The rain from yesterday carried over into today—
not outside, but inside my head.
All night, Kaelor's warning kept replaying:
"Someone is trying to bother you."
He didn't say Derek.
He didn't say who.
He just knew.
And that scared me more than the warning itself.
---
Morning — Sana's Radar Activates
The moment I entered class, Sana Rao stopped mid-sentence, mid-breath, mid-everything.
"You're late," she said, eyeing me suspiciously.
"I overslept."
She leaned closer.
"No. Your face says something happened."
I froze.
Sana's intuition was dangerous.
Meera joined us with half a sandwich.
"Tell me everything."
"Nothing happened," I insisted.
Both of them stared at me with identical expressions:
We do not believe you at all.
I sighed.
"It was just… raining yesterday."
Meera narrowed her eyes.
"And?"
"And nothing! I walked home."
Sana's eyebrow shot up.
"Alone?"
"…Not exactly."
Their eyes widened.
"WITH WHO?"
they both shouted in perfect synchronization.
I flinched.
"Can you not announce it to the whole building?"
They leaned in like detectives.
"Arista," Meera whispered dramatically,
"did Kaelor Han walk with you in the rain?"
I opened my mouth to lie.
But my silence answered for me.
Their souls left their bodies.
Sana grabbed her forehead.
"That boy likes you."
"He does NOT," I snapped.
Meera shook her head.
"No. Boys do NOT walk in the rain for girls they feel nothing for."
I groaned.
"Please be normal."
"We ARE being normal," Sana said.
"You're the one in denial."
I sighed deeply because my heart says that it's only an attraction.
This day had barely started.
---
Group Project — Round Two of Chaos
Our doomed group reunited again at the far table.
Devin gave me a small smile.
"Hey. You okay today?"
"Yeah," I said, though I wasn't sure.
Derek didn't look up.
He twirled his pen slowly.
Calculating.
Always calculating.
Kaelor…
didn't even glance at me this time.
That was weird.
He always at least observed.
But today?
He was stiff.
Rigid.
Focused on the notes in front of him like they insulted his ancestors.
I cleared my throat.
"So, um… research topics?"
Devin nodded quickly.
"Yeah! Maybe sustainable tech or—"
"No," Derek said calmly.
"We're doing psychological profiling."
I blinked.
"What? Why that?"
He smiled faintly, eyes locking onto mine.
"Some people are just… fascinating to study."
A chill ran up my spine.
Kaelor finally looked up — sharply.
"That topic is irrelevant."
"It's interesting," Derek replied.
"And personal," Kaelor shot back.
Their eyes met.
And for the first time… I felt something electric between them.
Not friendship.
Not rivalry.
Something darker.
Like they both knew something about each other
that I didn't.
I swallowed.
"Let's just pick something neutral, okay?"
Devin nodded vigorously.
"Yes. Neutral is great. Neutral is safe. Neutral will save my sanity."
Derek leaned back, tapping his pen.
"Sure. We'll do it your way."
But his eyes stayed on me
far too long.
---
Lunch — The Rumor Storm
I was walking to the cafeteria when someone tapped my shoulder.
It was Zoe.
"Girl, why is the whole school whispering your name?"
"I… what?" I blinked.
Zoe folded her arms.
"You walked home in the rain yesterday with Kaelor Han. People saw."
I nearly tripped.
"HOW? IT WAS POURING! NO ONE WAS OUTSIDE!"
Zoe rolled her eyes.
"Teenagers love drama. Someone always sees."
Great.
Just great.
I wasn't even DOING anything, and suddenly I was the headline of the day.
---
End of School — A Strange Encounter
Classes ended, and Meera wanted to go home together, but she got dragged into a debate club meeting at the last minute.
So I walked alone to the exit.
Until someone stepped in front of me.
Derek.
He stood with one hand on his bag strap, eyes unreadable.
"You walk home alone today?" he asked.
"…Yes?"
He smiled slowly.
"I can walk with you, if you want."
My chest tightened in discomfort. I just can't figure out what this guy wants from me.
Before I could answer, a voice interrupted.
"No. She's not going with you."
I turned —
Kaelor stood there, expression perfectly blank.
Derek chuckled softly.
"Possessive much?"
Kaelor didn't react.
His eyes stayed on Derek like he was analyzing a threat.
"You shouldn't bother her."
Derek's smile widened.
"Funny. I never said I was bothering anyone."
Their tension filled the hallway like fog.
I stepped back.
"Stop. Both of you."
Derek looked at me gently — too gently.
"I'm just being friendly."
Kaelor's jaw clenched.
I didn't understand anything.
But I knew one thing:
Something was happening beneath the surface.
Something I wasn't seeing yet.
---
Night — That Same Unknown Number
Later that night, alone in his dim room, Derek checked his phone again.
Another message.
📩
Unknown:
She trusts you less now. Adjust accordingly.
He typed back three words:
"I know. Relax."
Then he leaned back on his chair, smiling that same smile…
the one that made my heart uneasy
even across distances.
What's going on ?