The classroom was louder than usual.
Not the normal kind of noise.
This one had energy.
Excitement.
Chaos.
"GUYS LISTEN!" Mira shouted, standing on her chair like she owned the place. "I heard it already—it's confirmed!"
Aria leaned back in her seat, half listening, half not.
"…what is it this time?" she muttered.
Ella smiled softly beside her.
"…excursion."
That got Aria's attention.
"…excursion?"
"Yeah," Mira jumped down dramatically. "Museum and waterfall. Both. Same day."
The class erupted.
Voices everywhere.
"No way—both?!"
"That's actually crazy!"
"I'm bringing food!"
Aria blinked once.
Then leaned back again.
"…not bad."
Mira turned instantly.
"Not bad?? This is elite!"
Ella laughed.
"…she's just acting cool."
"I am cool," Aria replied.
"Sure," Mira smirked. "Let's see if you're still 'cool' when your mysterious guy is there too."
Aria's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…he's not my guy."
"Mhmm," Mira dragged.
Ella tilted her head.
"…you're still thinking about him?"
Aria looked away.
"…I just think he's weird."
"That's how it starts," Mira said.
"It's not starting anything."
But even as she said it—
Her eyes moved.
Across the room.
And landed on him.
Dylan.
Sitting alone.
Like always.
No noise around him.
No one bothering him.
Just… there.
Calm.
Unbothered.
Different.
Aria frowned slightly.
"…see?"
Mira followed her gaze.
"…you're gone."
"I'm not gone."
"You are," Mira said. "You're observing him like a detective."
Aria exhaled.
"…whatever."
But she didn't look away immediately.
—
The next morning came fast.
Too fast for some.
But not for Aria.
The school compound was already buzzing as students gathered, bags packed, energy high.
The buses were lined up.
Teachers shouting instructions.
Students ignoring them.
"ARIA!" Mira yelled from across the space. "COME HERE!"
Aria walked over calmly.
"…why are you shouting like that?"
"Because today is important," Mira said seriously. "Today—we make moves."
"…what moves?"
Ella sighed.
"…she means sitting arrangement."
Aria stopped.
"…no."
"Yes," Mira grinned. "You're sitting near him today."
"I'm not sitting near anybody."
"You are."
"I'm not."
"You are."
"…watch me not."
Mira smirked.
"…we'll see."
—
The bus ride started.
Loud.
Chaotic.
Music playing.
People laughing.
And somehow—
Despite all her effort—
Aria ended up exactly where Mira wanted.
Near Dylan.
Not directly beside him.
But close enough.
"…this is your fault," Aria muttered.
Mira, sitting behind her, grinned.
"You're welcome."
Aria rolled her eyes.
Then—
She felt it.
That quiet presence again.
Dylan sat by the window.
Looking outside.
Like the noise didn't exist.
Aria hesitated.
Then—
"…you're coming too."
He didn't turn immediately.
"…it's compulsory," he said.
"…you always answer like that?"
He glanced at her briefly.
"…like what?"
"Like you don't want to talk."
"I don't."
She blinked.
"…you're actually serious."
"Yes."
A pause.
Then she sighed.
"…you're difficult."
"I've been told."
Aria looked away slightly.
"…do you ever enjoy anything?"
"Yes."
"…like what?"
"…quiet."
She almost laughed.
"…you're something else."
He didn't respond.
Just looked back out the window.
But for a second—
There was the smallest shift in his expression.
Almost like—
He didn't mind the conversation.
—
The museum was huge.
Tall structure.
Glass and stone.
Clean.
Modern.
Students rushed in like they had never seen a building before.
"WAIT FOR YOUR GROUPS!" a teacher shouted.
Nobody listened.
Mira grabbed Aria's arm.
"Come on!"
"I'm coming," Aria said.
Inside—
It was even bigger.
Different sections.
History.
Technology.
Science.
And then—
One section caught Aria's eye.
Radiation.
