Kai's classroom door came into view, but neither he nor Velithra slowed down.It was like both of them were pretending they didn't see it — pretending time wasn't running out.
Velithra's fingers tightened around her bag strap. She could feel the moment slipping, like sand between her hands. Being next to Kai felt too good in a way that scared her. It was grounding and overwhelming at the same time.
Kai stopped first.
Her steps carried her one more pace forward before she turned to face him. His eyes were already on her. Dark. Focused. A little conflicted.
"Velithra," he said again.
"How do you always say my name like it's a question?" she tried to joke, voice small.
He didn't smile. But his gaze softened, just barely.
"Because I never know what you're thinking," he murmured.
She looked away, heart pounding. "Maybe that's a good thing."
"No," Kai said quietly. "It's not."
Silence settled between them — warm, heavy, almost too intimate for a school hallway.
Kai's hand lifted like he was going to reach for her.
Just a little.
Just enough that she could tell he wanted to.
But he stopped halfway.
Fingers curled back into his palm, jaw tightening.
He dropped his gaze to the floor like he was angry at himself.But Velithra knew better — he was scared. Scared of crossing some invisible line. Scared of the shaking feeling she saw in his eyes that he never talked about.
"Kai…" she whispered.
He looked up, and for a split second, everything in him was exposed — the longing, the fear, the confusion, the want.
"You don't get it," he said quietly. "You… make me act weird."
She blinked, heat rushing through her face. "Weird how?"
Kai huffed out a breath. "Like I want to do—"He cut himself off.
Velithra felt the air thicken.
"Do what?" she asked softly.
Kai stepped an inch closer. Not touching. Just close enough that her skin tingled.
"Stuff I'm not supposed to," he said, voice barely above a whisper.
Her breath caught.
For a moment — just a moment — Velithra thought he would actually close the distance between them.
But then a group of students brushed past, laughing loudly, snapping the moment in half.
Kai flinched just slightly, eyes darting away like he had been pulled back into reality too fast.
He straightened, clearing his throat.
"I… should go in," he muttered. It sounded like it pained him.
Velithra nodded slowly, unable to speak.
He took one step toward the classroom.
Then paused.
Turned back.
And in a voice softer than she'd ever heard from him, he said:
"Walk with me again tomorrow?"
Velithra felt the words land inside her like a spark.
"…Yeah," she whispered. "I will."
Kai nodded once — like he needed the confirmation.Then he slipped into the classroom, shoulders tense, avoiding every eye but hers.
Velithra stood there for a long moment afterward.
Her heartbeat didn't slow down.
Not even a little.