The back gate was quiet—finally. I flipped open my notebook, the familiar scratch of pen on paper drowning out the leftover noise from the classroom. Suhina's voice still rang in my ears, but I pushed it aside. It didn't matter. None of it did.
Then I saw her.
Aira.
She was leaning against the stone wall, arms crossed, eyes distant. I almost turned back, but she looked... off. Like she needed space as much as I did.
I sighed and stepped forward anyway.
"Didn't see you there," I muttered. Not a lie—I hadn't expected her to be here. But I didn't leave either. Just shifted my weight and let my pen move, pretending she wasn't watching.
"She's full of it, you know," Aira said suddenly, voice low. "What she said back there."
My grip tightened on the pen. Of course, she'd bring it up.
I knew Suhina was lying. I knew Aira wasn't the type to stir up drama. But what I knew didn't matter—everyone else had already decided. And if I got too close, they'd just give her more hell for it.
"I know," I said, keeping my eyes on the page. No point saying more.
The silence stretched, thick with things we weren't saying. Aira exhaled, kicking at the dirt. "Good."
Good?
I almost looked at her then. Almost. But I forced myself to stay focused on the notebook, flipping a page. It was easier this way. Safer. For her.
Nami's voice rang out in the distance. "Aira! Chips or death—pick one!"
Aira smirked, pushing off the wall. I didn't move, didn't react—but as she walked away, I felt the corner of my mouth twitch.
Barely there, like I'd almost let a laugh slip.
Weird girl.