The cafeteria buzzed louder than usual, conversations overlapping, laughter rising and falling like waves. She sat rigid at her usual table, forcing a small smile as her friends chatted around her, their words laced with mockery disguised as casual teasing.
But her food sat untouched. Her fork scraped the plate once, twice, then stilled.
And then it happened.
Kai stood up from across the room.
The voices in the cafeteria faltered as he crossed the floor, each step deliberate, his dark eyes locked onto her. The girls at her table stiffened, glancing at each other in disbelief.
He stopped right beside her, his presence heavy, commanding attention without a single word.
"Move over," he said quietly, his tone calm but firm.
The girl beside her blinked. "What?"
"I'm sitting here."
The table went silent. Her fake friends looked at each other, stunned, their mouths half open. One of them let out a nervous laugh. "Why would you want to sit here?"
Kai didn't answer. He just held their gaze, unblinking, until the girl shifted reluctantly and made space.
He sat down beside her, his arm brushing against hers for just a second before settling. His presence was solid, grounding, like a wall between her and the rest of the world.
The whispers around the cafeteria erupted again, sharp and buzzing. Her friends exchanged wide-eyed looks, their fake smiles trembling under the weight of Kai's quiet defiance.
She sat frozen, heart racing, her mask slipping at the edges. She wanted to vanish. She wanted to hide. But at the same time… there was a spark inside her chest she couldn't ignore.
Kai leaned slightly toward her, his voice low enough that only she could hear. "You okay?"
Her throat tightened. She forced a small nod. "I'm fine."
His eyes searched hers for a moment, and she knew he didn't believe her. But he didn't press. He just sat there, his calm presence daring anyone at the table to push further.
For once, they didn't.
The cafeteria had shifted. Everyone could feel it.
And though her stomach twisted with panic, a small part of her—fragile but alive—felt something else.
Safe.