The bus was crowded. He tried looking for the familiar face but did not see it. He stood near the back, one hand on the strap, head tipped against the pole with His eyes closed for a moment. His muscles felt fine. Sleep tugged at His but didn't win.
At the school gate, the guard gave His a quick nod. He walked, switched His expression to the one students wore at 7:00 a.m., and made His way to Class Two. He took His seat. Thoma glanced over.
"You look like you didn't sleep," he said, too loudly.
"Homework," Ramon replied.
"Must be killer Homework," he said, then flinched when He looked at him. "Okay, shutting up."
He took out His book and pretended to read.
Through the window, He saw Class Twelve filing in a Ross the courtyard. Eli walked with His bag strap in His hand and His head slightly down, as usual. Marcus talked with His and waved His arms. Eli listened and nodded.
Eli turned His head as if by habit. Their eyes met through the glass for a second. Eli blinked, then looked at Ramon 's collar, then His cuffs, then His face.
Ramon didn't smile, He kept His expression e even.
Eli 's gaze held for a few seconds, then dropped. He turned away and walked towards His classroom.
First period was Math. Ramon didn't hear any of it. He wrote rge formulae and stared through them. His brain was still in the corridor outside.
At break, He left the classroom to get water. The hallway was busy. People laughing, talking, the usual mix. He turned the corner and almost ran into Eli .
They both stopped. For a moment, neitHis spoke.
Eli took a step closer. He lowered His voice. "You smell like blood."
Ramon didn't react. "Do I?"
Eli nodded, eyes steady. "Washroom's empty on the third floor. The tap runs hot there. Use more soap."
Ramon looked at His face. Eli 's tone was normal, almost casual. He wasn't asking where Ramon had been, or the source of the smell of blood on her.
"Okay," Ramon said.
Eli shifted His bag higher. "Don't stand in the sun too long today. The smell sticks."
Ramon 's mouth moved before His brain did.
"Why did you leave your phone in class yesterday?"
"I just forgot to take it with me," Eli said. Same words as the text. "I saw your messages later."
Ramon 's hands tensed on the bottle He was holding.
They stood in the narrow band of light under the stairwell. Students passed and didn't stop. It looked like the school bulky had locked on a new target. No one wanted to be part of it and invite trouble.
Eli adjusted His bag again. "Class is starting."
He walked away. Ramon watched His back for two seconds, then turned toward the third-floor washroom.
Gabriel texted at 10:05: Client confirmed. Bonus added. Dad says: "tell His to stop making holes in heads like it's free."
Ramon replied: Tell Dad to buy better soap.
Gabriel : Buy your own soap, rich girl.
He didn't answer. He scrubbed herself until the smell faded. He changed the undershirt in a stall, stuffed the old one into a plastic bag, tied it tight, and washed His hands repeatedly.
When He returned to class, Lim Jiang eyed His again. "You reek of soap," he said.
"Someone told me to use more soap," He replied.
At lunch, His phoned buzzed once. He checked it under the desk.
Eli : The cafeteria fish today is bad. Don't eat it.
Ramon typed: Okay.
A pause.
He added: Don't ignore me again.
He stared at the words, then deleted them.
He typed instead: Thanks.
...
After school, the sky over the City K was gray. The street outside the gate was loud. Ramon walked out with His classmates, eyes scanning habitually. Eli came out with Marcus . Their groups crossed at the bus stop.
Marcus was in the middle of a story. He stopped when He saw Ramon and gave Eli a look. Eli didn't say anything. He shifted half a step so they weren't standing shoulder to shoulder with anyone else.
Marcus tugged Eli 's sleeve. Bus doors opened. The crowd moved. Eli stepped inside with Marcus .
Ramon did not move His legs. The doors closed, the bus pulled away, and the smell of exhaust covered everything.
Ramon stood on the curb with His hands in His pockets and His jaw hardened. The smell of blood was gone. The knot in His chest wasn't.
Gabriel sent anotHis message: Dinner at nine. Dad wants a brief.
Ramon typed: I have homework.
Gabriel replied with six laughing emojis and one skull.
Well atleast He tried. He put the phone away and started walking.
The city lights flickered to life as Roman walked, hands in his pocket, whistling a tune he had heard somewhere.
All the muscles in his body ached, not from.the missions exhaustion. His body had long been use to that. It wa she kind of tured that could be felt it in the bones. More like frustration lodged beneath his ribs.
Eli had spoken to him..or he had tried to.
But he could still feel how Eli kept him at a distance.
That bothered him more than the bruised knuckles hidden under his sleeves.
His footsteps slowed when a black SUV turned a corner and rolled up beside him.
The window and lowered.
Gabriel Vake leaned out, chewing gum
"Walking home alone? How lonely. Get in."
Roman didn't bother arguing. He pulled the door open and got in. The leather seats were cold behind his back.
Gabriel raised his brow at his younger brother. "You look someone kicked your ass."
Roman stared out of the window. "Shut up."
"Ah," Gabriel grinned. "It's the kid right?"
Roman didn't reply, but his jaw shifted.
Gabriel seeing that knew he was right. Clicking his tongue.
"You almost tore a man's face off last night. Damon thinks someone passed you off."
He leaned closed, voice dropping mockingly.
"The the kid from your high-school ignore you again?"
Roman shot him a sharp look.
Gabriel laughed. "Thiught so too."