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Morning sunlight streamed through the tall classroom windows, spreading warm light across the rows of desks. The room buzzed with the familiar sounds of students chatting, chairs scraping softly against the floor, and notebooks being opened as everyone prepared for the first lesson of the day. Lareina sat quietly near the middle row, arranging her notes while waiting for their professor to arrive. Although the classroom carried the usual lively energy of a normal school morning, her attention kept drifting toward the back. Yvo sat in the last row near the window. Normally, he kept to himself during class, speaking only when necessary or when the teacher called on him. He had always been the quiet type, someone who preferred observing rather than participating in the constant chatter around him. But even with his usual silence, there was always a sense of alertness about him. Recently, that quietness had become different. He was staring outside the window. Completely still. Beyon
Lunch period unfolded quietly.From the narrow passage between the main building and the arts wing, Yvo stood quietly in the shadows. The place gave him a clear view of the campus while keeping him hidden from sight.Across the space, Lareina arrived first.She hugged her notebook lightly to her chest and glanced around until she spotted Sean walking toward her from the other building.“Hey,” she greeted softly.Sean stopped a few feet away. His hands remained tucked inside his pockets as he exhaled slowly.“Hey,” he replied. “Can we talk for a moment?”Lareina tilted her head slightly, sensing the seriousness in his voice.“Of course,” she said. “Are you feeling better? You’ve been absent for a few days after the night concert. You’re really okay, right?”Sean gave a small smile.“Yeah… I’m feeling better now.”She studied him carefully.“You looked really pale that night,” she continued. “I was actually thinking of visiting you, but your mom said you didn’t want to see anyone. I cou
Yvo sat with his head bowed over his desk, one arm folded beneath him, the other resting loosely at his side. To anyone passing by, he looked asleep, worn down by the long school day. His hair fell forward, hiding his eyes, and his stillness discouraged attention.But he was wide awake.His eyes remained closed while his hearing sharpened to the quiet conversation unfolding across the room. He did not move. He did not lift his head. He simply listened.Near the window, Darren and Lareina stood close together, their voices low.“I am just not comfortable seeing Sean absent for three days straight. Maybe he really is just sick,” Darren said, concern threading through his tone. “He did look awful that night.”Lareina nodded, hugging her notebook against her chest. “Yeah. It has been a long time since he performed. Maybe the stress really caught up to him. He has been pushing himself hard even before the festival.”The explanation was reasonable. Almost convenient.Yvo’s fingers twitched
Sean stepped out of the stall looking steadier than he felt.He did not lift his head right away. Instead, he moved straight to the sink, as if instinct guided him there, as if the simple routine of washing his hands could restore order to everything spiraling inside him. He turned on the faucet and let the cold water run over his fingers, focusing on the sensation. Cold. Sharp. Real. He scrubbed his hands carefully, deliberately, each movement controlled, measured.Only when he reached for the paper towels did he finally glance up.His breath caught.Darren stood a few steps behind him, worry etched deeply into his expression. That part Sean had expected. What he had not expected was the second figure leaning quietly against the counter near the sinks.Yvo.His posture was relaxed, almost casual, arms loosely crossed, but his eyes were sharp and attentive, fixed on Sean with an intensity that made his skin prickle. He had not announced himself. Had not spoken. He was simply there.Fo
Sean stumbled toward the nearest men’s restroom, his vision blurring as a cold wave swept through his body. He barely registered the concerned voices calling after him. The only thing he could focus on was the sink just inside the door. He gripped its edge as his stomach clenched violently, bile rising fast and unforgiving. His reflection stared back at him, pale and hollow-eyed, before he lurched forward and shoved open the nearest stall.He barely had time to drop to his knees before his body betrayed him. He vomited harshly into the toilet, the sound sharp and uncontrollable as it echoed off the tiled walls. Each retch felt like it tore through him, leaving his throat raw and burning. The cramped room magnified every sound, and outside the restroom, the sudden silence made it clear that everyone had heard.Darren stopped just short of the door, his hand hovering uncertainly in the air. “Sean,” he called, his voice tight with alarm. “Sean, talk to me.”Another wave hit before Sean c
Sean lowered the microphone back onto the stand and gave a final, respectful bow, while the golden spotlight highlighted the faint smile tugging at his lips. The applause washed over him in waves, and the cheers were loud enough to rattle the wooden stage beneath his feet. For a moment, he let himself bask in the energy, allowing it to calm the nervous tension that had clung to him just moments before.He stepped back and moved toward the side of the stage, taking a deep breath. His pulse still raced, yet a quiet satisfaction settled in his chest, along with a sense of pride from having poured everything he had into those few minutes. He adjusted his jacket and tried to steady his breathing as he walked through the backstage entrance.Darren was the first to greet him. His wide grin, paired with energetic claps, made Sean’s lips twitch. “Man, that was insane. You really brought it tonight. The crowd loved every second.”Sean gave him a small, exhausted smile and nodded. “Thanks, Darre
The second day of the school festival began with a rush of color and sound. Bright banners fluttered from every post, students hurried across the courtyard carrying instruments and costumes, and the air was alive with laughter and music. Unlike the first day, which focused on sports and competition
“There you two are,” Yvo said as he approached the bench. “I thought you got lost in each other’s eyes or something.”Sean looked up, startled. “We were just talking.”“Sure,” Yvo said with a smirk. “It looked more like a scene from a drama. Romantic lighting, emotional tension, classic Sean.”Larei
The night sky above the academy shimmered with color. Strings of lanterns swayed gently in the evening breeze, their warm glow rippling across rows of eager faces. The open-air stage gleamed beneath the spotlights, and the courtyard pulsed with laughter, movement, and sound.The host bounded onto th
The restaurant Sean had chosen glowed warmly under amber lights. Its floor-to-ceiling windows reflected the soft shimmer of the city beyond, while the faint hum of evening traffic outside blended with the mellow jazz playing inside. The air carried the comforting scent of roasted garlic and freshly







