I stopped trusting quiet days.
They were the worst ones.
At school, everything looked normal. Too normal. The laughter, the chalk on the board, the sunlight through the windows- it all felt staged, like a lie rehearsed too well. I sat still, back straight, hands folded, pretending my heart wasn't racing.
I felt it again.
That heavy awareness. Like I was standing on a stage I didn't know I'd stepped onto.
Every time I moved, I wondered who noticed. Every time someone laughed behind me, my shoulders tensed. I hated it. I hated feeling small. I hate feeling weak.
I wasn't afraid.
Show yourself left class calmly this time. No rushing. No panic. The rooftop greeted me with cold wind and open sky. I walked to the edge and stared down, grounding myself
"Show yourself " I whispered, not sure who I was talking to.
No answer.
But I knew I wasn't alone.' You are here right, Ronin' , I said looking around.
So you started feeling my shadow already he replied showing himself .
The wind tugged at my hair, but I didn't move away. I had too many questions, and the silence was unbearable.
"You keep showing up," I said, trying to sound braver than I felt. "Why? What do you want from me?"
His ocean blue eyes didn't waver. "I'm not here to ask for anything," he said softly, almost like he was trying not to push me too far. "I'm here to warn you. To see what you're willing to risk."
"What do you mean?" My voice cracked, though I tried to hide it.
"Everything you've done today… even coming up here… it matters. Every choice. Every step." He paused, studying me. "Some risks are worth it. Some aren't. You'll have to decide which ones you take.
I swallowed hard. The truth hit me: staying here, talking to him, was a risk. But leaving felt like a risk too. And somehow, I wanted to test it.
"I don't even know what I'm risking," I admitted.
"Exactly," he said, and a small smirk appeared. "That's what makes it worth it."
The air between us tightened. I wanted to ask him more- why he always disappeared, what he really was-but the moment was fragile. Every word felt like stepping on a thin bridge.
"You have to trust your instincts, Rivena," he whispered, leaning just close enough for the wind to carry his words to me. "Not me. Not anyone else. Just yourself."
I nodded, even though my heart raced. I didn't fully understand, but I knew he was right.
The rooftop felt smaller suddenly, like the wind, the sky, even the city below, was watching. But for once, I didn't care. I had made a choice- to face the unknown, and to face it with him.
And just like that, the night felt both heavier and lighter at the same time.