The week rolled by quickly, the rhythm of lectures and campus life rolling on like an unstoppable tide. Yet when Friday morning arrived, a sudden announcement lit sparks of chatter in every corridor of the university.
The semester's first major group project had landed. And with it, whispers, complaints, and nervous laughter spread like wildfire.
"Forty percent of our grade? Are you kidding me?" one student groaned, dropping his bag onto his desk.
Another smirked. "Relax. We'll just pick our friends like always. Easy grade."
They didn't know what Professor Myles had planned.
Inside the grand lecture hall, Professor Myles stood at the podium, glasses sliding down his nose. He wore his signature grin, the kind that promised chaos rather than order.
"This time," he began, eyes glittering, "I won't let you choose your own teams. Destiny will decide. Or rather—my list will."
Groans filled the room. Protests too. A few laughed nervously, already regretting their seat in his class.
But in the farthest corner, a single girl did not react.
Aira Brown sat in her usual spot, pen poised, taking neat, meticulous notes. Not a twitch betrayed her. Not a glance was spared. The chaos around her didn't touch her anymore. She had built walls far too high for noise to climb.
"Group Seven…" Professor Myles' voice carried clearly over the lecture hall. "Zane Blackthorn. Kai Everett. Rei Nakamura. Damian Voss. Valentina Everett. Bianca Nakamura. Ivy Voss… and Aira Brown."
The room froze for a heartbeat.
Every head turned.
Every whisper sharpened.
The ruling elites—the group already untouchable, admired and feared—smashed together with her. The girl whispered about in corners. The one who turned the air cold by merely entering a room.
Kai let out a low whistle, his smirk tugging wider. "Well, this will be fun. The ice queen and the fire squad."
Valentina groaned, tossing her hair back. "Ugh. Can we not call ourselves that?"
Bianca laughed under her breath, clicking her tongue. "I like it. She's kinda badass."
Ivy didn't share the amusement. Her sharp eyes never left Aira. "She's also terrifying."
Rei tilted his head, observing quietly. "She hasn't even blinked since the name was called."
And Zane? Zane said nothing. But his eyes had locked onto her, steady and unreadable.
Aira herself didn't move. She didn't look at them, didn't acknowledge the stares burning holes into her skin. She merely gathered her notes, rose from her seat with precision, and walked past them without a glance.
When she spoke, her voice was ice carved in stone.
"Let's get this over with. I don't like wasting time."
The first sentence she had ever addressed to all of them at once. Cold. Composed. Clinical.
Like she was reading off a script written in frost.
Later That Day – First Group Meeting
The project lounge was designed for collaboration: round tables, open windows, whiteboards scribbled with ideas. It buzzed with life—except at the far corner, where Group Seven gathered.
Kai spun lazily in his chair, tossing a pen between his hands. Rei already had a notebook open, jotting potential outlines. Valentina and Ivy set their laptops down, side by side, while Bianca sprawled comfortably in her seat. Damian leaned back like he owned the place. Zane sat still, fingers steepled, observing.
Then the door opened.
Aira entered exactly on time. Not a second late, not a second early. Her black coat trailed behind her, her expression unreadable as always. She didn't greet. She didn't glance. She simply took a seat, straightened her notes, and spoke in her even, quiet tone.
"The brief says we need to cover five sectors. Split them equally. No collaboration needed beyond merging final drafts. I'll take the research and analytics. If you agree, speak. If not, I don't care."
Her words sliced through the air like cold steel.
Damian gave a low whistle. "Direct. I like it."
Kai grinned, leaning forward. "She's like a robotic CEO."
Bianca leaned on her elbow, openly admiring. "Actually, this is kinda hot."
Ivy rolled her eyes. "Bianca, stop crushing on the girl who looks like she murders people for breakfast."
Valentina raised a cautious hand. "Wait… are we actually okay with this plan? No discussion? No brainstorming?"
Zane answered first, his deep voice smooth. "It's efficient. She's not wrong."
Rei gave a small nod. "I'm fine with it."
"Good." Aira stood, gathering her notes again. "Then don't waste my time. Meeting over."
And just like that, she walked out.
No smile. No goodbye. Just silence.
Kai blinked after her, then broke into a grin. "Wow. No smile. No goodbye. Ice levels: Arctic."
Bianca sighed dreamily. "She didn't even look at us. I'm starting to think she's allergic to feelings."
Zane leaned back, a faint shadow of a smile tugging his lips. "Or maybe she's protecting something we don't understand."
The room grew quiet at that.
Later That Night – Group Chat Blows Up
Group Seven Project Chat
Kai: Guys, did anyone else feel like we were just in a boardroom with a Wall Street assassin?
Bianca: She's intense… but kinda cool.
Ivy: Scary. Cool. Mysterious. Dangerous. I hate that I'm curious.
Rei: Her hands had faded scars today. Anyone else noticed?
Valentina: …Yeah. Like old burns or cuts?
Damian: You're saying she's been through something.
Rei: I'm saying she survived something.
Zane: Don't ask her about it. Not unless she lets us in.
Kai: Bro… YOU being all protective is new. Should we be scared or planning a wedding? 😂
Zane: Shut up, Kai.
The typing dots blinked, then went silent. None of them said it out loud, but every single one of them was thinking the same thing.
She wasn't just "different." She was a storm contained in ice. And they were drawn to it.
Meanwhile – Aira's Apartment
Her room was dim, lit only by the pale light of the moon pouring through the window. Books lay scattered across her desk, open but unread. Aira sat stiffly in her chair, her back straight, her eyes blank.
Her fingers brushed absently over her wrists, tracing the faded scars that never truly disappeared. They were reminders. Not just of pain—but of survival.
Her lips moved, her voice barely audible.
"Do I even deserve… this? Friends? Teamwork? No. They'll betray me too. Eventually."
The words lingered in the stillness, heavy as iron.
She stared out the window again, her reflection looking back at her in the glass. Emotionless eyes. A face carved in stone.
Her lips pressed together, holding back the chaos inside. She didn't want to feel. She couldn't let herself feel.
Because feelings led to trust.
And trust was always the first weapon they used to break her.