Unmatched Frequencies Wrong Number and Right Reaction

That night, Kelv lay in bed, earbuds in, the world muffled beneath music that didn’t help.

His phone buzzed.

Unknown number

You flinch in class.

Kelv Mc (Beta)

(stared at the screen, brows pulling together.)

Another message followed before he could block the number.

Unknown number

But only when I’m behind you.

Kelv sat up. He didn’t answer.

The typing bubbles appeared anyway.

Unknown number

That means something.

And Kelv, against all reason, against all instinct, against every wall he’d built around himself— Typed back.

Kelv Mc (Beta)

It means you’re annoying.

Lucas ML (Enigma)

It means you’re listening.

Lucas ML (Enigma)

You can hear me, only you.

Kelv stared at the glowing screen in the dark, Lucas’s message still sitting there like it had teeth.

He could ignore it. Should ignore it. Block the number. Mute the chat. Pretend it never happened. But his thumb hovered. Then tapped.

Kelv Mc (Beta)

Did you get my number off the school server or do you stalk for fun?

Lucas ML (Enigma)

I don’t stalk. I observe.

Kelv Mc (Beta)

That’s what stalkers say before the documentary comes out.

Lucas ML (Enigma)

Are you always this defensive?

Kelv Mc (Beta)

Only when strange men text me at midnight.

Lucas ML (Enigma)

You think I’m strange.

Kelv Mc (Beta)

I think you make the air weird when you walk in.

Lucas ML (Enigma)

You noticed.

Kelv bit the inside of his cheek. He hated how fast his fingers responded. Like his body was reacting to something his mind hadn’t agreed to yet.

Kelv Mc (Beta)

You make people nervous. That’s not the same as interesting.

Lucas ML (Enigma)

But I make *you* nervous.

Kelv didn’t reply. He couldn’t. Because it was true—and he hated it.

He woke up the next morning to another message.

Lucas ML (Enigma)

Do you always twitch your leg when you’re uncomfortable or am I the reason?

Kelv Mc (Beta)

You’re annoying. That’s the reason.

Lucas ML (Enigma)

You say that a lot. Trying to convince yourself?

Kelv’s fingers froze mid-type. He erased what he was going to say. Then typed something he didn’t mean to.

Kelv Mc (Beta)

Why are you texting me?

Lucas ML (Enigma)

Because you don’t smell like the others.

Kelv’s stomach dropped. Even though Betas didn’t emit scent, some had faint markers—barely detectable, untraceable unless you were highly sensitive or… something else. Kelv’s fingers moved slowly this time.

Kelv Mc (Beta)

That’s not possible.

Lucas ML (Enigma)

I’m not guessing. I’ve never noticed a Beta before. Until you.