The autumn sun bathed the university park in a soft, golden hue, spilling light across the trees whose leaves blazed in shades of amber and scarlet. Every step crunched against the fallen carpet, filling the crisp air with the sound of brittle echoes. The park buzzed with students—laughter carried through the wind, the faint music of a guitar strummed somewhere nearby mixing with chatter and the smell of roasted chestnuts from a food cart.
Among the noise and warmth, Aira walked slightly behind the group. Always slightly behind. Hands buried deep in her black coat pockets, her gaze unreadable as she stared straight ahead. The breeze caught strands of her long dark hair, tossing them across her pale face, but she didn't brush them away.
Kai noticed first, predictably. He spun around, walking backward. "Come on, Ice Queen, at least walk next to us! You'll freeze back there with your dignity."
Valentina smirked, leaning closer to Bianca with a mock whisper. "Maybe she thinks we're contagious."
Bianca flipped her hair dramatically. "Please. Who wouldn't want to catch my fabulousness? It should be a privilege."
Aira didn't answer. Her expression remained carved from stone, her silence pressing against their noise like an invisible wall.
But the group was used to this now. Her coldness didn't scare them away—it challenged them. And secretly, it drew them in.
Rei turned, walking backward too, mischief glittering in his eyes. "You know, if you keep glaring like that, the trees might catch fire."
Aira's gaze slid to him like a blade. "Then you'd better stand closer to the trees."
Rei stumbled backward with a dramatic gasp. Ivy burst into cackles, clapping her hands. "Oh, she's savage."
Damian smirked from the side, his voice smooth. "And efficient. Two words. Full impact."
The laughter rippled through the group. Even Aira's lips twitched—almost. A flicker of something that might have been a smirk, if she allowed it.
She didn't. She walked on, her aura still heavy, untouchable.
But Zane… Zane noticed that twitch. Walking slightly apart, his hands shoved deep into his jacket pockets, his dark eyes never left her. His thoughts moved silently, heavy as stone.
She's not just cold. She's surviving.
They reached a small café tucked at the corner of the street, its windows glowing warmly against the evening air. The smell of roasted beans and cinnamon spilled into the air as they pushed open the door, the bell chiming softly.
Kai threw up his hand dramatically. "Alright, my treat today. I demand gratitude, peasants!"
Valentina scoffed, brushing past him. "Buying coffee once every three years? Someone alert the press."
Bianca gasped, eyes wide. "Should we throw him a parade?"
Laughter bubbled among them as they crowded around a table. Aira lingered by the door, stiff as if the warmth of the café might scald her. Her eyes flicked over the cozy space, the shelves of books, the hum of people chatting over steaming cups. It felt… unfamiliar. Unsafe.
Rei gestured to an empty chair. "Ice Queen, you can glare at your coffee here if you want."
Without missing a beat, Aira said flatly, "I glare better when I'm standing."
Rei choked on air, doubling over with laughter. Ivy snorted so hard she nearly spilled her drink. Damian leaned back in his chair, one brow raised, eyes narrowing on her like she was a puzzle unraveling one sharp edge at a time.
Kai clutched his chest. "She's unstoppable. Somebody save us."
They ordered—lattes, cappuccinos, chocolate cake that Bianca immediately stole from Rei, sparking his loud protest. Valentina and Kai argued over whose drink looked uglier, while Ivy threw sarcastic commentary into the mix. Damian filmed the chaos with subtle amusement, already planning his blackmail folder.
And Aira… sat silently among them. She didn't laugh, didn't smile, but her eyes followed every word, every playful jab, every spark of warmth that passed between them.
Is this what friendship feels like? Is this safe? Or is this just another trap? Another cruel trick before the knife falls again?
Her thoughts whispered in the quiet corners of her mind, but outwardly—her face remained unreadable.
Far away, in her cold office, Mrs. Harper leaned back in her chair. The lamplight cast her face in sharp shadows. A thin smile curved her lips as she shuffled through papers.
The rumors had begun. Whispers slipped through the campus halls like venom—doubts, half-truths, twisted lies. She didn't need to shout to destroy Aira. All she needed was time.
Her fingers tapped against the desk. "Let them laugh with you, girl. Let them think they're close. Soon, their smiles will turn. And you'll be right back where you belong. Alone."
The thought warmed her more than any fire could.
As the sun dipped low, they left the café together, walking back through the streets. The breeze turned sharper, tugging at scarves and hair.
Bianca shivered dramatically, hugging herself. "Ughhh, I should've brought a jacket. I'm going to die. Cold, fabulous, and tragic."
Rei pulled his hoodie tighter, smirking. "Not my fault you think fashion is more important than survival."
Ivy tilted her head, eyes glittering. "Fashion is survival."
Kai threw an arm around Valentina. "Hey, sis, maybe your cold heart will warm Bianca up."
Valentina deadpanned, "I'll bury you under these leaves if you keep talking."
The group burst into laughter, their voices rising into the twilight.
And Aira walked beside them. Silent. Watching. For the first time, her eyes didn't look like knives. They looked… uncertain. Hesitant. As though a flicker of something fragile—something dangerously close to hope—was pressing against the cracks of her armor.
Later, in her dorm, the room was silvered with moonlight. Aira stood by the window, her arms wrapped tightly around herself.
They laughed. They smiled. They didn't hate me.
The thought pulsed like a forbidden dream.
But then another voice, darker, sharper, hissed from the shadows of her mind:Don't trust. Don't hope. Everyone leaves.
She curled onto her bed, knees tucked to her chest, forehead pressed down. The silence pressed in, the loneliness gnawed at her ribs.
Elsewhere in the city, her presence lingered in seven different minds.
Rei whispered to himself, "She's something else…"Bianca grinned into her pillow. "She's cool. I like her."Ivy smirked. "She's trouble. I love it."Kai chuckled. "The Ice Queen needs to be dethroned."Valentina's voice softened, rare. "She's stronger than she looks."Damian leaned back, thoughtful. "She's dangerous. And brilliant."And Zane… Zane lay awake, his black eyes unblinking. She's mine to understand.
(Author peeked in here and almost got murdered by Zane, but wisely disappeared before he could speak again.)
The dream dragged her under.
Dark hallways stretched endlessly, lit by a flickering light. Voices screamed from the shadows. Her father's rage cracked like thunder, Sana's laughter slithered through the air. Hands shoved her, faceless figures turning their backs one after another.
"You're worthless.""You'll never belong.""No one wants you."
She ran, breathless, begging. "I didn't do anything wrong!"
Her voice cracked, echoing through the halls. But no one listened.
She fell. Again. Always falling.
Darkness wrapped her in chains.
She woke with a strangled gasp, sweat chilling her skin, her fists twisting the sheets. The room was silent, empty, suffocating.
Her whisper cut through the dark. "Don't trust. Don't hope. Don't love."
And she curled smaller, as though trying to make herself disappear.
Alone. Again.