The sky was soft with evening light when they left the school grounds.The day had felt too long — full of eyes, whispers, and unspoken things.
Velithra walked beside Kai, the street buzzing faintly with the hum of cars and the rustle of leaves. Neither of them spoke for a while. The quiet wasn't uncomfortable, but it was thick — heavy enough that every step felt like it carried a thought they didn't know how to share.
Finally, she said, "You didn't have to walk me home."
Kai glanced sideways at her, his hands in his pockets. "Didn't say I had to."
"Still," she murmured, looking at the ground. "People are going to talk."
He gave a low, humorless laugh. "Let them. They'll get bored eventually."
Velithra almost smiled. Almost. "You sound sure."
"I'm not," he admitted. "But pretending helps."
That made her look at him — really look.There was something in his face she hadn't noticed before, something that lived between exhaustion and control. Like he was always holding himself back from falling apart.
She wanted to ask what he was hiding. But the words caught somewhere in her throat.
They reached a small park near her neighborhood — quiet, tucked between rows of aging houses. The sunset bled into the horizon, painting the world gold and pink.
Velithra stopped near the swings. "This is close enough."
Kai paused, then nodded. "Alright."He didn't move, though. His gaze stayed on her for a second too long.
"What?" she asked softly.
He hesitated. Then, in a voice barely above a whisper, "You smiled."
She blinked. "What?"
"Back there," he said, eyes still on her. "When you thought I wasn't looking."
Velithra felt her chest tighten. "It wasn't— I didn't—"
"I know." His lips twitched upward, but it wasn't teasing. It was gentle. "Just… it suits you. That's all."
The air between them shifted. Not sharp this time, but quiet — a small spark caught between two broken people pretending not to burn.
Velithra looked away first. "You're strange, Kai."
He exhaled softly, like it was something he'd been holding in. "You have no idea."
And with that, he turned, heading down the path.She watched him go — dark hair catching the last light, his figure fading into the shadows of the street.
When he finally disappeared, Velithra whispered to the empty air,"I think I want to."