Kaivan shook his head. "Later. I want to finish this first." His voice was calm but firm.
Felicia's smile softened, yet something in her eyes grew serious. "Alright then..."
Without warning, she grabbed Kaivan by the collar and pulled him up from his chair like a sack of rice.
"Hey! Let me go, Fel!" Kaivan protested, flailing as she effortlessly dragged him along. His lean frame offered no resistance, he looked like a rag doll in her hands.
The students watched in bewilderment as Felicia dragged Kaivan away. Curious whispers rippled across the classroom, but Felicia didn't care. With quick, decisive steps, she led him straight to the school garden, their usual spot beneath the large, shady tree. Gently, she set him down on the worn wooden bench before sitting beside him.
"Fel, seriously. I have to finish those calculations," Kaivan muttered, half annoyed.
Felicia didn't reply. Instead, she pulled out her lunchbox and, without warning, offered him a spoonful. "It's lunch time, not math time. Now open up," she said cheerfully.
Kaivan hesitated, unable to resist that gentle smile. He sighed and opened his mouth, accepting the food with reluctant gratitude. "...Thanks," he murmured softly.
Even outside the classroom, Kaivan's focus didn't waver. His eyes stayed locked on the notebook filled with dense numbers and diagrams. His brows knit tightly together, rarely did he look this serious.
Felicia sat gracefully beside him, her long black hair cascading like silk under the dappled light. She peeked at his notes now and then, careful not to interrupt. Moments later, Radit appeared, holding a packaged bun and plopping down next to Felicia.
"What's with all that math, Kaivan? You look like you're planning a trip overseas," Radit joked while unwrapping his bread.
Kaivan was about to answer, but Felicia slipped another bite of food between his lips. The motion was so natural it silenced him. He chewed, then managed, "I'm making a budget…", only to be interrupted again by another spoonful. "…for building a, " and once more, another bite cut him off.
Radit sighed. "Felicia, can you let him finish a sentence?"
Felicia turned to him, her crimson eyes flashing sharply. "Are you trying to tell me what to do?" she asked coolly.
Radit froze, hands raised in surrender. "Kidding, kidding! I know my place."
Meanwhile, on the upper balcony of the school building, Tania stood silently with her arms crossed. Her gaze was fixed on the garden below, confused, curious, and carrying a faint trace of envy she didn't want to admit.
"Why is he still so calm?" she whispered. "After everything… after escaping the police, he still has people by his side."
A light set of footsteps approached from behind. Rina, her friend, arrived with a teasing grin. Following Tania's gaze, she smirked. "Still watching that nerd?" she said, nudging Tania playfully.
Without thinking, Tania muttered under her breath, "If I'd known Kaivan would change like this… maybe I would've said yes back then." The words slipped out before she could stop them, and her eyes widened in surprise at her own honesty.
Rina grinned wider. "Oh? So you do like him now?"
Behind them, Dandi chuckled as he walked closer, arms crossed. "Wait, you're into the nerd now?"
Tania bristled. "No! I just, he's different now. And anyway, we can't use him for free café food anymore, right?" she said defensively, trying to mask her fluster.
Back in the garden, Kaivan leaned back against the old wooden bench. Felicia continued to feed him gently this time, giving him enough space to think.
Radit glanced at him and asked, "Why not just use the Tome Omnicent? Wouldn't that be faster?"
Kaivan paused mid-bite, looking up at him. "I don't want to rely on it," he said quietly. "It feels… more right to do this with my own hands. Once everything's ready, I'll explain."
Felicia smiled softly, brushing his arm with her fingertips. "You really are stubborn," she whispered, then glanced at Radit with a faint smirk. "But that's just who he is."
Kaivan turned his head and saw Tania, Rina, and Dandi standing on the upper balcony. His expression remained calm. Without a trace of fear, he looked away, they no longer mattered.
The bell rang, signaling the end of lunch break. Students began to return to their classrooms. Kaivan, Felicia, and Radit followed soon after. That brief moment under the shade reminded Kaivan of something simple yet precious, that he wasn't walking this path alone. His friends, ordinary as they were, still stood by his side.
At a prestigious elite academy, Isabel walked slowly down the corridor after the dismissal bell rang. Her soft pink hair shimmered beneath the sunlight streaming through the long windows. Each graceful step drew glances from others, yet her mind drifted far away. Her eyes gazed blankly toward the school garden, as though she were lost in thought.
At the main entrance, she saw a couple talking affectionately. The boy gently wrapped his arm around his girlfriend. "Tira, let's go on a trip together when I have some extra money," he said with a grin. The girl smiled, her eyes sparkling. "Okay, Frans. We'll save up first. But when the school break comes… just the two of us, alright?"
Isabel stopped. A faint smile touched her lips, though her eyes held something else. How nice… to have someone who cares that much, she thought. In silence, a faint memory surfaced, a young man who once helped her. The image was blurry, yet the warmth of that moment lingered. Wasn't there a boy who helped me back then? He was so kind… Did he perhaps like me? Her cheeks flushed slightly. Could it be… he really did?
She tried to recall more clearly, her gaze sharpening as she searched her mind for the name floating just beyond reach. Was it Pan? Tipan? Pan-something…? she muttered in frustration. She knew that memory wasn't mere nostalgia, there was something unfinished, something she had to know.
Then, Frans's voice broke her train of thought as he answered a call. "Of course. I'll bring all the used phones this Saturday. Got it, Kaivan."
Isabel froze. Her eyes widened, her heart pounding. Then a spark of recognition lit her face. That's it… the guy who loves used phones! I remember now! she thought, excitement blooming in her chest. Saturday… I have to see him. And make sure… of his name. She beamed brightly, oblivious that the name she was chasing had already been spoken aloud.
The evening sky draped the city in hues of orange. Birds flew home as footsteps echoed down the quiet street. Kaivan walked slowly, his body relaxed yet weary after school. In front of his house, he sighed softly, dropped his bag, and nudged off his shoes. The wooden door creaked open, greeting him with the familiar scent of home, aged wood and leftover midday cooking.
Kaivan opened the door and called softly, "I'm home," almost out of habit, a small bag of fried tofu dangling from his hand. Usually, he would hear his mother's footsteps coming from the kitchen, followed by her warm greeting. But tonight, the house was quiet.
He stepped inside, passing through a neatly kept living room with simple furniture. In the middle of the room, his mother sat motionless before the television, watching a documentary about Norway, snowy mountains, serene valleys, clear blue skies. The scenery was breathtaking, as if it had carried her spirit away to that distant land.
Kaivan quietly approached, leaning his slender frame against the side of the sofa, watching her face, peaceful, yet filled with longing. A faint smile touched her lips, trembling with unspoken words.
"Do you want to go there someday, Mom?" he finally asked, his voice gentle but steady.
His mother flinched slightly, then turned with a shy smile. "Of course I do," she whispered. "But… how could I? It's too expensive. Just a dream, Kai."