By the third day, Ita was done.
Completely.
Utterly.
Done.
Noah was everywhere.
When Ita went to the library.Noah was already there, leaning against a shelf.
When Ita walked to the vending machine.Noah appeared beside him, casually asking what drink he preferred.
When Ita left class early to avoid noise.Noah followed.
Not obvious enough to accuse.
But obvious enough to irritate.
And terrify.
Because every time Noah looked at him.
It wasn't normal curiosity.
It was calculation.
And something else.
Something darker.
At lunch, Ita sat under the staircase near the back corridor, his usual quiet hiding place.
He had barely taken out his lunchbox when,
"You really like being alone, huh?"
Ita didn't even flinch this time.
"Go away."
Noah slid down to sit beside him anyway.
"I prefer interesting company."
"I'm not interesting."
Noah turned his head slowly.
"You are."
Ita shut his lunchbox.
"I'm going somewhere else."
Noah stood too.
"I'll come."
Ita stopped walking.
Turned.
"What do you want from me?"
Noah tilted his head slightly.
"Conversation."
"You have the entire female population for that."
"They're boring."
Ita stared at him flatly.
From the second floor balcony,
Kiel saw everything.
Saw Noah following.
Saw Ita walking faster.
Saw Noah stepping closer.
And Kiel's expression twisted dramatically.
His jaw dropped.
His hand went to his chest.
"…Is he cheating on me?" Kiel whispered in fake horror.
Without thinking further, Kiel rushed down the stairs two at a time.
He grabbed Ita's shoulder firmly and pulled him slightly back.
"Ita!" he exclaimed loudly. "Are you cheating on me already?!"
The hallway went silent for two seconds.
Ita blinked.
Then,
Smack.
His palm landed squarely on the back of Kiel's head.
"What the hell are you talking about?" Ita snapped, face full of disgust.
Kiel clutched his head dramatically. "Ow! That's domestic violence!"
"You deserve worse."
Noah stood a few steps away, watching.
Watching closely.
Watching how close they stood.
Watching how Kiel instinctively placed himself slightly in front of Ita.
Protective.
Possessive.
Noah's lips curved slowly.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Ita turned sharply to Noah.
"I asked you something," he said, voice lower now. "What do you want?"
For a brief second,
Noah's usual calm expression shifted.
His smile widened.
Not friendly.
Not playful.
Wider.
Sharper.
Almost wrong.
Ita felt it.
That chill.
That same chill he felt when something not human stood too close.
"You're special," Noah said softly.
Ita's brows furrowed. "I'm not."
"You are."
Noah stepped closer.
Kiel immediately stepped between them without even thinking.
"Back up," Kiel said, tone no longer joking.
Noah didn't move.
Instead,
He leaned slightly sideways so he could still see Ita.
"Tell me," Noah continued, voice lowering, "how many do you see?"
Ita froze.
"…What?"
"How many ghosts?" Noah repeated casually. "Do they talk to you? Do they follow you? Do they beg?"
Ita's eyes widened.
His heartbeat slammed violently against his ribs.
"How do you-"
Noah's smile stretched even more.
"I can feelit" he whispered. "That thing behind you. It's loud."
The air felt heavier.
The black presence Ita had grown used to shifted uneasily.
Ita took a step back.
"No," he muttered.
Noah's eyes gleamed.
"Most people who see them don't live long."
"Shut up," Ita snapped, voice shaking slightly.
"You're still alive," Noah continued, almost fascinated. "Why?"
"I said shut up!"
Ita shoved him hard.
Noah stumbled back a step but laughed.
Laughed.
Not offended.
Not angry.
Amused.
Kiel immediately moved fully in front of Ita, shielding him.
"Okay, that's enough," Kiel said firmly. "You're creeping him out."
Noah tilted his head.
"I'm just curious."
"You sound obsessed," Kiel shot back.
Noah's gaze slid to Kiel slowly.
Measured.
Evaluating.
Then he smiled again.
"Yes," he admitted calmly. "I am."
Silence fell between them.
Students nearby had no idea what was happening.
They just saw three boys standing tense in the hallway.
But Ita,
He felt like something invisible had wrapped tighter around his chest.
Noah's eyes returned to him.
Soft.
But wrong.
"You shouldn't push away someone who understands," Noah murmured.
"I don't need you to understand," Ita replied coldly.
Noah's expression didn't change.
But something in his eyes darkened.
"You will," he said quietly.
Then he stepped back.
And walked away.
Still smiling.
Still laughing softly to himself.
Kiel didn't relax until Noah disappeared around the corner.
"…Okay," Kiel muttered. "That guy officially gives horror movie villain vibes."
Ita didn't answer.
He was staring at the floor.
His hands trembling slightly.
Kiel turned around, immediately noticing.
"Ita."
No response.
Kiel gently grabbed his shoulders.
"Ita, hey. Look at me."
Slowly,
Ita lifted his head.
His eyes weren't angry anymore.
They were uneasy.
"He knows," Ita whispered.
"Knew what?"
"About them."
Kiel's playful expression disappeared instantly.
"…about what?"
"you..you dont have to know."
From the far end of the corridor,
Noah paused mid-walk.
He didn't turn around.
But he could feel it.
That heavy, dark aura coiling protectively around Ita again.
And he smiled wider.
"Found you," he murmured under his breath.
And this time,
He wasn't planning to let Ita go.