I didn't hear half of what was said in class.
I wrote things down. Nodded when everyone else nodded.
But my mind kept drifting back to the gym.
I kept thinking about how easily he walked up to me.
Just steady.
"Cala."
I blinked.
Everyone was packing up.
The bell hadn't rung yet, but it was close.
I slid my phone out under my desk.
Dylan:
That routine looked intense. My legs hurt just watching.
My lips curved.
Below it
Theo:
So that's it?
You're gone now?
I locked my screen.
Too much at once.
"Move," Lunara whispered. "We're going to be late."
The hallway swallowed us.
Noise. Lockers. Shoes against tile.
I wasn't watching where I was going.
I bumped into someone.
A hand caught my elbow before I stumbled.
"Careful."
Akari.
"Sorry."
He didn't step back immediately.
Just enough space between us.
"Hi," he said to the girls.
"Akari," Miren replied.
"You guys actually killed it today," he said. "I enjoyed watching that."
"You were watching?" Sera asked.
He shrugged. "Hard not to."
Then his eyes settled on me.
"You looked confident."
"I was."
He adjusted his bag strap.
"Lunch?"
"Yeah."
He nodded once. "Good.""See you tomorrow," he added, already stepping aside.
It lingered.
The cafeteria was loud.
We dropped into our usual seats near the windows.
"Show me," Lunara demanded.
"I'm not showing you anything."
My phone buzzed on the table.
All three of them leaned in.
Dylan:
What's your favorite food?
Miren read it first. "Favorite food?"
Sera leaned closer. "Oh he's serious."
Lunara nudged me. "Answer."
I typed back.
Me:
Anything seafood honestly.
But we sadly don't have that here.
Dylan:
That's specific.
I glanced up.
He was near the vending machines.
Not staring. Just there.
He looked up at the same time.
Our eyes met.
He held it for a second.
Then looked back down at his phone.
Across the cafeteria, Akari stood near the exit.
Talking.
Not looking at me.
But aware.
The noise around us kept going.
Nothing dramatic had happened.
Still, something felt slightly different.
And I couldn't name it yet.