Kaizer's POV
The rough sketch stared back at me.
A single figure sat quietly while thin strands circled around it.
Even after looking at it for what felt like the hundredth time, it still made no sense.
I turned another page.
Nothing.
The same strange symbols.
The same unfinished drawings.
The same questions.
My fingers unconsciously stopped on one page.
"No one outside makes you understand what your inner soul already knows."
Grandma's voice echoed inside my head.
What exactly was my inner soul supposed to know?
I closed the journal for a moment before opening it again.
Maybe I had missed something.
Maybe there was another clue hidden somewhere between the pages.
I carefully observed every sketch.
Every note.
Every scribble.
Nothing.
After nearly an hour of trying to understand something that refused to be understood, I finally gave up.
I let out a long sigh before closing the journal.
It remained lying on the centre table while I stood up.
My eyes had started hurting.
Perhaps some fresh air would help.
---
The night had already settled over the neighbourhood.
A cool breeze greeted me as I stepped onto the balcony.
Most houses had switched on their porch lights.
Children who had been playing outside had already disappeared into their homes.
Only a few elderly people remained sitting together near the entrance of the colony.
Their conversation drifted through the silent night.
Normally, I wouldn't have been able to hear them from this distance.
Unfortunately...
I wasn't hearing their voices.
I was hearing their thoughts.
*> Another disappearance...
> The police still haven't found any clue.
> Poor parents... imagine waiting for your child to come home...
> I don't even let my grandson step outside after sunset anymore.
> Something isn't right with this city.*
One thought overlapped another.
Another interrupted the next.
It was like standing inside a crowded room where everyone insisted on speaking at the same time.
I rubbed my temple.
The headache was slowly returning.
Then...
My eyes caught a familiar figure entering the colony.
Iris.
Probably had just returned from work.
The moment she entered through the gate, one of the elderly ladies smiled at her.
She immediately stopped walking.
They exchanged a few words, which unfortunately were out of my hearing radar.
The old woman chuckled before patting her shoulder.
She waved goodbye and continued walking.
Not even a few steps later—
A tiny toddler suddenly broke free from his mother's hand and ran straight towards her.
I watched as Senior Iris crouched down without hesitation.
She lifted him effortlessly into her arms.
The little boy immediately wrapped both tiny arms around her neck.
She smiled so naturally that it almost looked... familiar.
The child only giggled.
She lightly tapped his nose.
Then kissed his cheek.
The toddler immediately copied her.
A loud mwah echoed through the quiet street.
Iris laughed.
I unconsciously raised an eyebrow.
"..."
Children really liked her.
Adults did too.
Somehow...
Everyone seemed comfortable around her.
I looked away.
Then paused.
...
Silence.
Complete silence.
I frowned.
The neighbours were still sitting there.
Their mouths were moving.
They were definitely talking.
But...
I couldn't hear their thoughts anymore.
Not one.
My gaze immediately shifted back.
Iris had already disappeared inside the building.
Almost instantly—
*> Hopefully tomorrow there won't be another disappearance...
> Should we install another CCTV?
> I should call my son...*
The thoughts flooded back.
One after another.
I remained standing there.
Without moving.
What...
was that?
---
A few minutes later, I heard the familiar sound of the front gate unlocking.
The main door opened soon after.
"I'm home."
I turned around.
Iris looked up and immediately noticed me standing on the balcony.
"You've been standing here all this time?"
"I guess."
She walked inside after taking off her shoes.
As she passed through the living room, her eyes landed on the journal still lying open on the table.
"So..."
She glanced at me.
"Still trying to decode Grandma's masterpiece?"
I simply hummed.
She stared at me for a few seconds.
"What?" I asked.
She shook her head.
"Nothing."
She smiled faintly.
Then pointed towards the journal.
"You've been looking at that since morning."
"It still doesn't make sense."
"It probably won't today either."
I stayed quiet.
She folded her arms.
"Tomorrow is school."
Another pause.
"You can become detective after classes."
Despite myself...
The corner of my lips lifted.
"You think I'm joking."
"I know you are."
She looked towards the kitchen.
"Come."
"Dinner is getting cold."
---
Dinner passed quietly.
She spoke about the café.
Something about Uncle accidentally adding salt instead of sugar to a customer's coffee.
Something about Celine laughing so hard that she nearly dropped an entire tray.
