They were in the same class.
But for Pixel, he was just another name on the attendance list.
Nothing more.
Pixel's world was small.
And in that world, only one person truly mattered in college—Ketty.
Her best friend.
Completely different from her.
Where Pixel stayed quiet… Ketty spoke freely.Where Pixel avoided attention… Ketty didn't mind it at all.
And right now—Ketty had only one focus.
Stephan.
The entire class had gone on a beach trip.
Music. Laughter. Noise.
Everyone was enjoying.
But Ketty's eyes were fixed somewhere else.
On him.
"Pixel…" she said softly.
Pixel looked at her.
"Can you do something for me?"
"What?"
Ketty hesitated for a second.
"Can you get Stephan's number?"
Pixel frowned.
"Why don't you ask him yourself?"
Ketty immediately shook her head.
"He rejects girls. I'm not taking that risk."
Then she added quietly—
"Just don't tell him it's for me."
Pixel didn't like the idea.
But she didn't argue either.
For her, it was just a simple request.
Nothing more.
She walked towards him.
Stephan was standing near the water, casually talking to a few people.
Confident. Distant. Untouchable.
Pixel stopped in front of him.
For a second, she thought of turning back.
But she didn't.
"Can I have your number?"
Stephan looked at her.
Just once.
Then—
"No."
No explanation.No softness.
Just a flat, cold rejection.
Pixel nodded slightly.
"Okay."
And walked away.
It didn't look like it affected her.
But something about the way she didn't react…felt unusual.
Later, Stephan mentioned it to his friends—Johan, Hill, and the others.
"That girl asked for my number," he said casually.
"I refused."
His friends exchanged glances.
"That was Pixel," one of them said.
"She's not like other girls."
"She has never been in a relationship.""She doesn't do these things."
Stephan stayed quiet.
For the first time—his assumption didn't fully match the situation.
A little distance away, someone was running near the water.
Laughing. Carefree.
Stevan.
Stephan's younger brother.
Only thirteen.
Their parents were always busy.
So most of the time…Stevan stayed with him.
The beach was full of noise.
People shouting. Playing. Enjoying.
Until suddenly—
Something felt wrong.
A sound.
Faint. Struggling.
Pixel turned.
Her eyes focused on the sea.
And then—
She saw him.
Stevan.
Drowning.
Everything around her blurred.
No thoughts.No hesitation.
She ran.
Straight into the water.
The waves were strong.
The current wasn't stable.
But she didn't stop.
People started noticing.
Voices turned into panic.
"Someone's drowning!"
Pixel reached him.
Held him.
And pulled him back with everything she had.
By the time they reached the shore—
A crowd had gathered.
Stephan pushed through them.
His face had lost all color.
Pixel didn't look at him.
She immediately knelt down.
And started CPR.
Once.
Twice.
Again.
No response.
Her hands didn't stop.
Another try.
Another breath.
And then—
A sudden cough.
Water rushed out.
Stevan breathed.
Alive.
A collective breath escaped the crowd.
Stephan stood there.
Frozen.
Helpless.
Scared in a way he had never been before.
Pixel finally looked at him.
"Take care of him," she said, her voice calm but firm.
"And get him checked by a doctor. He might get traumatized."
Stephan tried to say something.
Anything.
But he couldn't.
For the first time—
He had no words.
Pixel stood up quietly.
Her clothes were soaked.Her hands slightly trembling now that everything was over.
Still…
She didn't wait.
Not for a thank you.Not for a reaction.
She just walked away.
And for some reason…
That bothered Stephan more than her asking for his number ever did.