A click closer || Ren

24

Her breath caught in her throat.

She quickly crumpled the paper in her fist and shoved it into her pocket, scanning the hallway. No one seemed to be paying her any extra attention now, but the uneasy feeling didn't leave her.

She took a deep breath. Stay calm. Act normal.

Pushing her thoughts aside, she shut her locker and headed to class.

As she walked toward the basketball court, the familiar chatter of students filled the air, but she barely paid attention. The day had felt slow, dragging on longer than usual. Maybe it was because she hadn't slept well the night before, or maybe it was the unease lingering in the back of her mind.

Her feet moved on their own, following the path she had walked so many times before. The afternoon sun was warm, casting a golden hue over the school grounds. A gentle breeze swept past, rustling the trees and making the banners on the buildings sway slightly. Everything seemed normal.

Then she looked up.

Her steps came to an abrupt halt as her eyes landed on the rooftop.

There, standing together against the sky, were Ren and Gorya.

And they were hugging.

She didn't know why, but her heart clenched at the sight. A strange, uncomfortable feeling stirred in her chest, one she didn't want to acknowledge. It wasn't like she was close to Ren-she barely even spoke to him most of the time. And Gorya... well, Gorya was her friend. So why did this bother her?

She forced herself to look away, gripping the strap of her bag tightly. It doesn't matter. It's none of my business.

Yet, no matter how much she told herself that, she could still feel the image burned into her mind. The way Ren stood there, calm as always. The way Gorya leaned into him, seeking comfort. The way they seemed... connected.

She let out a small, shaky breath and continued walking. But the moment she reached the basketball court, she realized something-she wasn't in the mood to be here anymore.

Without another thought, she turned and left.

The school hallways were always noisy after class, but today felt different. There was a tension in the air, a hushed excitement that made students whisper among themselves as they crowded near one of the corridors.

She frowned, adjusting her bag as she approached the gathering crowd. The murmurs became clearer-frightened voices, gasps, and hushed warnings. Something was happening.

Curiosity mixed with unease as she pushed her way through the students, her breath catching when she finally saw the scene unfolding in front of her.

Thyme stood in the middle of the hallway, fists clenched and his chest rising and falling heavily. A boy lay on the ground before him, bruised and bleeding, groaning in pain.

MJ and Kevin stood nearby, their expressions unreadable. They weren't stopping him.

Her stomach churned.

She quickly moved toward them, voice urgent. "Stop him, guys! He might kill him!"

Kevin let out a sigh, rubbing the back of his neck. "Do you think we didn't try?" he muttered, his tone weary. "It's like pushing yourself into a hole if we step in."

MJ crossed his arms, his jaw tight. "He's not listening. Not even to me."

She turned back to Thyme. His knuckles were bloody, his rage still burning as he towered over the beaten boy.

This was wrong. So wrong.

She clenched her fists.

Then, before she could stop herself, she called out-