Rafa's POV:
Free period!!!
Finally.
No teachers.
No assignments.
Just—
"RAFA!"
I flinched slightly as CJ ran up to me again.
"Guess what—"
"No," I said immediately. "I'm not guessing anything anymore."
He looked offended. "Wow. That hurts."
"Good."
Sam and Keagan followed behind him, already arguing about something.
Felix walked up last, way calmer than the rest.
Of course.
"You okay?" he asked, quieter this time.
"Yeah," I said. "Just tired."
"Mm," he said, like he didn't fully believe me.
We all settled into the classroom, the usual chaos starting almost instantly.
CJ throwing stuff.
Sam complaining.
Keagan judging everyone.
Normal.
For once.
I sat down in my chair, leaning back slightly.
Felix sat next to me again.
Not even asking anymore.
"…you just decided that's your seat now?" I said.
"Yeah," he said. "You got a problem with it?"
"…no."
"Good."
A small silence.
Then—
"You didn't sleep much, did you?" he asked.
I glanced at him. "…what makes you say that?"
"You look like you didn't."
"Wow. Thanks."
"It wasn't an insult."
"It sounded like one."
He smirked slightly. "You still look good, if that helps."
I paused.
"…that did not help."
"It was supposed to."
Before I could say anything else—
the classroom door opened.
And everything changed.
Freya.
Of course.
Followed by her group like always.
Loud.
Confident.
Annoying.
She walked in like she owned the place, her eyes scanning the room—
then landing on me.
Oh no.
Not today.
She smiled.
That fake, perfect smile.
"Well," she said, stepping closer. "If it isn't Rafa."
I didn't respond.
Didn't even look at her.
"Still acting like you're better than everyone?" she continued.
CJ leaned over slightly. "…uh oh."
Felix shifted beside me, his posture changing slightly.
"Not in the mood, Freya," I said flatly.
She laughed. "Oh, I know. I heard about your little… breakdown."
My hand tightened slightly.
"Careful," Keagan muttered under his breath.
Freya tilted her head. "Punching people now? That's new."
Felix stood up.
Slowly.
"Back off," he said.
Her smile faded slightly.
"Oh?" she said. "Since when do you speak for her?"
"I don't," he said. "I just don't like you."
Sam snorted.
Freya's friends whispered behind her.
She crossed her arms. "You really think you're scary?"
"No," Felix said. "I just think you're annoying."
That made CJ choke on his drink.
I stood up too.
"Freya," I said, my voice calm but sharp. "Drop it."
She looked at me again.
And this time—
her smile wasn't fake.
It was worse.
"Oh, I will," she said. "Right after you admit you're not as perfect as you act."
"I never said I was perfect."
"You don't have to," she said. "Everyone else does it for you."
Something snapped.
Again.
"You don't know anything about me," I said.
"Really?" she said. "Because from what I've seen, you just pretend everything's fine until you lose it."
Silence.
The room felt heavier.
CJ wasn't joking anymore.
Sam stopped talking.
Even Keagan looked serious.
"…say that again," I said.
Felix glanced at me. "…Rafa—"
"No," I said quietly.
Freya smiled slightly.
"I said," she repeated slowly, "you lose it when things don't go your way."
That was it.
I stepped forward.
Fast.
She didn't expect it.
No one did.
I grabbed her collar.
"Don't talk about things you don't understand," I said, my voice low and shaking.
Gasps filled the room.
"Rafa—" Sam started.
Freya's eyes widened—
but then narrowed again.
"Oh," she said quietly. "There it is."
I pushed her back slightly.
Not enough to hurt—
just enough to make a point.
"Back off," I said.
Felix stepped closer beside me.
Not stopping me.
Just there.
Freya straightened, fixing her shirt.
For a second—
no one moved.
Then she laughed.
Soft.
Cold.
"You've changed," she said.
"Yeah," I said. "I have."
She looked at me for a moment longer.
Then turned.
"Come on," she said to her group.
And just like that—
they left.
The tension didn't.
Not immediately.
CJ exhaled loudly. "OKAY WHAT WAS THAT—"
"CJ," Keagan said. "Not now."
Felix looked at me. "…you good?"
I nodded.
But my hands were still shaking.
"…yeah."
He didn't believe me.
