The next morning, I barely got any sleep. It felt like a scene in my head kept replaying—Zayden, the kwek-kwek, and that smile of his that carried something unspoken. I wasn't sure if I wanted to revisit it or erase it altogether. But it was messy. And the more I thought about it, the more confused I became.
And now, walking beside him on the way to the building, it felt like I had stepped into another timeline. He was holding the umbrella, even though it wasn't that sunny, while I was holding the kwek-kwek he had bought earlier. He had been talking nonstop about the most random things—even asked me about my favorite vinegar brand. But me? I stayed quiet. Because... what was this?
"Are you mad?" he suddenly asked, catching me off guard.
I turned to him. "Huh? No."
"Oh. I thought you were quiet because you were annoyed."
"No… just quiet."
"Hm." He nodded, but I could tell—he wasn't convinced.
Then I started thinking—why was he being so nice all of a sudden? We used to practically throw pens at each other in class. Now? He's buying kwek-kwek? Sharing an umbrella?
Before I could process my thoughts any further, we were already in front of the classroom. Anton was by the door, holding a turon. Classic Anton.
When he saw us, he paused for a moment, then raised an eyebrow.
"Bro…" he looked at Zayden. "You've got a new vibe. Walking to class with madam here?"
Zayden shook his head, but he had a half-smile on his lips. "We just happened to be early. Coincidence."
"Coincidence that she's holding kwek-kwek too?" Anton nodded toward the stick in my hand.
I didn't respond. I just went straight to my seat—and right on cue, Bryce arrived.
He sat beside me, like always. But the way he looked at me... it was like he was scanning. Like he was thinking, "Wait, who is this person I'm sitting next to?"
"What's going on?" he asked, casual but with a teasing tone. "Why do you look like... I don't know, like your face is telling a different story today?"
I frowned. "What now?"
He smirked. "Nothing. That confused look suits you. Like you're hiding a top-secret revelation but unsure if it's worth spilling."
And here we go. I wanted to tell him, but how? What do I say? Hey Bryce, Zayden's being suspiciously nice and I don't know who he is anymore? Hey Bryce, it feels like there's some kind of multiverse glitch because he's starting to feel like Ace?
"You know that feeling?" I finally said, staring straight ahead. "When something new is happening, but you're not sure if it's real or just a dream? And you don't want to expect anything, but you're still curious?"
"Wow," Bryce whispered. "Existential kwek-kwek level. That's deep."
He laughed. I shook my head.
"But seriously," he added. "There's something off. Like, something's messing with your usual sarcasm."
I glanced at Zayden. He was sitting up front, leaning back, slightly turned—then he smiled. At me.
Not his usual smirk with a joke loaded behind it.
A smile that said... something. Like he knew something. Like—
"You're zoning out again," Bryce whispered. "Wait—do you like him?"
I looked down. Literally. I almost buried my face in the table.
"Hey," Bryce nudged me. "You okay?"
I didn't answer. I didn't want to lie. But I didn't want to admit anything either. Because I didn't even know myself.
I looked at Zayden again.
And I saw him looking at me—again. Then he smiled. Again.
That smile—I couldn't figure it out. Couldn't read it.
But Bryce, even without saying anything, seemed to feel the tension too. He glanced at me, then at Zayden, then gave a faint smile.
But his look?
It wasn't a question.
It wasn't a tease.
It was… recognition.
And that's when I got nervous.
Because Zayden—he really had Ace's moves.
But in this world, I'm the only one who knows Ace.
And Bryce... he's starting to suspect.