The school bell tolled, and break time began. There was a rush in the classroom as students jostled one another to get out for food or for some socializing. It was only within seconds that the once-vibrant room turned into silence-except for the presence of three individuals who remained.
Aoi. David. Ren.
With fingers idly moving her pencil across the page-she was sketching without much thought-His silence felt comforting around her.
Or at least it did until David made his move.
He was silent. Controlled. Too smooth.
Before she even noticed, he was standing beside her desk, leaning slightly forward. The air around him was unnervingly composed, yet something about the way he carried himself felt purposeful.
Then-he lowered himself closer to her.
His voice came in a whisper, close enough that she could feel the warmth of his breath near her ear.
You intrigue me, Aoi.' Aoi's fingers froze.
The words were not the only thing- even they seemed separate from the actual sense.
Low. Calculated. As if he had already expected some reaction.
It's not a confession with an implied answer. This was a statement. One that puts him in the controlling position.
Aoi didn't react right away.
Processors of the mind were at various stages with the situation.
The closeness. The burden of his words. The way his voice had a coolness to it, yet his presence felt pressuring.
For a moment, she was paralyzed.
Then-before she had time to place all the emotions in her heart-her wrist was seized.
"Come." In a sharp, blunt voice, Ren put forth his call.
Just as swift was Aoi's shock in response to the command as Ren yanked her from the chair. His grasp was firm but without pain-a sharp difference from the stillness she had just experienced.
David didn't stop them.
Instead, he simply stood there, his expression unreadable as Ren dragged Aoi away from the scene.
Aoi could finally breathe as soon as they stepped out of the classroom.
She would never know why she felt somewhat strange and uneased around David. And Ren-whether he wanted to or not, had just taken her away before she knew why.