She slowed down.
"…this is new."
Ella walked beside her.
"…looks serious."
Mira leaned in.
"…boring."
"Shut up," Aria said.
She stepped closer.
Reading.
Images.
Cases.
Experiments.
Accidents.
People affected.
Bodies changed.
"…so it's real," Aria whispered.
Ella frowned.
"…what?"
"This kind of thing," Aria said, eyes still on the display. "Mutation… changes… it actually happens."
Ella shifted slightly.
"…yeah… but not like in movies."
Aria didn't respond.
Because she knew—
What she had seen in the city…
Was far beyond normal.
Behind her—
Dylan stood quietly.
Looking at the same section.
But his gaze—
Was different.
Not curiosity.
Not surprise.
Recognition.
Like he already knew.
Aria turned slightly—
And caught that expression.
For a second—
Her brows furrowed.
"…why does he look like that…"
But before she could think deeper—
"ARIA!" Mira called. "COME TAKE PICTURES!"
Aria blinked.
Then shook it off.
"…coming."
And just like that—
The moment passed.
—
Later—
Somehow—
Aria ended up separated from her group.
Not far.
Just enough.
And then—
"…you again."
She turned.
Dylan.
Standing there.
Calm as always.
"…you follow people now?" she asked.
"No."
"…could've fooled me."
A small silence.
Then—
"You don't like crowds?" she asked.
"They're loud."
"…you're always alone."
"I'm used to it."
That line—
Hit differently.
Aria paused.
"…you don't have friends?"
"Not really."
"…by choice?"
"…by habit."
She studied him.
"…that sounds lonely."
"It's quiet."
"That's not the same thing."
He didn't respond.
But for a moment—
There was something in his eyes.
Something deeper.
Then—
It disappeared.
"…we should go back," he said.
"Yeah."
They walked.
Not together.
But not far apart either.
—
The waterfall was beautiful.
Water crashing down.
Mist in the air.
Sunlight reflecting.
Students everywhere.
Laughing.
Taking pictures.
Living.
Mira dragged Aria instantly.
"Come here! Picture time!"
"I don't want—"
Too late.
Snap.
"…you're annoying," Aria said.
"You look good," Mira replied.
Ella smiled.
"…you actually smiled."
"…did I?"
"Yeah," Ella said.
Aria looked away slightly.
"…don't get used to it."
But she stayed.
For a moment—
She forgot everything.
The fights.
The chaos.
The pressure.
And just—
Existed.
Not far away—
Dylan stood alone.
Watching.
Not the crowd.
Not the noise.
Her.
For a second—
He wasn't VEX.
Wasn't a fighter.
Wasn't someone carrying everything.
Just—
A boy.
Watching someone smile.
Then—
He looked away.
Like it never happened.
—
Far from the laughter—
Far from the peace—
A screen flickered.
Dr Blanc stood before it.
Watching.
Data running.
Eyes cold.
"…public environments…" he murmured. "…perfect testing grounds."
Behind him—
Slander stood still.
Silent.
Unmoving.
"…she's improving," Dr Blanc continued.
No response.
Just silence.
Heavy.
Dangerous.
"…then we move sooner."
—
Back at the museum—
As students prepared to leave—
Aria noticed something.
A hallway.
Different.
Blocked.
Security standing firm.
"…that's weird," she muttered.
Ella looked.
"…restricted area?"
"Why block it on a school day?"
Mira shrugged.
"…maybe important stuff."
Aria stared a little longer.
Something about it—
Didn't feel normal.
But before she could move closer—
"Everyone to the bus!" a teacher shouted.
She exhaled.
"…later."
But deep down—
She knew.
That wasn't just a normal place.
—
As the bus drove away—
The laughter returned.
The noise.
The life.
But underneath it—
Something else moved.
Something unseen.
Something waiting.
And neither Aria…
Nor Dylan…
Knew how close they were—
To stepping into it. 😈🔥