--
đ« School Again⊠But Different
It was just another Monday.
Or it should've been.
Kai walked beside Lila like always.
Theo followed, trying to pretend he wasn't watching them.
But something had changed.
Not in what they were doingâŠ
But how they were doing it.
Kai smiled more now â but it looked tired.
Lila laughed â but it didn't reach her eyes.
Theo noticed.
And it made something in his chest ache.
---
đ At Breaktime
The trio sat under their usual tree.
Lila played with her juice bottle cap, not talking much.
Kai talked about a new manga series he started.
Theo chimed in with teasing remarks.
But Lila kept spacing out.
Finally, Kai nudged her.
Kai (teasing):
"Earth to Lila. Missing me already?"
She blinked and smiled half-heartedly.
Lila (softly):
"Just⊠thinking."
Theo raised a brow but said nothing.
---
đ± A Text From Mira
While walking to class, Theo's phone buzzed.
Mira:
"How's Kai? You okay?"
He replied:
> "He's pretending. But I'm watching him."
Then he added:
> "And I think Lila's pretending too."
---
đ After School
Lila didn't go straight home.
She said she needed air â and somehow, Theo ended up beside her again.
They walked in silence for a while.
Then she stopped near a bench, looking at the sunset.
Lila:
"Do you ever feel like⊠you're standing in the middle of people you care about, and you're the only one confused?"
Theo stayed quiet.
Then he slowly said:
Theo:
"Sometimes I feel like I'm standing next to someoneâŠ
And I wish she'd look at me instead."
She looked at him, surprised.
Theo didn't explain. He just smiled and sat on the bench.
---
đ Night Thoughts
That night, Lila sat by her window, hugging her knees.
Kai had sent her a "Goodnight đ" text.
She replied, but it didn't feel the same.
Theo hadn't texted anything.
But his words echoed in her mind.
"I wish she'd look at me i
nstead."
Something stirred in her heart.
She didn't know what yet.
But she felt it.
---
End of Chapter 23