The next day felt different, even though nothing had really changed.
People still walked through the hallways, still talked, still laughed—but the way they looked at me… that was new.
I could hear the whispers clearly as I passed by. Not because they were loud, but because everything sounded louder to me now.
"That's him…"
"The one from yesterday…"
"He broke the table…"
I kept walking, pretending not to hear, but it wasn't easy. Every word stayed in my head longer than it should have.
"…he's not normal."
My jaw tightened.
Then someone behind me let out a small laugh.
"Freak."
My steps slowed for a second, but I didn't turn. I just kept walking, even though that word kept echoing in my mind.
When I entered the classroom, the noise didn't stop completely, but it dropped enough for me to notice.
People were watching me. Not openly, but carefully—like they didn't want to be caught staring.
Before, they didn't care.
Now, they were cautious.
I moved to the back and sat down. Philip was already there.
He glanced at me briefly before looking away, like everything was normal. Too normal.
"You can hear them, can't you?" he said quietly.
I stayed silent for a moment.
"It's loud," I muttered.
He nodded slightly. "Then you need to learn how to control it."
I frowned, turning to him. "Control?"
"You can't react to every little thing you hear," he said calmly.
Something about his tone bothered me.
"I am in control," I replied.
Philip didn't argue. He just stayed quiet—and somehow, that silence felt worse. Like he didn't believe me.
Class started, but I couldn't focus.
The sounds around me felt sharper than usual. The scratching of pens, pages turning, quiet conversations—it all blended together, pressing against my mind.
Then I heard it again.
"That's him…"
I exhaled slowly, trying to ignore it.
"…he looks normal though."
"…maybe it was just luck."
"…no way he actually did that."
My chest tightened.
That same feeling from the dream crept back in—subtle, but familiar.
I shifted in my seat, trying to push it down.
"Just ignore it…" I whispered.
Then—
"Freak."
That word again.
Something inside me snapped.
Before I realized it, I was already on my feet. My chair scraped loudly against the floor, cutting through the classroom noise.
Everything went quiet.
I walked forward without thinking and stopped in front of the guy who had been whispering.
He looked up at me, his expression shifting from annoyance… to unease.
"You said something?" I asked.
My voice didn't sound like mine. It was lower. Colder.
"I—I didn't say anything," he replied quickly.
My hand shot out and grabbed his collar.
It happened too fast for anyone to react.
A few people gasped.
My grip tightened. My fingers dug into the fabric, strength building in my hand—too much, too unnatural.
"Say it again," I said.
He froze, his body going stiff.
"I didn't mean it," he stammered.
"Say it."
My grip tightened further. I could hear his heartbeat—fast, uneven, loud in my ears.
My breathing grew heavier. That feeling was back again. Stronger.
Pushing.
Pulling at something inside me.
For a moment…
I didn't want to stop.
"Let go…"
The voice came again.
Faint.
But clear.
"Let go."
It wasn't around me.
It was inside my head.
My grip tightened instead.
"Jeremy."
Philip's voice cut through everything.
I paused.
"Let him go," he said calmly.
Something about the way he said it broke through the noise.
My head cleared just enough for me to realize what I was doing.
I looked at my hand.
Then at the guy I was holding.
And suddenly—
I let go.
He dropped back into his seat, breathing hard.
The classroom was completely silent.
No one spoke.
No one moved.
I stepped back slowly, my hands trembling.
I didn't understand what just happened.
I returned to my seat without a word.
My heart was still racing, and I couldn't bring myself to look at anyone.
Philip didn't speak, but I could feel his gaze on me. Watching.
Like he was trying to understand something.
Later that day…
I stood in front of the mirror again.
My reflection looked normal.
Too normal.
I stared into my eyes.
Then—
For a split second—
They changed.
Sharper.
Not human.
I pulled back instantly, my heart pounding.
"…this isn't normal."
A faint voice echoed in my head again.
"You're getting closer."
I froze.
Closer… to what?
No answer came.
But the feeling remained.
And deep down…
I knew this wasn't going to stop.