I listened.
Occasionally replying.
Occasionally just watching her.
Soon she finished eating.
She stretched lazily before standing up.
"I'm going to sleep."
She looked towards me.
"You should too."
Then disappeared into her room.
The door clicked shut.
A few moments later...
I closed mine as well.
---
I lay back against my bed and picked up my phone.
Several unread messages.
Most of them were from Lux.
Ignoring them, another notification caught my attention.
Iris added a new highlight.
Without thinking, I opened it.
A neatly decorated hot chocolate shake appeared on the screen.
Foam art rested perfectly on top.
The caption simply read—
"Today's little experiment."
...
It looked good.
Before realising it, I had already liked the story.
I stared at the screen for another second.
Then called Lux.
He picked up almost immediately.
"So..."
His dramatic voice came first.
"My dear brother has become so busy with Sister Iris that he has forgotten his only friend."
"What nonsense."
"I knew you'd say that."
"I wasn't denying anything."
"You literally just did."
I sighed.
"What did you want?"
Lux laughed.
Then suddenly asked,
"By the way..."
"You like Sister Iris, don't you?"
...
For some reason...
I didn't answer immediately.
Instead...
The balcony flashed through my mind.
The neighbours.
Their thoughts.
The silence.
Lux kept speaking.
Something about tomorrow.
Something he wanted me to bring.
I responded absentmindedly.
"Hmm."
"Okay."
"I'll see."
After ending the call, I placed the phone beside me.
The room became quiet.
Did I...
like Iris?
Or...
did I simply like the silence around her?
Every time she appeared...
the thoughts disappeared.
Every time she left...
they returned.
Perhaps...
I wasn't attached to Senior Iris.
Perhaps...
I was only attached to the peace that surrounded her.
...
Then why..
did seeing her smile at that little boy bother me?
I frowned.
"..."
That...
didn't seem to have anything to do with silence.
---
The next morning arrived far too quickly.
The morning breeze carried the usual mixture of sleepy conversations and half-finished homework discussions.
Students stood in neat rows across the assembly ground.
Or at least...
They tried to.
The entire ground buzzed with complaints.
*> How much longer are we supposed to stand?
> I swear if it's another lecture about discipline...
> Please don't let the principal announce extra classes...
> My legs already hurt.*
I quietly stood in my own row.
The thoughts kept flowing one after another.
None of them were particularly interesting.
Just the usual complaints every Monday morning.
Then—
Movement near the stage caught my attention.
Iris walked towards the microphone.
Almost immediately...
The thoughts around me shifted.
*> The President is here.
> There must be some announcement.
> Maybe another cultural event?
> Don't tell me exams are being preponed.*
She adjusted the microphone.
"Good morning, everyone."
The murmuring slowly settled.
"I hope all of you are doing well."
"As many of you already know, next month our school will be participating in the Inter-School Basketball Championship."
The ground immediately became livelier.
Excited whispers replaced sleepy complaints.
"So, beginning this week, trials for both the boys' and girls' basketball teams will officially commence."
Some students had already started discussing whether they should participate.
I wasn't particularly interested.
Until—
"The boys' team captain will continue to be Jacob"
Polite applause followed.
"And the girls' team captain..."
She smiled slightly while looking towards one section.
"...Anya."
For a brief second...
The entire ground erupted into applause.
Right behind me—
"Pfft!"
Someone almost choked.
Without turning around, I already knew who it was.
Lux.
His thoughts became louder than the applause itself.
*> ANGRY BIRD CAN PLAY BASKETBALL?!
> She's the captain?!
> Since when does she even play basketball?
> Wait... she's actually cool?*
I pressed my lips together.
Barely stopping myself from smiling.
Senior Iris continued announcing the remaining details.
Dates.
Timings.
Selection process.
But Lux...
Hadn't recovered yet.
*> She's definitely lying.
> No way Angry Bird is the captain.
> Should I ask her...?*
The assembly finally came to an end.
Students slowly began dispersing towards their respective classrooms.
---
By the second period...
Our class had already reached the Physics Laboratory.
Metal instruments lay arranged neatly across every table.
The familiar smell of polished wood and laboratory chemicals filled the room.
Our physics teacher clapped twice.
"Listen everyone."
The room gradually became quiet.
"Since your practical examinations are approaching, some seniors will be assisting you today."
