The morning felt heavier than it should have.
Sunlight filled the classroom, bright and ordinary, cutting across rows of desks and half-open notebooks. Students talked in low voices, some reviewing notes, others scrolling through their phones.
Everything looked normal.
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Mateo sat still.
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Not listening.
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"…Mateo."
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He didn't respond.
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"…Mateo."
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Lila nudged his arm.
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He blinked.
"…What?"
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"You've been staring at the same page for ten minutes."
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Mateo glanced down.
Blank.
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"…I'm thinking."
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Lila exhaled.
"…We're in class."
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"…Barely."
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She didn't laugh.
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Because neither of them had really been present for days.
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The professor at the front continued speaking, writing something across the board.
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"…We missed too much already," Lila said quietly.
"…If this keeps going—"
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"I know."
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This time, Mateo didn't hesitate.
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"I know."
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But he still didn't look at her.
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Because knowing—
wasn't changing anything.
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"Mr. Mateo."
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The voice cut through the room.
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Mateo looked up.
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Not their professor.
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Another.
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Standing at the doorway.
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Professor Delgado.
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Students shifted in their seats.
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"…After class," Delgado said.
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Not loud.
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But final.
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Mateo nodded once.
"…Yes, sir."
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For a moment—
Delgado's gaze moved.
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To Lila.
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Then back.
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Then he left.
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"…That's not good," Lila muttered.
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Mateo didn't answer.
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Because that was obvious.
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The hallway was quieter after class.
Most students had already moved on.
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Delgado was waiting.
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"…Walk with me."
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They did.
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Their footsteps echoed faintly along the corridor.
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"…You've missed three lectures," Delgado said.
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Mateo stayed silent.
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"…Two submissions."
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Lila shifted slightly.
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"…We've been—"
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"Occupied."
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Delgado didn't look at her.
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"…Yes."
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They stopped near a window.
Sunlight cut across the floor.
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"…You're already flagged," Delgado added.
"…Another absence and it becomes official."
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Lila glanced at Mateo.
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This was real now.
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"…You're being noticed," Delgado continued.
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Mateo's expression didn't change.
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"…We know."
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Delgado studied him.
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"…Do you?"
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Silence.
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"…There are consequences," Delgado said.
"…Academic."
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He paused briefly.
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"…And others."
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The weight of that lingered.
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"…You returned," Delgado said.
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Mateo didn't deny it.
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"…Too soon."
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"…And not carefully."
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Lila's voice lowered.
"…We didn't force it."
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Delgado shook his head slightly.
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"…You're still thinking in terms of action."
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Mateo frowned.
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"…Then what is it?"
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Delgado held his gaze.
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"…It's about whether you're meant to be there."
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Lila shifted.
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"…That doesn't make sense."
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Delgado didn't answer immediately.
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"…You've both seen how it reacts."
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He glanced between them.
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"…Not the same way."
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Mateo's grip tightened.
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"…What do you mean?"
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"…From what I've seen," Delgado said carefully,
"…it doesn't respond equally."
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Silence.
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Lila frowned.
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"…So it just chooses?"
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A step closer.
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"That's it?"
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Another breath.
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"And we just follow that?"
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Mateo looked at her.
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"…That's not what he said."
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"…It's what it sounds like."
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Delgado watched them.
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"…Most people stop here," he said.
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A brief silence.
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"…They don't go past this."
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The hallway felt narrower.
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Quieter.
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"…You can still walk away," Delgado said.
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Mateo didn't respond.
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"…Both of you."
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Lila looked at Mateo.
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Waiting.
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This time—
for him.
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Mateo didn't answer immediately.
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His grip tightened slightly.
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"…We keep going."
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Lila closed her eyes briefly.
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Not surprised.
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But not fully with him either.
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"…Then understand this," Delgado said.
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They both looked at him.
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"…From this point forward—"
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He paused.
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"…it will not treat you the same."
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Silence settled.
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Mateo stepped back slightly.
The sunlight shifted as clouds passed outside.
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"…It already doesn't," he said quietly.
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"…That's the problem."
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Delgado studied him one last time.
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Then turned—
and walked away.
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Lila didn't speak immediately.
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When she did, her voice was quieter.
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"…This changes things."
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Mateo nodded.
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"…Yeah."
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"…It does."
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Lila didn't respond this time.
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Not agreeing.
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Not arguing.
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Just thinking.
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Mateo didn't let go of the Sunstone.
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And that—
said more than anything else.
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Because now—
this wasn't just about the system.
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It was about who it was responding to.
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And why.
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