The hallways echoed with students screaming and talking over each other. I rushed to class before the bell rang again. Just as I reached the door, the bell sounded. Right on time.
I let out a small sigh of relief and stepped in. As usual, my desk—marked with fuck you, shithole, and other lovely phrases—welcomed me like an old friend. Strangely, it made me feel... at ease. After everything that happened yesterday, sitting here felt almost normal. I smiled faintly as I sat down.
But something was off.
The room was too quiet. When I finally relaxed and glanced around, I noticed it—every eye was on me. The whole class stared, whispering to themselves like I was some kind of exhibit.
Then the teacher walked in, and the lesson started. Halfway through, I got called to the teacher's office for skipping first period.
…
After class, I packed my books, planning to head to the office. But before I could leave, a hand grabbed the back of my head and slammed my face against the desk.
"What the fuck is wrong with this aura, huh?"
A familiar voice. One of Liam's guys. The worst one.
As the pain pinned me down, I blinked through the sting. Aura? What is he even talking about?
I haven't let out any aura. I'm not even using my powers. I can't use telekinesis even if I wanted to...
A voice suddenly echoed in my head—cold and composed.
"Noa."
Nyx. But how?
"I can talk to you without others hearing us," he said calmly. "I released aura without your knowledge."
What?! Why would you do that?!
"Noa, I don't care if you've gotten used to this kind of treatment. But as one of your guardians, I won't accept anyone looking down on my master. Especially not when it's you."
Huh?! Are you serious right now?! What do you expect me to do?! I'm not allowed to use powers or stand out, you know! If I do—
"I can always handle trash like this myself."
Wait—what?! What are you going to do?! No—Nyx, don't!!
I felt it. Nyx's overwhelming presence rising through me like a silent storm. It was crushing. His power didn't just target the guy holding me down—it could've taken out the entire class.
Stop. Please. Just stop, I begged silently, closing my eyes.
"Take your hands off him."
The voice came from the classroom's back door.
I knew that voice.
It was Ryan's.
Nyx growled faintly in my mind. "Tch. I guess it's not my time to shine."
His pressure faded.
"Huh? What's it to you, Ryan?" the guy spat.
Ryan walked toward us, calm but cold. "I said, take your hands off."
The guy smirked. "I don't want to."
Ryan didn't waste another word.
He stepped right in front of him, grabbed his wrist, and lifted it like the guy weighed nothing. The guy struggled, trying to free himself, but Ryan didn't budge. With one hand Ryan shoved the guy back, glaring.
"Fight someone your size, bald."
The class burst out laughing.
The guy's face turned bright red. as his hair was indeed short—and thinning in the center. Humiliated, he gritted his teeth but said nothing.
"Just wait and see," he muttered, then stormed out of the classroom.
Ryan turned around and greeted me with a wide grin.
"Noa! Hey, man. Every time I see you, your face is red somewhere! Your forehead's still scratched from yesterday, and your right cheek's got a bruise—I saw that at the cafeteria. Now your left side's blooming red too..."
His smile faded slightly as his eyes narrowed, gaze dropping to my neck. "Why are you wearing a turtleneck? It's spring. Ain't you hot?"
"Ahh... well, you see—" I stammered, tugging anxiously at the collar. "It's cold... spring rains, you know?"
Ryan tilted his head and gestured toward the classroom window.
"In this sun, where's the rain coming from?"
I fell silent, my hands tightening around my collar.
Ryan didn't push it. He simply hummed and let it go. "Hmm. Alright. Anyway—let's get something to eat."
He turned around, waving casually. "C'mon, c'mon."
I followed him. I hadn't expected Ryan to ask me to eat with him again, and... it made me happy.
As we walked toward the cafeteria, I couldn't stop myself from talking with nyx in my head again—
"Nyx! Put your aura away, now."
No.
His voice was stubborn and low.
"Nyx! If you don't want to, then I guess you'll spend tonight inside the ring."
There was a pause.
I could feel him— flinching.
"Hmp."
And just like that, the overwhelming aura surrounding me faded away.
Ryan turned around. "What were you thinking about?"
"Oh—nothing!" I said quickly.
"Huh. The aura around you just disappeared."
"Huh? Oh—hahaha..." I laughed awkwardly, unsure how to respond.
Nyx was making this really hard to explain.
We entered the cafeteria and each grabbed a tray. Finding an empty table, we sat across from one another.
"You know, Noa," Ryan began, "everyone used to say you were powerless. That you were born without abilities... and then suddenly today—the top student skips first period and has this ominous aura?"
He laughed lightly. "People kept talking about you today, you know."
He kept talking, his voice soft and easy. It was strange... even though I couldn't give him a proper answer, Ryan was gentle with me. So gentle, it was hard to believe this was the same guy who looked like he could break someone's spine just minutes ago in class.
As I ate, I noticed his tray still untouched.
Again.
I frowned. "Ryan... your food'll go cold. Come on."
He flinched slightly, that gentle smile flickering into something a bit more troubled.
"Yeah…" he murmured and finally started eating.
I felt like something was missing—
My eyes widened. "Ahhh!"
Ryan flinched at my sudden outburst, nearly choking on his food and spitting it all over the tray.
"Oops, sorry!" I laughed, raising both hands. "But—I forgot! I was called to the teacher's office."
I looked genuinely troubled for a second… but then glanced at Ryan, who was still sputtering a bit.
Still… eating with Ryan like this… it felt rare. Twice now, we'd sat together.when it was always me eating alone, Even if it's was for a little longer I wanted to treasure the moment.
"Hurry, hurry!" I grinned. "Come with me to the office!"
Ryan looked stunned… but then he let out a loud, amused laugh.
"Alright, alright," he said, matching my pace and eating quickly with me.
Later, we walked together to the teacher's office.
I got scolded—not just for skipping the first period, but for showing up late after being called.
But Ryan didn't seem to care.
Not one bit.and kept grinning