I heard it faintly at first—a soft ding-dong cutting through the silence of my room. It started off distant, almost like a dream, but as it grew louder, the metallic chime seemed to vibrate inside my chest, lingering in the still air. My hand moved instinctively, reaching toward the source, fingers fumbling as I stopped the ringing.
A heavy grogginess clung to me. My body felt weighed down, sluggish, my eyelids still resisting the pull of consciousness. Every movement felt like wading through thick fog, my mind slow to catch up.
"So it happened again today," I muttered under my breath, my voice hoarse with sleep.
Even though exhaustion still gripped me, I forced myself out of bed, feeling the cold floor against my bare feet as I trudged toward the bathroom. The memories of yesterday flickered in my mind, but unlike before, they didn't overwhelm me. My thoughts felt steadier, my emotions calmer. I decided not to dwell on the chaotic Monday that had just passed and instead focus on today.
The hallway was as crowded as ever, filled with the usual hum of conversation. As I walked, I pulled my earphones out, the soft, calming tunes instantly replaced by the overlapping voices spilling out from the lecture hall. Different groups were scattered around—some talking about an upcoming party, others stressing over the next lecture.
Unlike yesterday, no one paid me any mind, and I wasn't particularly interested in joining any conversation. I kept my head down, staring at the floor as I navigated the familiar path to my seat.
"Good morning, Ahriman."
A voice made me look up.
Eddie.
The guy I'd only properly met yesterday, despite being in the same class, was now sitting in my usual seat. Normally, he sat up front, but today, for some reason, he had chosen to sit at the back where I usually did.
"Hey, morning," I said, eyeing him in mild confusion.
His face tensed slightly, as if realizing something, then he gave an awkward laugh. "Oh—uh, sorry. I took your seat. I just… felt like sitting back here today," he said, his tone uncertain. "But hey, you can take it. I'll move."
"It's fine," I replied, not particularly bothered.
I slid into the seat next to him, leaving some space between us. Pulling my notebook from my bag, I flipped it open and began skimming through the notes from the previous class.
"Ahem… so, how are you today?" Eddie asked. His voice carried a formal stiffness, like he was forcing himself to make conversation.
"Hm, I'm fine," I replied absentmindedly. "You?"
The moment I asked, his entire expression changed. His face lit up, his cheeks turning slightly pink, and he looked almost… giddy.
"Oh, I'm doing great! Thank you for asking!" he said, his voice almost too enthusiastic.
Why are you blushing?
I chose to ignore it, shifting my focus back to my notes.
A few moments later, the professor entered, and the lecture began. The once noisy room fell into an immediate hush.
About ten or fifteen minutes into the lecture, the silence was broken by the sharp creak of the door. The noise drew everyone's attention as two figures stepped inside—Tova and Grace.
They were late.
As they entered, Tova's gaze flickered toward me for a brief second. I wasn't sure why.
The professor, momentarily distracted, turned in their direction. Both girls gave a small, apologetic bow before quietly slipping toward the back of the room instead of heading to their usual seats.
I returned my focus to the professor's words, but from the corner of my eye, I caught movement. A soft squeal came from my right, followed by a hushed sigh of relief. Then the faint rustle of notebooks and the clicking of pens.
They had taken the seats next to me.
"That was embarrassing," Grace whispered.
"Not really. It was kind of fun," Tova replied in a hushed voice.
Grace let out a small, irritated huff. "Whatever. But hey, looks like you lost."
There was a brief silence before Tova sighed, her voice carrying a hint of disappointment. "I guess I did."
Before I could fully process their conversation, I felt a gentle pressure against my shoulder—Tova's.
She leaned in close, her lips almost brushing my ear. "Hey, thanks to you, I lost a bet."
The warmth of her breath sent a slight shiver down my spine.
What? How did I even get involved in this?
I turned my head slightly, whispering back, "What?"
Now that I was paying attention, I noticed Tova sitting directly beside me, with Grace positioned next to her.
Tova pouted dramatically before leaning in again, her voice teasing. "Me and Grace bet on whether or not you'd show up late. I was so sure you'd be more late than us, but you disappointed me."
That piqued my curiosity. "What was the bet?"
Tova sighed, sounding genuinely dejected. "Lunch."
Lunch? That's what rich people bet on?
I couldn't help but feel a little underwhelmed.
But before I could say anything else, she leaned in even closer, her breath warm against my skin. "So, it's all on you now. Either you treat me, or I punch you."
My eyes flicked toward Grace for a moment. Her expression was unreadable, but her eyes were sharp, almost irritated.
You don't have to look that pissed.
I wasn't sure if she was trying to send me some kind of message, but I knew one thing—getting close to Tova was only going to cause trouble.
I turned back to Tova, keeping my voice flat. "Sorry, but I'm kind of broke. Also, it's your fault for betting in the first place."
I leaned slightly away from her, increasing the distance between us before refocusing on the professor, making it clear I wasn't interested in continuing the conversation.
By the time the sun dipped below the horizon, the exhaustion had settled deep in my bones. The darkness of night had started to creep in, and I could feel sleep tugging at me, but my shift wasn't over yet.
I kept my focus on the task at hand, hauling boxes into the storage area, my movements sluggish from fatigue. That's when my phone rang, the sudden vibration in my pocket breaking through my tired haze.
It wasn't often that I got calls. Not many people had my number, so whenever my phone rang, it usually meant something important.
I set the box down and pulled out my phone.
Sugar.
Pressing the answer button, I held the phone to my ear. "Hey."
"Hey! You're still at work?"
Isn't that obvious?
"Yeah. Something wrong?" I asked, not wanting to waste time. The longer this call lasted, the longer I'd have to stay late finishing my shift.
"What? No. I just figured—your shift ends at eight, right? I'll come pick you up."
Faint voices murmured behind her, indistinct but persistent. She wasn't alone. A normal detail, but for some reason, it felt off tonight.
"Hmm, you done with work?"
"Yeah—hey, stop—Yeah, I'm just wrapping up. So don't leave, okay? I'll be there soon."
She was clearly talking to someone else mid-call, but I didn't pry.
"Alright, see you," I muttered before hanging up and getting back to work.
"She's late," I mumbled, glancing at the time.
It was already past eight. Eight-twenty, to be exact, and there was still no sign of Sugar.
Maybe she got caught up with something.
She knew my workplace well—she'd picked me up a few times before, so it wasn't like she got lost.
I debated waiting a little longer.
After everything that had happened yesterday, I wasn't exactly eager to walk home alone. Having her around—even if I didn't admit it—was reassuring.