Chapter 9
The Things You Notice Without Trying
The class test was announced without warning.
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"Surprise test," the teacher said, placing a stack of papers on the desk.
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Groans filled the room instantly.
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"You've already covered everything required," she continued. "Let's see how much you actually understood."
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Bela straightened slightly in her seat.
Tests didn't scare her.
They grounded her.
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Something predictable.
Something she could control.
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She took a slow breath as the paper was placed in front of her.
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Then—
She began.
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The first few questions were easy.
Familiar.
Comfortable.
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But as she moved forward—
Her pace slowed.
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The questions became more complex.
More layered.
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Bela frowned slightly, her pen pausing above the paper.
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She knew this.
She had studied this.
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But something—
Something wasn't connecting the way it should.
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She glanced sideways.
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Vihaan.
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He wasn't rushing.
Wasn't even writing continuously.
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Just… calm.
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Reading.
Understanding.
Then writing.
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Like time didn't matter.
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Like nothing pressured him.
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Bela looked back at her paper.
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Focused.
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Tried again.
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Minutes passed.
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The room was silent except for the sound of pens moving across paper.
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Occasionally—
A sigh.
A frustrated shift.
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Bela moved forward slowly.
Carefully.
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But one question—
Stayed.
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Unsolved.
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She stared at it.
Again.
And again.
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Her fingers tightened slightly around her pen.
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Think.
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You know this.
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But the answer didn't come.
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"…Third step."
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The voice was low.
Barely audible.
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Bela froze.
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She turned her head slightly.
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Vihaan didn't look at her.
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Didn't even move.
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"…What?" she whispered.
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"Third step," he repeated.
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Her eyes widened slightly.
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He wasn't supposed to help.
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He didn't help.
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But—
He just did.
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Bela looked back at the question.
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Third step.
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She re-read it.
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And suddenly—
It clicked.
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"…Oh," she murmured softly.
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Her pen moved quickly now.
Confident.
Certain.
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She didn't look at him again.
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But something inside her—
Shifted.
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Not surprise.
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Something softer.
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Something warmer.
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The bell rang.
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"Submit your papers," the teacher said.
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Students got up one by one, handing in their sheets.
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Bela stood, walking forward.
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As she placed her paper on the desk—
She felt… lighter.
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Not because the test went well.
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But because of something else.
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Something she didn't fully understand yet.
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Back at her seat—
She turned slightly.
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"…Thank you."
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Vihaan didn't respond.
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But his fingers tapped lightly against the desk.
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A small habit.
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Or maybe—
A reaction.
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Bela noticed it.
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And for some reason—
That made her smile.
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Just a little.
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"Discuss your answers," the teacher said after collecting all papers.
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That was all the invitation the class needed.
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Voices filled the room instantly.
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"What did you get for question five?"
"I left that one…"
"It didn't make sense…"
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Samar leaned over from the front.
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"You okay?" he asked.
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Bela nodded.
"Yeah."
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"You looked stuck at one point."
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"I was."
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"And?"
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She hesitated.
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Then—
"I figured it out."
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Samar narrowed his eyes slightly.
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"…On your own?"
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Bela glanced sideways.
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Vihaan was looking ahead.
As if none of this concerned him.
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"…Yeah," she said quietly.
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Samar didn't push.
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But he noticed.
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Of course he did.
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Across the room—
Ritika watched.
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Her gaze sharp.
Focused.
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She had seen it.
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Not the words.
Not the whisper.
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But the moment.
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The way Bela had paused.
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The way she had suddenly started writing again.
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And most importantly—
The way Vihaan hadn't looked at anyone else.
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Her fingers tightened slightly around her pen.
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When the teacher returned the papers later—
The class grew silent again.
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"Some of you did well," she said. "Some of you need to revise more."
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She began calling out names.
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One by one.
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"Bela."
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Bela looked up.
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"Good work."
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She nodded slightly.
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Then—
"Vihaan."
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A pause.
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"Full marks."
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A few students turned instantly.
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Some surprised.
Some not.
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Samar smirked slightly.
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"Of course," he muttered.
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Bela glanced at him.
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Not surprised.
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Just—
Impressed.
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More than she expected.
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After class—
Students gathered again.
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"Full marks again?"
"How do you even do that?"
"He doesn't even study…"
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Bela stayed quiet.
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Watching.
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Observing.
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Understanding.
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"You're staring."
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She blinked.
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Vihaan.
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"…I'm not."
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"You are."
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A pause.
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"…Maybe a little," she admitted.
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"Why?"
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Bela hesitated.
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Because the answer—
Felt too honest.
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"…You're different."
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That made him pause.
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"…From what?"
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"From everyone else."
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A small silence followed.
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Then—
"That's not a good thing."
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Bela tilted her head slightly.
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"Maybe it is."
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He looked at her.
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For a moment—
Longer than usual.
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"…You think too much."
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"You don't think enough."
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A beat.
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Then—
"…That's not true."
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Bela smiled faintly.
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"I know."
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And somehow—
That simple exchange—
Felt lighter.
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Easier.
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After school—
The corridor buzzed with energy again.
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Students talking about the test.
Comparing marks.
Complaining.
Laughing.
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Bela walked slowly.
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Her mind somewhere else.
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"…You did well."
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She turned.
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Vihaan walked beside her.
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Unexpected.
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"…You too," she said.
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"That's normal."
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"That's confidence."
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"That's accuracy."
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She smiled.
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Then—
"…You didn't have to help me."
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A pause.
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"I didn't."
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"You did."
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Silence.
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Then—
"…You would've figured it out."
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Bela looked at him.
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"…Maybe."
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Another pause.
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"Still," she added, "thank you."
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He didn't reply.
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But this time—
He didn't deny it either.
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They walked in silence for a few steps.
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Not awkward.
Not heavy.
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Just… quiet.
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"…You smile less now," he said suddenly.
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Bela blinked.
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"What?"
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"You did more before."
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She frowned slightly.
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"You noticed that?"
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"I notice things."
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A pause.
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"…I'm just tired," she said.
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Not entirely a lie.
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Not entirely the truth either.
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Vihaan didn't respond.
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But his gaze lingered on her for a moment longer than usual.
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As if—
He didn't fully believe her.
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But didn't ask either.
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And maybe—
That was enough.
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For now.