But he didn't push it.
Just stayed close.
Like always.
And somehow—
that was enough.
The classroom stayed quiet for a few seconds after Freya left.
Too quiet.
Like everyone was waiting for something else to happen.
CJ finally broke it. "OKAY—what just happened?!"
"CJ," Keagan said again.
"What?!" he said. "You can't just expect me to stay quiet after that!"
Sam nodded. "Honestly, same."
I sat back down, trying to steady my breathing.
"I told her to back off," I said.
"That was more than 'telling,'" Felix said, sitting down next to me again.
"…yeah," I muttered.
He leaned slightly closer. "You okay?"
"I said I was."
"You also said you slept fine," he replied.
I didn't answer.
Because… yeah.
He had a point.
Calix crossed his arms. "She won't drop this."
"Good," I said before I could stop myself.
They all looked at me.
"…what?"
"That didn't sound like you," Sam said.
"I'm just saying," I added quickly, "she started it."
"And you almost finished it," Keagan said.
"…almost," CJ repeated dramatically.
"Not helping," Felix muttered.
I leaned back in my chair, staring at the ceiling.
Why was I still so angry?
Freya wasn't Ella.
This wasn't the same.
So why did it feel like it was?
"…Rafa."
Felix's voice again.
Softer this time.
I glanced at him.
"Come with me," he said quietly.
"What? Why?"
"Just—come on."
I hesitated.
Then stood up.
"Where are you going?" Sam asked.
"Nowhere," Felix said. "Relax."
"Suspicious," CJ added.
"Everything is suspicious to you."
"…true."
We stepped out into the hallway.
It was quieter there.
Way quieter.
Felix leaned against the wall, crossing his arms.
"You wanna tell me what that was?" he asked.
"I already did."
"No," he said. "You didn't."
I looked away. "It's not a big deal."
"You grabbed her, Rafa."
"She deserved it."
"That's not the point."
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "She was talking like she knew everything."
"And that got to you."
"…yeah."
A pause.
Then—
"She doesn't," he said. "Know everything."
"I know."
"But you reacted like she did."
That hit harder than I expected.
I didn't respond right away.
Because he was right.
Again.
"I just—" I started, then stopped. "…I hate when people assume things."
"I figured."
Another quiet moment.
Then—
"She's not Ella," he said.
I froze slightly.
"…I know that."
"But you looked at her like she was."
I looked at him.
"…is it that obvious?"
"Only to me," he said.
That made my chest tighten a little.
"Lucky me," I muttered.
He smiled slightly.
"Yeah. Lucky you."
I rolled my eyes—but didn't look away this time.
"…you're annoying."
"You've said that before."
"And I'll say it again."
He pushed himself off the wall, stepping a little closer.
"You gonna punch me too?" he asked.
"…don't test me."
"Worth it."
I almost smiled.
Almost.
Then—
he reached out.
Gently.
And grabbed my hand.
Not by accident this time.
On purpose.
I froze.
"…Felix."
"What?" he said quietly.
"We're in the hallway."
"And?"
"People can see."
"Let them."
My heart was beating way too fast.
"You said not to make it weird," I reminded him.
"I lied."
I stared at him.
"…you're unbelievable."
"And you're still not pulling your hand away."
I looked down.
He was right.
I wasn't.
"…this is your fault," I muttered.
"Yeah," he said. "I know."
A small silence.
Then—
"…Rafa?"
A voice behind us.
We both turned.
CJ.
Of course.
Standing there.
Staring.
Wide-eyed.
"…I KNEW IT," he said loudly.
I immediately pulled my hand away.
"CJ—"
"I KNEW SOMETHING WAS HAPPENING—"
"LOWER YOUR VOICE," I hissed.
Too late.
Sam peeked out from the classroom.
Then Keagan.
Then Calix.
"…wow," Sam said.
"Finally," Keagan added.
Felix sighed. "…we're never hearing the end of this."
"Nope," CJ said proudly.
I covered my face with one hand. "This is a nightmare."
Felix leaned slightly closer again.
"…worth it," he whispered.
I glanced at him.
"…you're actually the worst."
"Yeah," he said. "But you like me."
I didn't answer.
But I didn't deny it either.
And unfortunately—
everyone noticed.