Rafa's POV:
The next day already felt off.
Too quiet.
Too tense.
Like everyone was waiting for something.
"People are staring," Sam muttered.
"Let them," Keagan said.
CJ leaned over. "No, like—really staring."
I didn't look up.
Didn't care.
Or at least—
I tried not to.
Felix sat next to me again, quieter than usual.
"You good?" he asked.
"Yeah."
"You keep saying that."
"I mean it this time."
"…okay."
He didn't sound convinced.
Before anything else could happen—
the classroom door opened.
Freya.
Again.
But this time—
she wasn't calm.
She wasn't smiling.
She looked furious.
"Oh," CJ whispered. "This is bad."
"Don't," Felix said quietly.
Too late.
Freya walked straight toward me.
No hesitation.
No stopping.
"You think this is funny?" she snapped.
I didn't stand up this time.
"Still talking?" I said.
That was it.
Her hand moved fast—
SLAP
The sound echoed through the room.
Loud.
Sharp.
Everything froze.
My head turned slightly from the impact.
For a second—
no one moved.
No one breathed.
"…Rafa?" Sam said quietly.
My cheek burned.
My hands clenched.
And something—
snapped.
Again.
Slowly—
I looked back at her.
Dead serious.
"You shouldn't have done that," I said.
Freya didn't back down.
"Or what?"
That was all it took.
I stood up—
and punched her.
Hard.
She hit the ground instantly.
A loud crash as she fell into a desk.
Gasps filled the room.
"OH MY—"
"Rafa—"
"WHAT—"
Chaos.
Complete chaos.
Freya didn't get up right away.
Her friends rushed forward.
"ARE YOU INSANE?!" one of them shouted.
"Don't touch her!" Felix snapped, stepping in front of me.
I was breathing hard.
Too fast.
Too angry.
CJ looked like he didn't know whether to panic or narrate.
"THIS IS WORSE THAN LAST TIME—"
"CJ STOP TALKING," Keagan snapped.
Freya slowly pushed herself up, holding her face.
Her eyes locked onto mine.
Furious.
"You're done," she said.
"So are you," I shot back.
"ENOUGH!" a teacher shouted, rushing in.
Of course.
Perfect timing.
Again.
"Both of you—NOW."
Outside.
Again.
But this time—
it was worse.
Way worse.
"You hit her," Felix said.
"She slapped me."
"I know—but still—"
"I don't care," I snapped.
He paused.
Then stepped closer.
"You should," he said. "Because now this is serious."
"I didn't start it."
"But you finished it."
"…good."
He ran a hand through his hair. "Rafa—"
"I'm not backing down," I said.
"I'm not asking you to," he said.
That made me pause.
"…you're not?"
"No," he said. "I just don't want you getting hurt."
My chest tightened.
"I'm fine."
"You're not."
"I am."
"You just punched someone."
"…she deserved it."
A small silence.
Then—
he stepped closer.
Closer than before.
"You don't have to prove anything," he said quietly.
"I'm not proving anything."
"Then what are you doing?"
I didn't answer.
Because I didn't know.
Not really.
He looked at me.
Really looked.
Then—
gently—
he touched my cheek.
The one she slapped.
"You're shaking," he said softly.
"I'm not—"
"You are."
I froze.
Because yeah.
I was.
His hand stayed there for a second.
Careful.
Soft.
Completely different from everything else today.
"Hey," he said quietly. "Look at me."
I did.
And just like that—
everything else faded for a second.
The noise.
The drama.
Freya.
Everything.
Just him.
"You're okay," he said.
My breathing slowed slightly.
"…yeah."
Then—
before I could think—
he leaned in.
And kissed me again.
Not quick this time.
Not rushed.
Just—
real.
When he pulled back—
I blinked.
"…you have the worst timing," I said quietly.
"Yeah," he said. "But you needed that."
"…maybe."
From down the hall—
CJ's voice echoed.
"I SAW THAT TOO—"
"CJ GO AWAY!" I yelled.
Felix laughed softly.
"…chaos," he said.
"…always," I replied.
And honestly?
Yeah.
Always.
"…always," I replied.
For a second—
everything felt still.
Like nothing else mattered.
