Ayan didn't leave school immediately.
He never lingered.
But today… he walked the halls like he was following a scent only he could recognize. His steps were sharp, precise, cold—yet underneath the composure was something else.
Something restless.
Something that had started in the hallway with Kairo's pocket.
Something Kairo refused to show him.
And it was driving Ayan insane.
Before looking for Kairo again, he stopped the one person who seemed more nervous today than usual.
Jin.
Jin practically flinched when Ayan appeared in front of him near the staircase. His hands tightened on his books.
"A-Ayan?"
Ayan tilted his head slightly, expression unreadable.
"You seem on edge."
Jin laughed awkwardly. "Me? No, no, just—just normal exam stress—"
"Don't lie," Ayan said quietly.
The words weren't loud.
But they pinned Jin in place.
Jin swallowed, eyes dropping to the floor. He wasn't good at lying—everyone knew that—but right now he looked like he was hiding a crime scene behind his back.
"You saw something," Ayan said calmly.
Jin's head snapped up. "W-What?! No—no— I didn't—"
"Your heartbeat says you did."
Jin froze.
Ayan took one step closer.
Not threatening.
Not angry.
Just inevitable.
"You're a terrible liar."
Jin opened his mouth to reply—
—but someone else arrived at the top of the staircase.
Someone who made the air shift instantly.
Kairo.
His eyes narrowed ever so slightly when he saw how close Ayan stood to Jin.
And Ayan noticed.
Of course he noticed.
Kairo descended the stairs slowly, hands in his pockets, his voice soft but edged.
"What exactly," he asked, "are you doing to Jin?"
Ayan didn't look away from Jin when he answered:
"He knows something."
Kairo's gaze sharpened. "About you?"
Ayan's jaw flexed.
Jin took a shaky step back. "Guys— please— I didn't see anything serious— it was— it was just—"
Ayan turned his head finally.
Toward Kairo.
Calm.
Cold.
A dangerous elegance in the way he stood.
"Kairo." His voice dipped lower than usual. "Empty your pocket."
Jin froze.
Kairo froze.
The world froze.
Kairo's fingers twitched at his sides. His throat tightened slightly—barely noticeable, but Ayan caught it instantly.
He wasn't asking for Jin's secret anymore.
He was asking for the note.
For truth.
For confession.
Kairo's smile grew slow… amused… mocking.
"Still on that?" he murmured. "You're obsessed."
"I don't like being lied to," Ayan said quietly—quiet enough that it was almost dangerous.
Kairo stepped forward, closing the distance until Ayan had to tilt his chin up just a little.
"Then stop hiding things first."
Jin looked between them, horrified—like he had stepped into the middle of a storm that wasn't meant for human eyes.
Ayan spoke without breaking eye contact:
"Jin. Leave."
Jin didn't need to be told twice—he bolted down the hallway like his shoes were on fire.
Now it was just them.
Omega vs Alpha.
Cold vs Warm.
Control vs Explosion.
Kairo leaned in until their foreheads almost brushed.
"You think you can corner me," he whispered, "but you're the one shaking."
"I'm not," Ayan said.
Kairo's breath hit Ayan's lips. "Then look me in the eyes and say it."
Ayan did.
And that's when Kairo smiled.
Because the lie was clear.
Ayan was shaking.
Not from fear.
From tension.
From frustration.
From wanting to understand Kairo and failing.
From wanting Kairo close and hating how much he wanted it.
Kairo's voice dropped, soft like velvet, edged like a blade:
"You want the truth? Fine. Come and take it."
Ayan faltered for half a second.
Half a second too long.
Kairo brushed past him, walking away—slow, confident, leaving Ayan in the stairwell with a storm twisting through his chest.
Ayan didn't follow immediately.
He just whispered to the empty space:
"…Why won't you tell me?"
His composure cracked.
Not broken.
But cracked.
And it was only the beginning.
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