Chapter 2: Between Silence and Sound

Liora’s feet shifted nervously on the pavement as she stood outside the tuition center, the late afternoon sun casting a pale, golden glow on everything. The usual hum of the city around them was muted, as if the world had slowed down, leaving her in the space between moments. Her parents, usually punctual, had yet to arrive—something that felt out of place, as if the very fabric of her routine had been disrupted.

Beside her, Nova stood with her arms crossed, her tall frame almost seeming to tower over Liora, as it always did. Her friend wasn’t in a rush. She never was, her calm demeanor a stark contrast to Liora’s restless energy. They had been standing for what felt like hours, but in reality, it had only been a few minutes.

"Do you think something happened to them?" Liora murmured, glancing at her phone for the hundredth time. She couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong, though there was no reason for it. Her parents were always on time, never a minute late.

Nova’s eyes flicked to Liora, a knowing look passing between them. "They’re fine, Liora. Stop overthinking." Nova’s voice was steady, but there was an undercurrent of something—perhaps concern, perhaps curiosity. She always saw through Liora’s layers, even when she didn’t want her to.

Before Liora could respond, Nova’s gaze shifted, catching something in the distance. Liora followed her friend’s line of sight, her own heart suddenly tightening as she saw the figure of Kaito, standing near the edge of the building, a slight figure by his side. Asher, his friend, stood with him, but there was something different this time. There was a shift in the air.

Liora’s breath caught in her throat when she saw what was happening.

Kaito was backed against the wall, his usual calm demeanor replaced by something more intense, something unfamiliar. Ren—another boy from their class, tall and imposing—had him cornered, a hand pressed against his chest. For a moment, time seemed to freeze, and Liora felt her body tense, instinctively wanting to look away, yet unable to tear her eyes from the scene.

It was unexpected, yet somehow not surprising. Liora wasn’t new to the dynamics of her classmates, the unspoken bonds between them, the strange, often intense connections they shared. But seeing it in front of her, seeing it unfold so suddenly, made the air feel heavier, the tension palpable. It wasn’t a scene they could ignore, not this time.

Nova, of course, wasn’t one to hold back. Her lips curled into a smirk, as if she were witnessing a show she had seen a hundred times. "Looks like the boys are at it again," she said, her voice light, though there was something deeper there, something that Liora wasn’t sure how to name.

Liora’s mind was spinning. It was hard to ignore what she was seeing, but it also wasn’t the first time something like this had happened. The line between friendship and something more had always been a little blurred for their classmates—especially for boys like Kaito and Ren. But to see it so overtly, so openly? It felt like a wall had been broken down in a single moment, a moment Liora wasn’t sure she was ready to witness.

Kaito’s eyes met hers. It was fleeting, just a glance, but it was enough. His usual detached expression softened, just slightly, a flicker of something—was it embarrassment? Annoyance? He rolled his eyes toward Nova with a subtle shrug, as if the whole thing was no big deal, as if this moment was something he had resigned himself to. But to Liora, it felt like more. It felt like a silent admission of something she wasn’t supposed to see, wasn’t supposed to understand.

Her heart stuttered for just a second.

Nova’s expression darkened, an unexpected flash of annoyance crossing her features. Without thinking, she raised a middle finger toward Kaito. It was a small gesture, but in that moment, it felt like it carried the weight of a thousand unspoken words. Liora could feel the heat rising in her cheeks, a mixture of discomfort and something else—something she couldn’t name.

Kaito, unfazed, simply smirked, his eyes narrowing in mock challenge. Liora could see the playful glint in his eyes, the same one she had caught glimpses of before—when their eyes had met across the classroom, when their worlds had briefly collided. But this time, it felt different. This wasn’t a glance across a classroom. This wasn’t a quiet moment of observation. This was a confrontation, raw and unguarded.

And yet, in the midst of it all, Liora found herself strangely calm, as if some part of her had already known it was coming. She had expected this side of Kaito, the one that was never fully visible, the one hidden behind layers of charm and indifference. It was a side she had never fully allowed herself to acknowledge, never fully understood.

Nova’s hand on her shoulder brought her back to reality. "Let’s go," she murmured. "They’ll figure it out."

But Liora didn’t move. Her eyes lingered on Kaito and Ren, the scene still playing out in her mind. Her heart was a tangled mess of emotions—curiosity, confusion, and something that felt like a quiet ache. She wasn’t sure what she was feeling, but she knew one thing for certain: this wasn’t just a game for them. There was something more here, something deeper, and Liora wasn’t sure she was ready to face it.

Nova, noticing Liora's hesitation, gave a soft sigh. "Come on, you don’t want to stand here all day." She turned and walked toward her parents’ car parked nearby, leaving Liora standing on the curb, still caught in the weight of the moment.

Reluctantly, Liora followed, the image of Kaito and Ren still fresh in her mind. As they neared the car, Liora could feel the tension easing from her shoulders, though the questions remained—unanswered, unresolved. But one thing was certain: the world she knew was changing, and she wasn’t sure if she was ready for it.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***