EXT. BENCH OUTSIDE THE STORE
Dhylan settled onto the bench, bag of snacks at his side. The plastic crackled quietly, the only sound between them.
Oriel was sitting too, phone still glued to her ear. Her body was tense, her expression a mix of dread and hope. She hadn't even glanced at the food.
He didn't mind.
She was like that.
Kind. Protective.
The kind of person who throws her whole heart into her friendships.
He admired that about her.
Even if it meant she never noticed the way he looked at her.
"Did she pick up yet?" he asked, gently.
Right on cue, Oriel's eyes lit up—relief flickering across her face.
"Fyre!"
She practically melted into the call, her voice breaking with emotion. Dhylan watched in silence, hands tightening around the plastic bag.
Just watching her look that relieved—it was enough.
"Are you okay?"
"We were so worried. What happened?"
More silence. He couldn't hear Fire's voice, but Oriel's face showed everything.
"Are you sure? Do you need company?"
"We can come! Right now!"
He knew that look. She was holding her breath between each word, ready to jump in a second.
But then—she froze.
Her face shifted. Confused. Almost afraid.
"Wha—what?" she whispered.
Then silence.
The line cut.
She slowly lowered the phone, her complexion pale and unsettled.
"Something wrong?" Dhylan asked, heart sinking at the look on her face.
She gave a slow nod, face twisted with something between shock and disgust.
INT – ORIEL'S DORM
"You're overreacting, my Ori," Dhylan said, setting the leftover snacks on her desk. Oriel sat on her bed, arms crossed and a dramatic pout carved onto her face.
"I'm not!" she snapped.
"It's Ice! Why is she with Ice again?" she added, flailing her arms in distress.
Dhylan couldn't help but chuckle, watching her spiral.
"Relax." He sat beside her and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder.
"No, no! I can't." She shook her head, her frustration bubbling. "Ice is a bad influence on her."
"Hey, I don't think so. Ice is like, a genius. How's that bad?"
"He is, but that's not the point!"
Dhylan raised his hands in mock surrender. "My Oriel, you do know I'm the one who failed that exam with Fyre, right?"
"She did?" Oriel blinked.
Dhylan gave her a look. "How did you not know? You saw her name with mine for the remedial."
Oriel frowned, folding her arms again. "Still. Why him?"
She puffed her cheeks like a stubborn kid. A jealous kid, Dhylan thought—bittersweet amusement swelling in his chest.
"If Fyre wanted a tutor, I could've helped," Oriel mumbled, her voice softer now. "I'm not a genius like Ice, but I can try."
Dhylan's heart clenched at the sound of it. She really wanted to be the one Fyre relied on. He smiled gently.
"Maybe she didn't want to burden you," he said.
"But she can!"
"You'd do the same if the roles were reversed."
That arrow hit the mark. Oriel flinched. Dhylan saw it in her eyes—she knew he was right.
"Anyway, if you're so eager to teach," he grinned, leaning forward, "why don't you help me instead?"
He gave her his signature jester smile—the one she always claimed to hate but secretly adored.
"Madame Kauther, can you please teach this poor soul?" he begged, hands clasped in theatrical desperation.
Normally, she'd have punched him already. But now, she just stared at him, her expression unreadable.
"If you—" she hesitated, "If that's okay with you..."
Dhylan? Dead. Completely. Emotionally flattened.
"Of course!" he beamed, his enthusiasm firing off like fireworks.
But deep down, he panicked. She's too cute. I need to focus. Stop being a simp.
"And can we have some... special lessons, too?" he teased, wiggling his eyebrows with a sly grin.
A pillow smacked him square in the face.
Yup. Needed that, he thought.
Before he did something stupid.
The night unfolded with more shouting, laughter, a few rounds of their favorite game, and a cheesy movie neither of them paid full attention to.
Later, Dhylan walked back to his own dorm, his arms swinging loosely by his sides, his thoughts heavier than his steps.
He stopped in front of his door, staring blankly at it. Then, with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes, he whispered:
What if she'd actually tutored him
It was a stupid thought. But still, it lingered.
Maybe it was for the better. She would only distract him from studying. After all, she could never understand the extent of how much he liked her.
Everyone else could see it—literally everyone.
Even back when Dhylan tried to hide it, fearing she might run away if she ever found out…
Their friends knew. The people closest to them could tell.
Everyone knew—
Except her.