Orbits That Never Touch
C1
The teacher stands at the front, holding a clipboard. Students murmur as she begins assigning partners for the constellation project.
Teacher
This project will be done in pairs. Each group must choose a constellation, research its origin, and present its scientific and mythological background. Participation from both partners is required.
A student raises their hand, clearly annoyed.
classmate / student
Teacher, can I change my partner? She’s lazy and won’t do anything at all.
Teacher
Unfortunately, you can’t. Everyone needs to contribute. This is a team effort.
She scans her list and starts reading aloud.
Teacher
You and Jessa are partners. Ivan and Niel are partners. Mika and Ren. Lara and Jo...
Ivan blinks, looking up from his notebook. Niel turns toward him with a dramatic groan.
Niel
Wait—me and Ivan? Seriously?
Niel slumps in his seat, muttering under his breath.
Niel
Great. I’m stuck with the human telescope.
Ivan
You could at least pretend to be interested.
The bell rings. Students start packing up. Ivan closes his notebook neatly.
Ivan
Library after school?
Niel
Sure.
But if you start naming stars again, I’m walking out.
Ivan gave Niel a side eye.
Ivan sits at a corner table, star maps spread out. Niel arrives with snacks and drops into the seat across from him.
Niel
Okay, star boy. What are we doing?
Ivan
We need to choose a constellation. Scorpius, Cygnus, Draco...
Niel
Too many birds and snakes. What about Orion?
Niel
Yeah. I’ve seen it before. Three stars in a line, right?
Ivan
Alnitak, Alnilam, Mintaka. They’re part of Orion’s Belt. It’s one of the easiest constellations to spot.
Niel
You even know their names? Nerd alert.
Ivan
It’s science. But also...
Ivan
They’re the stars I look for first.
Ivan
They’re clear. Even when the rest of the sky feels confusing.
Niel watches Ivan quietly for a moment.
Niel
So they’re like your shortcut to the stars?
Ivan
You’re bright. Loud. Impossible to miss.
Niel looks away, flustered. Ivan traces the belt on the map
Ivan
But the stars... They only look close. They’re actually light-years apart.
Ivan
Side by side, but never really touching.
Silence. The library hums softly around them.
Niel
You’re weird. But I like it.
Ivan smiles faintly, eyes still on the stars.
C2 (gin)
Ivan leans against the railing, sketching constellations in his notebook. Niel climbs up with two sodas and tosses one to him.
Niel
You always draw stars like they’re secrets.
Ivan
They kind of are. Most people don’t look up long enough to notice.
Niel
So what’s today’s secret?
Ivan
Lyra. It’s small, but it holds Vega. It's one of the brightest stars in the sky.
*Lyra is a tiny constellation in the northern sky. Its brightest star, Vega, is part of the Summer Triangle and was once the North Star thousands of years ago.
Niel sips his soda and squints at the sky.
Ivan
You’re not supposed to yet. It shows up later, when the sky’s darker.
Niel glances at Ivan, then back at the sky.
Niel
You talk like you’re one of them.
Ivan’s pencil stills. He doesn’t look up.
Niel walks to the edge of the rooftop, arms spread wide.
Niel
If I were a star, I’d be Vega. Loud. Bright. Center of attention.
Niel turns, surprised. Ivan finally meets his gaze.
Ivan
-(Lyra is small. But Vega makes it unforgettable.
Just like him. He turns ordinary moments into constellations.)
A breeze passes. The sky deepens. Vega begins to shimmer faintly above them.
They stand in silence, the rooftop holding their quiet like a secret.
Ivan
-(I wonder if he knows he’s the reason I look up now.)
C3
The bell has rung, but Ivan and Niel stay behind, papers scattered across their desk.
Ivan flips through a textbook, highlighting facts. Niel doodles stars on the edge of their worksheet.
Niel
You ever think constellations are just people trying to make sense of chaos?
Ivan
That’s kind of the point. We connect dots so the sky feels less empty.
Niel
So what’s Cassiopeia’s story?
Niel pointed his notebook, curious.
Ivan
She was a queen. Beautiful, proud. But she bragged too much and got cursed.
*Cassiopeia is a constellation in the northern sky, shaped like a “W.” In Greek mythology, Queen Cassiopeia was punished for her vanity by being placed in the sky upside down for half the year.
Niel
So she’s stuck up there forever? Just for being confident?
Ivan
Not confidence. Cruel pride. She thought she was better than the sea nymphs.
Ivan’s pen slows. He doesn’t answer.
Ivan
-(I wonder if stars ever regret the stories we give them. If they ever wish they were just light, not symbols.)
Niel watches him quietly. Ivan keeps his eyes on the page.
Ivan
-(Cassiopeia shines bright. But she’s upside down half the year. Punished for being seen too clearly.
Maybe that’s why I stay quiet. So no one can twist me into something I’m not.)
Niel reaches out and turns Ivan’s notebook toward himself.
Niel
You draw her like she’s reaching for something.
Niel
What would you reach for?
Ivan hesitates. The classroom hums with silence.
Ivan
Something that doesn’t disappear when I look away.
Their eyes meet. Just for a second. Then Ivan looks down again.
Ivan
-(I think I’m starting to wish he’d look at me longer.)
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