Zayla stepped out of the lecture hall with a quiet sigh, adjusting the strap of her bag on her shoulder. The class had barely ended, but her mind had never really left the night before. She walked down the steps, surrounded by her friends, all talking at once, creating that familiar noise she secretly loved.
— Okay, now you talk, Talia said, stepping in front of her to block her path. You can't just leave us like that.
Zayla raised an eyebrow, amused.
— Like that how?
— Like that, Nyx repeated, crossing her arms. Mysterious, annoying… interesting.
— Thanks for the compliment, Zayla replied with a smirk.
— It wasn't a compliment, Nyx clarified.
Orion glanced up from his notes, still reviewing them as he walked.
— Statistically, when Zayla gets this vague, it means something noteworthy happened.
— "Statistically"… seriously? Talia sighed.
— He's not wrong, Asher added calmly, casting a glance at Zayla. You're thinking too much for it to be nothing.
Zayla slowed slightly, briefly meeting Asher's gaze. He knew her too well. It annoyed her… and reassured her at the same time.
— Fine, she finally said. I met someone.
Immediate silence.
Then, all at once:
— Finally! Talia exclaimed.
— I knew it, Nyx muttered.
— Interesting, Orion said.
Asher, however, remained silent.
— And? Talia insisted. What's he like?
Zayla let a slow, almost dangerous smile form.
— Different.
— Bad sign, Nyx said.
— Good sign, Zayla corrected.
— Name? Orion asked.
— Kairo.
Asher slightly lifted his head.
— Kairo what?
— Draven.
A subtle shift passed through the air, almost imperceptible, but Asher caught it immediately.
— That sounds familiar, he murmured.
— Of course it does, Nyx replied. Everyone's heard that name.
Zayla turned toward her, intrigued.
— Oh really?
Nyx shrugged.
— Let's just say he moves in circles that aren't exactly… calm.
— Sounds perfect for you, Talia added with a mischievous smile.
Zayla didn't respond right away. Her gaze drifted for a moment, replaying a detail, a gesture, the way he had looked at her.
— He's not "not calm," she said softly. He's… controlled.
— That's worse, Nyx said.
Asher stepped slightly closer.
— What did he do to you?
Zayla turned to him, a faint, almost tender smile on her lips.
— Nothing I didn't want.
— That's not the question, he replied calmly.
Their eyes locked for a second too long. Then Zayla looked away, slipping her light mask back on.
— We just played.
— "Played," Orion repeated.
— You know… that thing where two people test each other's limits without ever giving in.
— Oh, so you both lost, Nyx concluded.
Zayla laughed.
— Not at all. The game just started.
They exited the building, the afternoon light wrapping around them softly. The mood was lighter, but a subtle tension still clung to Zayla.
— Did he text you? Talia asked.
— No.
— And that doesn't bother you?
— No.
— Liar, Nyx said.
Zayla shot her an amused look.
— I like when things take their time.
Asher studied her expression.
— No. You like controlling the timing.
She didn't answer. Because he was right.
A silence settled, quickly broken by Orion.
— So you really think you'll see him again?
Zayla let a slow smile form.
— I know I will.
— Confidence or intuition? Orion asked.
— Both.
Nyx exhaled.
— I just hope he's not more twisted than you.
Zayla tilted her head slightly.
— That would be interesting if he was.
Talia burst out laughing.
— You two are going to destroy each other.
— Or adore each other, Orion added.
— Or both, Nyx murmured.
Asher, however, didn't laugh.
— Be careful, Zayla.
She turned to him, slightly surprised by his tone.
— Since when do you worry like that?
— Always.
Their exchange lasted only a second, but it carried more weight than all the other conversations combined.
Zayla softened her expression slightly.
— I can handle myself.
— I know, he replied. But not everyone is a game.
She held his gaze this time, without looking away.
— Neither is he.
Silence.
Then Talia clapped her hands.
— Okay! Food? Because all this dramatic tension is making me hungry.
— Always classy, Nyx commented.
They resumed walking toward the cafeteria. The conversations picked up again, lighter now, but Zayla stayed slightly behind.
Her phone vibrated in her pocket.
A message.
Unknown number.
"You look back too much. Bad habit."
She froze.
— What? Talia asked.
Zayla didn't answer right away. Slowly, she lifted her gaze… scanning the surroundings.
And then, on the other side of the courtyard, leaning against a black car, his eyes locked directly on hers…
Kairo.
Still.
Calm.
As if he had always been there.
A slow smile spread across Zayla's lips.
— Nothing, she finally said. Just… the game continuing.
Asher followed her gaze.
And he saw him too.
His expression shifted slightly.
— Yeah, he murmured. I see that.
Zayla didn't look away.
The game had clearly moved to another level.
And this time… everyone was involved.