The cafeteria was never quiet in the mornings, but today it was feral. Boys crowded in tight clusters, whispering, pointing, and throwing daggers with their eyes toward one specific table.
Zane's table.
The problem? He wasn't alone.
Mira sat lazily next to him, yawning and stealing bites from his tray like it was hers. Celeste stirred her tea with grace, as if she were in some noble's dining hall instead of a noisy school cafeteria. And Luna, timid as ever, sat close enough to brush shoulders with Zane, clutching her plate while sneaking shy glances his way.
It was a sight.
Whispers spread like wildfire:
> "Wait, all three of them came out of the boys' dorm?"
"No way—don't tell me they actually slept in his room!"
"What about the teachers?!"
"Shh! Look at them! They're acting like nothing happened!"
Zane, for his part, was slouched forward, hair messy, eyes half-shut as he poked at his eggs. "Why is it so damn loud in here…?"
Asher, sitting across from him, looked like he wanted to die. He could feel the laser beams of jealousy stabbing into his back from every corner of the cafeteria. The boys were glaring at him just as much as Zane, assuming he was involved.
"P-Please, don't misunderstand," Asher stammered, waving his hands to the angry stares. "I slept on the floor! On the floor!"
Mira smirked, leaning closer to Zane. "They're jealous."
"No," Zane mumbled into his toast. "They're annoying."
Celeste took a calm sip of tea. "If they had half the confidence, they wouldn't be sulking like children."
Luna nodded shyly, though her cheeks were pink.
The murmurs turned into open grumbles. Some boys even slammed their trays down in frustration.
"Unfair!"
"That guy doesn't even try and he's surrounded by them!"
"I heard he pushed Mira off his bed too—who does that?!"
Zane finally looked up, eyes narrowed. The whole room froze.
"…Shut up," he said simply, voice low.
And for some reason, it worked.
Silence washed over the cafeteria like a wave. No one dared push further.
Asher leaned toward him, whispering. "How do you do that…?"
Zane shrugged. "I'm too tired to care."
And just like that, he went back to eating, leaving the entire student body simmering in disbelief.