The moment they stepped out of the cafeteria, the noise behind them faded into a dull echo.
The hallway felt lighter, less crowded, though students still moved in small groups—some heading back to class, others lingering by lockers, stretching conversations that didn't seem ready to end.
Bella walked beside Owen with an easy confidence, her steps relaxed, almost rhythmic. She adjusted the strap of her bag on her shoulder and glanced at him with a small, curious smile.
"So," she began, tilting her head slightly, "what school did you attend before coming here?"
Owen shifted his gaze from the hallway ahead to her. His expression remained calm, almost unreadable, but there was no hesitation in his answer.
"Liberty College, Lagos," he said.
Bella's eyebrows lifted immediately.
"Wow," she replied, her tone soft but impressed. "That's… not just any school."
She let out a short breath, shaking her head slightly as if processing it.
"You must be really smart then," she added, half teasing, half serious.
Owen gave a small shrug, the corner of his lips lifting just a little. "It's just a school."
Bella looked at him for a moment longer, as if trying to decide whether he was being modest or just naturally like that.
Before she could say anything else, Owen's attention shifted slightly.
He looked past her.
"Lillian, right?" he said.
Lillian, who had been walking quietly beside them—slightly behind, almost like she wasn't trying to interrupt their conversation—looked up.
She nodded once.
"Yes."
Her voice was soft, almost blending into the air around them.
There was a brief pause.
Owen studied her for a second—not in an intense way, just… noticing.
"You don't speak much," he said.
It wasn't rude.
It wasn't mocking.
Just an observation.
Lillian didn't respond immediately.
Before she could, Bella let out a light laugh.
"She speaks," Bella said quickly, waving her hand dismissively. "Just… barely."
She turned to Owen with a small grin.
"She feels there's no need to talk all the time."
Lillian glanced at Bella briefly but didn't argue.
It wasn't entirely wrong.
Owen nodded slowly, as if considering that.
"People hardly notice her," he added.
The words were simple.
But they landed differently.
For a split second, Lillian's steps slowed—just slightly.
Not enough for Bella to notice.
But enough to feel.
She lowered her gaze, her fingers tightening a little around the strap of her bag.
Bella, however, reacted differently.
She turned her head sharply toward Owen.
"That's not true," she said, her tone still light but firmer than before. "I notice her."
Lillian looked up again, surprised.
Bella smiled at her briefly, as if to reassure her, then looked back at Owen.
"She's actually really amazing," Bella added.
Owen didn't argue.
He just nodded once, quietly accepting the correction.
Then—
A sharp sound broke the moment.
Lillian's phone rang.
The sudden vibration startled her slightly. She quickly reached into her bag, pulling it out. Her eyes scanned the screen, and her expression changed almost instantly.
"Oh my gosh," she murmured under her breath.
Her head snapped up.
"I'll miss my training," she said, more to herself than to them.
Her voice carried a sense of urgency now, completely different from her usual calm tone.
"I really need to go."
Bella frowned slightly, stepping closer.
"But one day of you walking with us won't change your results," she said, half joking, half trying to convince her.
Lillian shook her head quickly.
"Bella, I need to go."
There was no hesitation this time.
No quiet pause.
Just decision.
She adjusted her bag properly on her shoulder, her movements quick but controlled. Then she stepped back slightly.
"I'll see you later," she added softly.
Bella opened her mouth as if to say something else, but before she could—
Lillian was already moving.
Not too fast.
Not too slow.
Just steady.
Purposeful.
Within seconds, she blended into the moving students in the hallway, her figure becoming smaller as she walked away.
Bella watched her go, her expression unreadable for a moment.
Then she exhaled softly and turned back.
Owen was still looking in the direction Lillian had gone.
There was something thoughtful in his eyes.
"She's cool," he said after a short pause.
Bella blinked, then smiled.
"Yup," she replied. "She is."
She shifted her weight slightly, folding her arms loosely before relaxing again.
"She's just… different," Bella continued. "Not everyone gets her."
Owen nodded slowly.
"I think I do," he said quietly.
Bella glanced at him, slightly surprised by that answer.
But she didn't question it.
Instead, she smiled again—this time more brightly, like she was returning to her usual self.
She took a small step forward, then stretched her hand out toward him.
"Nice being your friend," she said confidently.
There was no hesitation in her tone.
No doubt.
Just certainty.
Owen looked at her hand for a brief second.
Then he smiled.
A little more clearly this time.
He reached out and shook her hand.
"Pleasure," he said.
Their handshake was simple.
But it felt like the beginning of something.
As they let go, Bella adjusted her bag again, already walking ahead slightly.
"Come on," she said, glancing back at him. "We'll be late."
Owen followed.
But for just a second—
He looked back.
Down the hallway where Lillian had disappeared.
Then he turned forward again.
And kept walking.