.
"Okay, okay. I'll stop teasing."
Elara tilts her head.
"Oh? Already?"
Alice swallows.
"…For now."
Elara closes the book with a soft thud.
"Good choice."
Noah leans in.
"Does it work?"
Elara whispers back,
"Still testing."
Alice groans.
"You're evil."
Elara smirks.
"You started it."
There's a pause.
Then Alice laughs—soft, genuine.
"You haven't changed."
Elara looks away.
"Unfortunately."
But her lips twitch.
And Noah watches them both, shaking her head.
"Yeah… these two are definitely history."
The van keeps moving forward—
but the past has clearly decided to ride along.
The van finally comes to a slow halt.
Hohenberg International University, Germany
Tall glass buildings, ivy-covered walls, students moving everywhere—laughter, voices, a new beginning written all over the place.
Noah, Victor, and Lucien step out first.
They walk a little ahead and stop at a distance, standing quietly, taking in the view of the campus.
Lucien exhales.
"Damn… this place looks expensive."
Victor folds his arms.
"Yeah. Feels like one wrong step and you're in debt for life."
Noah smiles softly.
"It's beautiful though."
Then Alice steps out of the van.
He looks around—not impressed, not excited—just… observant.
Finally, Elara steps down.
Her foot slips slightly.
For a second, it looks like she's about to fall.
Alice instinctively reaches out—
his hand already moving before his brain can stop it.
But before he can touch her—
Elara steadies herself on her own.
She straightens up.
No help needed.
No eye contact.
Alice slowly pulls his hand back.
A small smile appears on his lips—forced, light.
"Still stubborn," he says casually.
"Remember when you tripped during the school race and refused help? Said you'd rather fall again than accept pity."
Elara adjusts her bag.
"And you pushed me just to prove a point."
Alice chuckles.
"You cried for an hour."
Elara smirks faintly.
"You stole my chocolate to 'cheer me up.'"
Alice grins.
"And you bit my hand."
For a moment, it almost feels normal.
Almost.
Alice's smile fades slightly.
He looks at her—really looks at her this time.
"Elara…"
His voice softens.
"Why can't we be friends again? Like we were back then."
Elara freezes.
Her fingers tighten around the book in her hand.
She doesn't answer immediately.
The noise of the campus feels distant now.
Finally, she speaks—quietly.
"I'm sorry, Alice… but I don't want that."
Alice's brows knit together.
"Why?"
Elara swallows.
"I want to forget the past."
Alice's voice lowers.
"Forget… us?"
She nods, eyes still avoiding his.
"Yes."
Alice's jaw tightens.
"But why, Elara?"
His voice cracks—not loud, not dramatic—just honest.
"What did I do?"
She hesitates.
"For some reasons… I can't explain."
That's when his expression changes.
The hurt turns into frustration.
"So that's it?"
He lets out a dry laugh.
"No explanation. No reason. Just erase everything?"
Elara finally looks at him.
Her eyes aren't cold—
they're tired.
"This is better for both of us."
Alice's voice hardens.
"Fine."
He takes a step back.
"Then I won't try anymore."
He meets her gaze, equally serious.
"I'll never be your friend again. And I won't talk to you either."
Elara nods once.
"Okay."
A pause.
No dramatic music.
No tears.
Just two people standing too close with too much history between them.
Victor calls out from a distance,
"Alice! Orientation's starting!"
Alice doesn't look back.
He walks past Elara.
As he goes, he says quietly—
"Some memories were the only good thing I had."
He leaves.
Elara stays where she is.
For a moment, her face breaks—but only for a second.
Then she straightens herself, just like before.
Strong. Silent. Alone.
And somewhere between the towering walls of Hohenberg International University,
two childhood friends officially become strangers.
Noah gently grabs Elara's wrist.
"Elara, come on. Let's go. If we don't move now, we'll get lost in this giant college."
Elara nods absent-mindedly.
"Yeah."
They start walking through the wide campus corridors.
Noah looks around in awe.
"This place is huge. Honestly, I don't even know if we'll reach the classroom before graduation."
Elara hums softly.
"Hm."
Noah glances at her.
"Okay… you're clearly not here."
Elara keeps walking, eyes ahead but unfocused.
Noah sighs.
"Alright. Tell me."
Tell you what?"
Noah stops walking.
"That Alice guy. Who is he?"
Elara hesitates.
"It's a long story."
Noah smiles.
"Good. I have time. And curiosity."
Elara exhales slowly.
"He was my childhood friend. Actually… you could call him my best friend."
Noah's eyes widen.
"Oh."
She walks again, slower now.
"But not anymore," Elara adds quietly.
Noah nudges her.
"That explains the tension. And the emotional damage."
Elara almost smiles.
"We grew up together," she continues.
"Same streets. Same games. Same dreams. Then life happened."
Noah softens.
"So… unfinished business?"
Elara shakes her head.
"No. Finished. That's the problem."
They reach the classroom.
Elara freezes for a second.
Inside, Alice is already there—sitting with Victor and Lucien, laughing about something. He looks relaxed. Normal. Like nothing ever broke.
Elara looks at him—just once.
Then she looks away.
She walks in and chooses a seat on the other side of the room.
Noah follows… then suddenly stops.
"Nope."
"What?" Elara asks.
Noah grabs her bag.
"We're sitting there."
Elara blinks.
"Behind him?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
Noah grins.
"Because Lucien and I are officially friends now."
Lucien turns around, hearing his name.
"Oh hey! Seat neighbors!"
Elara glares at Noah.
"You're evil."
Noah whispers back.
"I know."
They sit.
Alice doesn't turn around—but he knows she's there.
Victor smirks.
"Drama seating?"
Alice mutters.
"I don't care."
Lucien chuckles.
"Sure. That's why you stopped talking."
Noah leans forward slightly.
"So… childhood best friend, huh?"
Elara closes her notebook.
"Drop it."
Noah whispers again, softer this time.
"You don't forget people like that."
Elara stares at the board.
"I'm trying."
And just like that, the first lecture begins—
with two people sitting only a few feet apart,
pretending the past isn't breathing between them.