Almost as if on cue—
A few students entered the laboratory.
My eyes instinctively searched among them.
...
Iris.
She walked inside carrying a notebook.
The moment she entered—
The surrounding thoughts became quieter.
Not because the students had stopped thinking.
Because...
My attention had already shifted towards her.
"Our seniors will help you today," the physics teacher announced. "If you have any difficulty, ask them instead of creating chaos."
A few laughs echoed across the room.
The seniors dispersed among different tables.
Iris stopped beside ours.
She greeted the teacher before looking around at everyone with her usual gentle smile.
"If anyone gets stuck, just call me."
Several students nodded.
I looked down at the Vernier caliper lying on my desk.
I had already adjusted it once.
Perfectly.
Still...
I found myself holding it again.
---
Only a few minutes had passed when a voice came from the next table.
"Senior!"
I looked up.
A boy from our class held up his Vernier caliper with an embarrassed smile.
"Can you help me? I can't get the reading right."
Iris immediately walked over.
"Let's see."
She bent slightly to look at the scale.
"No... you're reading the main scale correctly." She pointed gently. "The problem is here."
She adjusted the jaws of the instrument.
"Hold it like this."
The boy nodded.
"Ohh..."
"I get it now."
Except...
He clearly didn't.
Because instead of looking at the Vernier caliper...
He was looking at her.
Behind her back...
He made a smug face towards his friends.
One of them elbowed another.
The three quietly laughed.
...
I stared at them.
Then back at him.
He definitely understood the reading.
He simply wasn't trying.
"Senior..."
He called again.
"I still don't understand."
She smiled patiently.
"That's alright."
She adjusted the instrument once more.
"Look carefully."
He leaned closer.
Not towards the Vernier caliper.
Towards her.
I unconsciously tightened my grip around the instrument in my own hand.
...
How obvious.
---
The teacher moved to another table.
The boy immediately spoke again.
"Senior... can you explain it once more?"
She nodded without suspecting anything.
"See..."
She patiently started explaining from the beginning.
Behind her...
The same friends gave him approving looks.
One even silently mouthed,
"Good going."
Ridiculous.
I lowered my gaze back to my own practical.
The numbers in front of me suddenly looked unnecessarily irritating.
I adjusted the Vernier.
Again.
The reading was correct.
Still...
I moved it again.
No.
Wrong.
Again.
Still wrong.
...
Since when had I forgotten how to use a Vernier caliper?
---
A shadow stopped beside my table.
"What happened?"
I looked up.
Iris stood there.
"You've been looking at that for five minutes."
"I know."
"You know?"
She blinked.
"Then why are you still looking?"
"I can't adjust it."
She looked at me for a moment.
"Give it to me."
I handed it over.
She immediately noticed the mistake.
"You've locked the jaws too tightly."
"Oh."
She loosened it.
"There."
She placed it back into my hand.
"Now try."
I did.
The reading appeared instantly.
"..."
She tilted her head.
"See?"
"Hmm."
She waited.
"Aren't you going to write it?"
"I am."
She folded her arms.
"Then why are you looking at me?"
I looked down.
"..."
Good question.
---
She leaned slightly closer.
"No, wait..."
"The zero error isn't matching."
She took the instrument again.
This time...
She bent lower to match her eye with the scale.
I instinctively lowered mine at the same moment.
Our heads stopped.
Barely inches apart.
For a second...
Neither of us moved.
I could feel her breathing.
She seemed completely unaware.
Her entire attention remained fixed on the tiny markings.
"There..."
She whispered mostly to herself.
"I found it."
She looked up.
Only then did she realise how close we were.
She blinked once.
Then calmly moved back.
"There wasn't anything wrong with it."
She smiled sheepishly.
"I think both of us were overthinking."
I quietly nodded.
She handed the Vernier back.
"Write the reading before you forget again."
Then walked away to help another student.
---
I watched her leave.
"..."
My eyes unconsciously shifted towards the same boy.
He looked equally disappointed.
Good.
---
The practical ended nearly forty minutes later.
Students began leaving the laboratory in groups.
As I packed my file into my bag, Lux suddenly appeared beside me.
"So..."
He whispered dramatically.
"I finally understand."
"What?"
"Angry Bird is the basketball captain."
"..."
"And..."
He looked towards the door.
"Your Madam Senior is popular."
I followed his gaze.
The same boy.
