The news didn't stay quiet for long.
By the next morning, people were already talking.
"Is it true?""You got in?""That's insane."
Kai wasn't used to attention like that. He answered with short nods, small smiles, quiet thanks.
Velithra watched from beside him.
She was proud. Truly.
But hearing it out loud, over and over, made it feel more permanent.
At lunch, someone clapped him on the shoulder. "You're leaving us."
Kai laughed awkwardly. "Not yet."
Not yet.
The words echoed in Velithra's mind.
Not yet meant eventually.
Later, when the halls emptied and the noise faded, they walked outside together.
It was colder than usual.
Velithra shoved her hands into her sleeves.
"You okay?" Kai asked.
She nodded automatically. Then stopped herself.
"I'm adjusting," she admitted.
He appreciated that more than a fake answer.
They reached the field, their place, and sat down.
For a while, neither of them spoke.
Finally, Kai said quietly, "It feels different now."
"It does," she agreed.
Not worse.
Just more fragile somehow.
Like time had edges.
He leaned forward, elbows on his knees. "Everyone keeps talking about it like I'm already gone."
Velithra looked at him.
"You're still here," she said firmly.
He turned toward her.
She reached for his hand, grounding both of them.
"You're still sitting next to me," she continued. "You're still walking home with me. You're still part of my every day."
Her voice softened.
"That matters more than what hasn't happened yet."
Kai felt something loosen in his chest.
He pulled her closer gently, resting his forehead against hers.
"I don't want the last three months to feel like a countdown," he said.
"They won't," she replied.
"How do you know?"
She gave the faintest smile.
"Because we won't treat them like an ending."
He studied her face.
She wasn't pretending it didn't hurt.
She was choosing not to let it ruin what they still had.
Kai brushed his thumb across her hand absentmindedly.
"I'm glad it's you," he said quietly.
Velithra blinked. "What is?"
"All of this."
Her heart tightened.
She leaned into him, resting her head against his shoulder.
Around them, the field stretched wide and quiet.
Nothing had changed.
And everything had.
But for now—
He was still here.
And she was still beside him.
And that was enough.