The school courtyard buzzed with life.
Voices overlapped—laughter, chatter, footsteps echoing across the open space. Students moved in groups, some rushing to classes, others lingering just a little longer than they should.
But in one corner of the courtyard—
The atmosphere was different.
Heavier.
Unpredictable.
Everyone knew it.
And most chose to stay away.
Melissa leaned casually against a bench, twirling a pen between her fingers, her eyes scanning the surroundings like she was searching for entertainment.
Beside her, Julia sat cross-legged on the bench, scrolling through her phone, completely relaxed.
Or at least—appearing relaxed.
Because the moment someone unfamiliar stepped too close to their space, the air shifted instantly.
People knew them.
Not by introduction.
But by reputation.
They were the kind of seniors whose names spread faster than rumors.
And rarely in a good way.
"Hey, Luna," Melissa called out suddenly, her tone light—but carrying something underneath it.
Luna froze mid-step.
She hesitated for just a second before slowly turning around.
Her expression already cautious.
"Y-yeah?"
Melissa smiled.
Too sweet to be real.
"There's something in your hair."
Luna blinked, confused.
"What? Let me check—"
She raised her hand, trying to feel it.
But before she could—
Melissa stepped forward.
Quick.
Effortless.
And pressed something into Luna's hair.
Sticky.
Cold.
Wrong.
Then she stepped back.
Smiling.
"Chewing gum."
For a second—
Silence.
Luna's face went blank.
Then realization hit.
"What did you just do?!"
Her voice cracked between shock and anger as she tried to pull her hand away, only to feel the gum tangled deeper into her hair.
Julia finally looked up from her phone, completely unbothered.
"Exactly what needed to be done," she said flatly.
Luna's eyes filled with frustration.
"Why would you even—"
She stopped.
Because she already knew the answer.
There wasn't one.
Or rather—
There didn't need to be one.
Around them, students pretended not to notice.
Some looked away.
Some whispered.
No one stepped in.
No one ever did.
A boy sitting nearby—Steve—tried to quietly continue studying, his eyes glued to his notebook like if he ignored them hard enough, he might become invisible.
It didn't work.
Melissa noticed.
Of course she did.
She always noticed.
She picked up a bottle of water from the bench, walked over casually—
And without warning—
Splashed it across his face.
Steve jolted upright.
"What the hell?!"
Water dripped down his hair, soaking his notes instantly.
Melissa tilted her head slightly, amused.
"You started studying without me?"
Julia stood up slowly, stretching as she walked closer.
"Planning to be the topper, huh?"
Steve clenched his fists, anger flashing in his eyes—but it didn't last.
Because fear replaced it just as quickly.
"I… I wasn't—"
"Relax," Melissa interrupted, waving her hand dismissively. "You're no competition anyway."
A few students nearby let out quiet, nervous laughs.
Steve said nothing.
He just lowered his gaze.
And then—
A voice cut through the tension.
Clear.
Calm.
Unafraid.
"What are you two doing?"
Melissa froze.
Just slightly.
Julia turned her head.
A girl stood a few steps away.
The same girl.
The one Jacob had seen.
The one who didn't seem to belong anywhere—and yet somehow stood out everywhere.
"Don't you have anything better to do?" she added.
Her tone wasn't angry.
It wasn't loud.
But it carried something stronger—
Control.
For a moment—
No one spoke.
The courtyard seemed to pause.
Waiting.
Watching.
Melissa straightened up slowly.
Her expression changed.
Not completely.
But enough.
Julia blinked once—
Then suddenly smiled.
And walked toward the girl.
Without hesitation.
She wrapped her arms around her in a warm hug.
The kind that didn't match anything from seconds ago.
"Where were you?" Julia asked casually.
Melissa stepped closer too, her earlier sharpness now softened into something almost… playful.
She gently pulled the girl closer.
Studied her face for a second.
Then leaned forward—
And pressed a soft kiss onto her forehead.
"If we wanted," Melissa said lightly, "we could trouble you too."
The words hung in the air.
Not threatening.
Not exactly.
But not entirely harmless either.
Julia smirked slightly.
"But we don't—"
And then—
Both of them spoke together.
"Because you're special to us."
The contrast was impossible to ignore.
Moments ago—
Cruel.
Careless.
Untouchable.
And now—
Soft.
Gentle.
Almost protective.
The girl didn't react dramatically.
Didn't smile widely.
Didn't pull away either.
She just stood there.
Calm.
As if this was normal.
As if she understood something others didn't.
Melissa reached into her bag and pulled out a chocolate.
Without asking, she placed it into the girl's hand.
"For you."
Julia wasn't far behind.
She took out a small bracelet—delicate, simple, with tiny details that caught the light.
"Found this yesterday," she said. "Thought of you."
She gently tied it around the girl's wrist.
Her movements careful.
Precise.
As if she was handling something fragile.
Something important.
Around them, the students watched in confusion.
Whispers spread quickly.
"Why are they acting like that?"
"They never treat anyone like this…"
"Who even is she?"
No one had an answer.
The girl glanced down at the bracelet for a moment.
Then back at them.
"You should stop doing this," she said quietly.
Melissa raised an eyebrow.
"Doing what?"
"Hurting people."
A small pause.
Julia shrugged.
"They'll survive."
The girl didn't argue.
Didn't push.
She just looked at them.
And somehow—
That look said more than words could.
For the first time—
Melissa looked away first.
"Tch," she muttered softly.
Julia exhaled, running a hand through her hair.
"Let's go."
And just like that—
They turned.
And walked away.
Together.
Leaving behind a courtyard full of confusion, whispers, and unanswered questions.
Luna stood frozen, still trying to fix her hair.
Steve stared at his soaked notebook.
Neither of them understood what had just happened.
No one did.
Except maybe—
Her.
The girl remained standing there for a moment longer.
The chocolate still in her hand.
The bracelet around her wrist catching the light.
Her gaze drifted slightly.
Distant.
Thoughtful.
As if she was somewhere else entirely.
And for a brief second—
If someone had been watching closely—
They might have noticed something strange.
Something subtle.
Something… familiar.
The way the air around her seemed to shift.
Just slightly.
Almost unnoticeable.
Then she blinked.
And it was gone.
She turned quietly and walked away toward the corridor.
Blending back into the normal flow of students.
As if she had never stood out at all.
But far away—
Unseen—
A memory stirred.
Jacob's memory.
The pool.
The rain.
The same presence.
The same mystery.
Because now—
The connection was undeniable.