Then—
"RAFA!"
Of course.
Sam.
Running down the hallway with CJ right behind him.
"YOU JUST—" CJ started, completely out of breath. "YOU ACTUALLY—LIKE—FULL ON—"
"CJ," Keagan said, walking up slower. "Use words."
"She KNOCKED her down!"
"I was there," Keagan said.
"Yeah but I'm saying it better!"
Calix crossed his arms, looking between us. "This is bad."
"Yeah," Felix said. "We know."
Sam pointed at me. "They're calling the principal."
"…of course they are," I muttered.
"Like, right now," he added.
"Even better."
CJ looked way too excited again. "This is the biggest thing that's ever happened at this school."
"People got suspended last year," Keagan said.
"Yeah but that wasn't this dramatic."
I sighed, leaning back against the wall again.
My head still hurt slightly.
My cheek still stung.
Everything felt—
too much.
Felix noticed.
Of course he did.
He stepped a little closer again.
Not saying anything this time.
Just there.
"You don't have to stay," I said quietly.
"I know."
He didn't move.
"…you're still here."
"Yeah."
A small pause.
Then—
"Because of you," he added.
That made my chest tighten again.
"…you really don't make this easy, do you?"
"Nope."
CJ suddenly leaned in between us. "ARE YOU GUYS GONNA KISS AGAIN OR—"
"CJ," all of us said at once.
He raised his hands. "Okay! Just asking!"
Sam shook his head. "Wrong time, dude."
"Is it ever the right time?"
"Yes," Keagan said. "And this isn't it."
Footsteps echoed down the hallway.
Heavy.
Serious.
We all turned.
The principal.
Great.
Just great.
"Rafa," he said firmly. "Come with me."
I pushed off the wall slowly.
"…yeah."
Felix stepped forward slightly. "I'm coming too."
The principal looked at him. "Were you involved?"
"…yes."
I glanced at him. "…you weren't."
"I am now," he said.
The principal sighed. "Fine. Both of you."
CJ whispered loudly, "Power couple detention—"
"CJ," Sam said, pulling him back.
I followed the principal down the hallway.
Felix right beside me.
Of course.
"…you really don't have to do this," I said quietly.
"I know," he said.
"But you are."
"Yeah."
"…why?"
He glanced at me.
"You already know why."
I looked away slightly.
Yeah.
I did.
The office felt colder.
More serious.
Freya was already there.
Sitting.
Looking angry.
Of course.
Her eyes locked onto mine immediately.
No fear.
Just pure anger.
"This is your fault," she said.
I laughed slightly. "You slapped me."
"And you hit me harder."
"Good."
"Rafa," Felix warned quietly.
"What?" I said. "She started it."
"And you escalated it," Freya snapped.
"At least I don't hide behind words."
"At least I don't lose control."
That hit.
But I didn't show it.
"I don't lose control," I said.
"You just did."
Silence.
Tense.
Again.
The principal stepped in. "Enough."
We both went quiet.
Barely.
"I've heard enough," he continued. "Physical violence will not be tolerated."
No one spoke.
"This is serious," he added. "Very serious."
CJ's voice echoed faintly from somewhere outside again—
"I TOLD YOU—"
"Not now!" someone dragged him away.
Even now.
Still chaos.
I almost smiled.
Almost.
"Rafa," the principal said, bringing my attention back. "You will be suspended for three days."
My stomach dropped slightly.
There it is.
"And Freya," he continued, "you will receive the same."
She looked shocked.
"…what?"
"You initiated physical contact," he said. "You both are responsible."
She didn't argue.
Didn't say anything.
Just stared.
I exhaled slowly.
Three days.
Felix glanced at me.
"…hey," he said quietly.
"I'm fine," I said automatically.
"You're not."
"…I know."
A small pause.
Then—
"We'll figure it out," he said.
We.
That word again.
I looked at him.
"…you're really not leaving, are you?"
He shook his head slightly.
"No."
For once—
I didn't argue.
Didn't push him away.
Didn't pretend.
"…okay," I said quietly.
And somehow—
even with everything falling apart—
that made it feel a little less bad.
"…always," I replied.
For a second—
everything felt still.
Like nothing else mattered.