Kaizer's POV
For a moment,
neither of us moved.
Her fingers were still close to mine. Not touching anymore… but not far enough to forget what had just happened.
It had been nothing.
Just a brief brush.
An accident.
Yet… it didn't feel like one.
There was still a faint warmth lingering in my hand, like something had passed through in that single second and refused to leave.
My breath slowed.
Her hand remained where it was for a second longer than necessary.
And then,
"You..."
The word slipped out before I could stop it.
It stayed there.
Incomplete.
Like I didn't know what came after it.
Like I wasn't supposed to finish it.
---
"Hey…"
The voice cut through everything.
Not loud.
Not external.
It came from somewhere inside.
Soft.
A child's voice.
I stiffened.
My head snapped slightly, eyes searching instinctively.
Silence.
No one around us had spoken.
I sat up straight.
"…sorry."
The word came out low.
Iris just nodded.
No questions.
No reaction.
Just a small, understanding nod.
---
But I wasn't looking at her.
Not yet.
My gaze moved around the library, scanning faces, corners, empty aisles.
That voice,
It felt familiar.
Too familiar.
Like something I should remember… but couldn't.
Then something clicked.
Slowly, I turned.
She was sitting right beside me.
Looking down at her book.
Or at least pretending to.
Because the page hadn't turned.
And the faint red tint on her cheeks… gave her away.
---
I looked away immediately.
Now I understood.
What had just happened.
That moment.
The stillness.
The way neither of us pulled back.
And her eyes,
They didn't just look surprised.
They looked like they were hiding something.
Something deep.
Something I couldn't read.
Something I wanted to.
---
We sat there.
In silence.
The kind that wasn't empty… but too full.
---
"Wow… what is this funeral silence?"
Anya's voice broke in like a sudden gust of wind.
I looked up.
She had just reached the table.
---
Iris's POV
I looked at Anya.
And then at the silence around us.
And then… at him.
He had already said sorry.
Just like that.
And then… nothing.
No explanation.
No continuation.
Just silence.
---
Anya raised an eyebrow, a small teasing smile forming.
"How's the study session going?"
I rolled my eyes lightly.
"Fine."
She sat down opposite us, still watching carefully.
"So… Kaizer, did you understand everything Iris explained?"
For a second, he didn't respond.
Like he hadn't heard her.
Then he blinked slightly, coming back.
"…yeah. I did."
---
Before anything else could happen,
"Oi! What is this Angry Bird doing here?"
Lux.
Of course.
Anya didn't even look at him properly.
"What is this soap brand doing here?"
I exhaled quietly.
Saved.
---
"It's a library," Kaizer said calmly. "Both of you can stop."
They glared at each other.
Then sat down anyway.
Lux beside Anya.
---
For a moment, I felt relieved.
The awkwardness… had finally broken.
But,
"Why were you both so quiet?"
Anya asked suddenly.
My heart skipped.
I could feel his gaze beside me.
I turned slightly, about to say something,
"We took a break."
His voice.
Calm.
Simple.
---
Lux frowned.
"A break so silent?"
Anya immediately replied,
"Not everyone talks all the time like you."
And just like that...
They started again.
---
Soon, Lux began asking doubts.
Anya kept interrupting him.
Roasting him.
Correcting him.
Arguing.
It was chaotic.
Normal.
---
And he,
Was quiet.
Again.
---
After a while, he stood up.
"I'll just return this book."
I glanced at it.
Human Psychology: Learn to Read Minds.
A small smile almost escaped me.
---
When he came back, there was another book in his hand.
Mind Reading: A Myth or True?
---
Meanwhile,
"Strawberry is obviously better!" Anya argued.
"Chocolate is superior, use your brain!" Lux striked back.
They were still arguing.
Unbelievable.
---
I leaned slightly towards him.
"…do you like these kinds of topics?"
He looked at me.
Paused.
Then nodded.
---
"Do you think mind reading is real?"
He didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he asked,
"What do you think?"
---
I smiled faintly.
"Maybe… in another universe."
He raised an eyebrow slightly.
"Another universe?"
I nodded.
"I believe in multiverse theory. Maybe… in some mirror world, people communicate through telepathy."
He didn't interrupt.
So I continued.
"I read somewhere… a long time ago, humans might have used telepathy. But as languages developed… they forgot how to."
---
He smiled.
A small one.
But it was enough.
Something eased inside me.
---
"Your ideas are… different."
"I like thinking abnormal things."
---
Then,
He asked something unexpected.
"If you think like that… then do you think..."
He stopped.
But I understood what he was trying to ask.
Or maybe… I didn't.
I let out a small, awkward laugh.
"What kind of question is that? Everyone thinks."
---
Before it could get strange again,
"Let's eat something."
I said quickly.
Everyone agreed.
---
We walked together.
To the café.
---
As soon as I entered, my manager looked at me.
Raised an eyebrow.
I lifted my books slightly.
She nodded.
Permission.
---
"You took leave for studies?" Anya whispered.
I nodded.
"Proof."
She grinned.
---
We sat at a corner table.
Kaizer had suggested it.
Quiet.
Less crowded.
---
The waiter came.
Grace.
She greeted me.
Then looked at everyone else.
Her smile,
Was not real.
And everyone noticed.
---
"Friends?" she asked.
"Yes," Lux said immediately. "We're Sister Iris's friends."
I closed my eyes for a second.
Of course he would say that.
---
Grace introduced herself.
Anya simply asked, "Menu?"
I almost laughed.
Okay… maybe we were being a little mean.
---
"I know her," I said softly.
Grace handed the menu.
And left.
---
The chaos resumed.
Strawberry vs chocolate.
Endless debate.
---
Kaizer ordered coffee.
I looked at the menu.
And then at the prices.
I was about to say I didn't want anything,
"The treat is mine."
I looked up.
"What?"
"As a thank you."
"No, that's not needed...."
"You should take it," Anya said immediately.
"Yeah," Lux added.
I hesitated.
Then nodded.
"…okay."
---
Later that night,
I stood in my room.
Holding a small piece of paper.
The wall in front of me was filled with hanging notes.
Each one… a moment.
A feeling.
A memory.
I added another.
---
"You can have supporters… even when you feel alone."
---
I stepped back.
Looked at it.
Then moved to the window.
The night sky stretched wide.
Stars scattered quietly.
---
I stayed there for a moment.
Then lay down.
And closed my eyes.