I didn't reply.
Not to the message.
Not to anyone.
Because some things don't need answers.
They need distance.
And for the first time since she sat next to me…
I tried to create it.
The next morning—
I didn't go to class early.
I waited.
Long enough for the halls to fill.
Long enough to disappear into the crowd.
It felt familiar.
Safer.
Like going back to something I understood.
Being unnoticed.
But even then—
Something felt off.
Like I was being watched.
I ignored it.
I had to.
Because if I didn't—
I'd start thinking.
And thinking never helped.
I walked through the school gates.
Past groups of students.
Past conversations that had nothing to do with me.
Or at least—
That's what I thought.
Until—
"Hey."
A voice.
Low.
Calm.
Not loud enough to draw attention.
But enough to stop me.
I turned.
A man stood a few steps behind me.
Not a student.
Too composed.
Too still.
Suit.
Clean.
Sharp.
The kind of person who didn't belong in a place like this.
And yet—
He stood there like he owned it.
"Can we talk?" he asked.
It wasn't really a question.
I already knew who he was.
Or at least—
Who he worked for.
"…I'm busy," I said.
A weak excuse.
But it was all I had.
"I won't take long."
His tone didn't change.
Didn't need to.
Because something about him made it clear—
Refusing wasn't really an option.
I glanced around.
Students passed by.
Talking. Laughing.
Unaware.
Of course they were.
People like him—
They don't make scenes.
They control them.
"…Fine," I said quietly.
He nodded slightly.
Then turned.
Expecting me to follow.
And I did.
We stopped just outside the school grounds.
Near a quiet corner.
No one around.
Of course.
He faced me.
Hands behind his back.
Posture straight.
"I'll be direct," he said.
I didn't respond.
"There's been… concern," he continued,
"about your recent interactions."
There it was.
No names.
No details.
Didn't need them.
"I don't know what you're talking about," I said.
A lie.
A bad one.
But again—
All I had.
He studied me for a moment.
Then—
"You're not a problem."
That caught me off guard.
"…What?"
"You're not important enough to be a problem," he clarified.
The words were calm.
But they hit harder than anything else.
Not because they were insulting.
But because they were true.
"That's why you're still here," he continued.
Still here.
Still untouched.
Still allowed to exist in her world—
Even for a moment.
"…Then why are you here?" I asked.
He didn't hesitate.
"Because you're getting closer to becoming one."
Silence.
Heavy.
Unavoidable.
"You've been warned already," he said.
"This is simply… confirmation."
My hands clenched slightly.
"Stay away from her."
There it was again.
But this time—
Not through a screen.
Not distant.
Real.
"And if I don't?" I asked.
I shouldn't have.
But I did.
A small pause.
Then—
"That would be… unfortunate."
No threats.
No raised voice.
But somehow—
It felt worse than anything he could have said.
Because people like him don't need to explain consequences.
They just make them happen.
He stepped closer.
Just slightly.
"Understand something," he said quietly.
"There is a world you belong to…"
A pause.
"And one you don't."
I didn't move.
Didn't speak.
Because I already knew which one I was in.
"And if you continue to ignore that," he finished,
"you won't just hurt yourself."
My chest tightened.
"You'll hurt her too."
That—
That was the first thing that actually mattered.
Because it wasn't about me anymore.
It never really was.
He stepped back.
Conversation over.
Just like that.
"I trust you'll make the right decision," he said.
Then turned.
And walked away.
Like none of it mattered.
Like I didn't matter.
And maybe—
I didn't.
I stood there for a long time.
Long after he was gone.
Long after the noise of the school returned.
Because for the first time—
This wasn't just pressure.
It was a choice.
A real one.
Walk away—
And everything goes back to normal.
Or stay—
And risk everything.
"…You're late."
Her voice.
I looked up.
She stood a few steps away.
Watching me.
"…Yeah," I said.
She studied my face.
"You talked to someone."
Not a question.
A statement.
"…Yeah."
A pause.
"…What did they say?"
I looked at her.
Really looked.
And for the first time—
I didn't know what to do.
Because telling her the truth…
Would change everything.
And not telling her—
Might make things worse.
"…They told me to stay away from you," I said finally.
Silence.
Her expression didn't change.
But her eyes did.
Just slightly.
"…And?" she asked.
I exhaled slowly.
"…I think they're right."
The words felt heavier than anything I'd said before.
Because this time—
I meant them.