I ignored him.
---
Kaizer's POV
The final bell echoed throughout the school building.
Within seconds, the quiet corridors transformed into complete chaos.
Students hurried out of their classrooms.
Conversations overlapped one another.
Laughter.
Footsteps.
Backpacks hitting shoulders.
The usual noise.
Lux had already disappeared somewhere after muttering something about basketball trials.
I walked towards the main gate alone.
Or...
At least I intended to.
Near the staircase...
I spotted her.
She was talking to another teacher before turning towards the school entrance.
Almost at the same moment—
That boy from the laboratory caught up with her.
"Senior!"
She stopped walking.
"Yes?"
He smiled awkwardly.
"I... actually wanted to ask something."
She waited patiently.
"It's about today's practical."
"I thought you understood it?"
"I did..."
He scratched the back of his neck.
"But... there might be more doubts while practising."
She nodded.
"Then ask your physics teacher tomorrow."
He laughed nervously.
"I actually thought..."
"...maybe I could take your number?"
"So I can ask whenever I get stuck."
She looked at him.
She smiled politely.
"Oh..."
"I'm not really comfortable sharing my number."
"I can explain your doubts tomorrow in school if you need help."
"..."
The boy clearly wasn't expecting that answer.
He quickly tried again.
"Actually, I just thought—"
Before he could finish—
My feet had already started moving.
...
I hadn't planned anything.
I hadn't even thought.
The next thing I knew—
My hand had already wrapped around her wrist.
"Senior Iris."
Both of them turned towards me.
She blinked.
"Kaizer?"
"The bus."
"Huh?"
"We'll miss it."
"..."
She looked towards the school gate.
The bus wasn't even here yet.
Still...
She didn't question it.
"Oh..."
"Okay."
I gently pulled her along.
"Sorry."
She looked back towards the boy.
"I have to go."
He forced an awkward smile.
"Y-Yeah... no problem."
A few seconds later—
We were already halfway across the school courtyard.
Only after reaching near the gate did I finally let go of her hand.
She looked down at her wrist.
Then...
At me.
"..."
I looked away.
"..."
Another few seconds passed.
Neither of us spoke.
Finally—
She tilted her head.
"Our bus..."
"...is not here yet."
"..."
I looked towards the parking area.
...
It was right.
"..."
"..."
She slowly folded her arms.
"Mr. Kaizer."
"Hmm."
"Were we ever going to miss it?"
"...Probably not."
She stared at me.
"Then why were you in such a hurry?"
"..."
I genuinely didn't know.
"I..."
For the first time in a long while...
Words failed me.
She continued looking at me.
Waiting.
I searched for a reasonable explanation.
Nothing came.
"I don't know."
The answer escaped before I could stop it.
She blinked.
"...You don't know?"
I quietly shook my head.
"I just..."
Stopped.
Because I really didn't know.
Why had I done that?
She watched me for another moment.
Then...
The corners of her lips slowly curved upward.
A soft laugh escaped her.
"You know..."
She started walking again.
"...you're a little strange sometimes."
I walked beside her.
"...Maybe."
She looked ahead.
"Thank you though."
"For what?"
"For saving me."
I frowned.
"Saving you?"
"That boy wasn't asking doubts anymore."
She smiled to herself.
"I was trying to think of another excuse."
I looked at her.
"You knew?"
"I may be slow."
She laughed softly.
"But not that slow."
...
For some reason...
Relief spread quietly through my chest.
She glanced towards me again.
"But..."
She smiled mischievously.
"...you held my hand in front of the entire school."
...
I froze.
Only then did I realise.
I had.
Without thinking.
Without asking.
Without any reason.
"..."
Heat slowly crept up my neck.
She noticed.
Her smile widened.
"Kaizer..."
She leaned slightly closer.
"Were you jealous?"
I immediately looked at her.
"What nonsense."
She giggled.
"I didn't say whose."
"..."
"I was just asking."
"..."
"Kaizer?"
"..."
"...Kaizer?"
I sighed.
"Senior Iris."
"Hmm?"
"Let's go home."
She burst into laughter.
"You're avoiding the question."
"I am."
She laughed even harder.
Then paused a little.
"Don't worry..."
I looked at her.
"...you will be my favourite junior."
As she walked ahead, I remained standing there for a moment.
...
Soon my lips curved as I walked behind her.