KAYLA'S POV (Continuing):
I looked down at my hands for a second before forcing myself to meet his eyes again.
"I'm apologizing for Theo," I said softly. "I don't know what got into him today…"
That wasn't entirely true.
I had seen Theo angry before.
But this?
This had been something else.
Something darker.
Something harder to explain.
I swallowed.
"So… I'm apologizing on his behalf."
Hari was silent for a moment.
Then, to my surprise, he gave a faint smile.
"It's okay."
I frowned slightly.
"What?"
He shifted carefully against the pillow, wincing just a little.
"I also hit him," he said. "More than once, actually."
A tiny breath of amusement escaped him.
"So I guess… we're somehow even."
Despite myself, I almost smiled.
Almost.
"Still," I said quietly, "he started it."
Hari studied me for a moment.
There was something warm in his gaze now.
Gentle.
Steady.
Not mocking.
Not judgmental.
Just… kind.
"Don't feel guilty for me," he said. "Really."
That only made the strange tightness in my chest worse.
Because I'd expected anger.
Bitterness.
Maybe even blame.
Instead, he was sitting here, bruised and hurt, trying to make me feel better.
How annoying.
And… how unfairly nice.
I cleared my throat, pushing the thought away.
"How are you feeling now?"
Hari glanced down at the bandage on his hand before looking back at me.
"Better," he said. "The nurse said if I rest and take the medicine, I'll be fine."
He tried to sound casual about it, but I noticed the slight stiffness in the way he moved, the way one of his hands pressed lightly against his ribs.
Theo had hit him hard.
Too hard.
"Good," I said, quieter than before. "That's good."
Another silence settled between us.
But this one felt different.
Not awkward.
Just… still.
Sunlight filtered through the blinds and fell across the edge of his bed, catching the bruises on his face in soft gold. For some reason, it made him look calmer than he should have looked.
Too calm for someone who had just been dragged through hell in the cafeteria.
My eyes lingered on him for a second longer than necessary.
Then I quickly looked away.
I really needed to leave.
This was getting weird.
"Okay…" I said after a moment, taking a small step back. "I should go now."
Hari nodded slowly.
"You should."