Ep 2: Familiar faces

A few weeks passed.

The brief curiosity that had followed her during her first days slowly faded into routine. Rachel blended into the classroom—not by changing herself, but by remaining the same while everything else adjusted.

Her leg had healed enough that walking was easier now. The limp was still there, but it no longer hurt. She moved carefully, as she always had, aware of her body, aware of space.

She arrived early most mornings.

Not to claim attention.

Just because she preferred being quiet before the voices filled the room. It gave her space to settle into the day.

Nivea was always there too, coming early as well.

She always had something to say—about an upcoming test, about a teacher everyone secretly feared, about someone she’d seen in the corridor. Rachel listened, sometimes nodding, sometimes responding.

Rachel was slowly becoming comfortable with Nivea.

Soon, it was time for class to begin. Students arrived one by one. The teacher entered and placed her books on the desk.

Then, someone came late.

“Why are you late?” the teacher asked, looking toward the doorway.

It was Edward.

“I’m sorry, teacher. There was traffic on the way,” he said confidently. It was his first time being late, and perhaps that was why the teacher didn’t scold him much.

She sighed. “Just don’t make it a habit, Edward.”

Edward nodded and was told to take his seat.

He walked in, the door closing softly behind him as he moved toward his chair.

The moment he sat down, a quiet voice came from beside him.

“Damn, man, you finally decided to join us?” Nathan whispered, leaning closer, a grin already on his face.

Edward exhaled slowly. “Shut up.”

Nathan’s smile only widened. He always smiled when he was told to shut up.

“Traffic?” he murmured. “That’s the best lie you’ve got? At least say you were rescuing a cat or something.”

Edward shook his head, trying not to smile. “I was at the gym.”

“That explains it,” Nathan muttered. “Your brain stayed there.”

Xavier leaned a little closer. “First time being late, and you already look half asleep,” he said quietly. “You’re evolving.”

Edward shot him a look. “Don’t start.”

Xavier chuckled softly.

The lecturer cleared her throat sharply.

Three backs straightened at once.

Silence.

For a few minutes, pens moved and pages turned.

Then Nathan leaned in again, lowering his voice. “So… what’s the real reason?”

“There is no real reason,” Edward murmured. “I’m late. End of story.”

Edward settled into the rhythm of the lecture, his pen scratching across the page, though his mind wandered more than he wanted. Occasionally, he glanced up, half-focused on the board, half-aware of the surrounding movements.

The class slowly slipped back into its usual pace.

From the corner of his eye, he saw Rachel.

Her attention was fixed on the board. Focusing on what the teacher was teaching.

Edward tried not to look again, but his attention drifted without permission. He frowned slightly, annoyed at himself.

A few hours passed. Then it was lunch break.

Nivea stood. “I’m going to the canteen. Want anything?”

“No,” Rachel said softly. “I’ll come later.”

Nivea nodded and left.

Rachel stood a moment after, adjusting her bag before stepping into the corridor.

At the same time, Edward turned back into the classroom to grab his phone.

They almost collided.

He stopped short. “Oh—sorry.”

“It’s okay,” Rachel replied.

That was all.

They stepped past each other.

Edward didn’t think about it again.

Rachel walked into the corridor, letting the noise move around her. Voices overlapped. Laughter echoed. Footsteps hurried.

“Rachel?”

She froze slightly.

She knew that voice.

She turned.

“Aria.”

Aria stood near the wall, eyes wide with surprise before breaking into a smile. “It’s been a while.”

Rachel’s lips curved into a small, gentle smile.

“I didn’t know you were here,” Rachel said.

“Same college,” Aria replied. “And I still forget you’re one year older than me.”

“You say it like I’m much older,” Rachel said quietly.

Aria laughed.

They talked about school. About teachers. About names they hadn’t spoken in a long time. Aria spoke more. Rachel listened. Sometimes she responded. Sometimes she only nodded.

She didn’t feel guarded.

She didn’t feel new.

She felt known.

From a distance, Edward leaned near the doorway, half-listening to his friends arguing about lunch. His eyes wandered without intention.

And found her.

Rachel was standing with another girl. She was speaking softly, her expression different.

Softer.

She smiled.

Edward didn’t know why it stayed with him.

He turned away when his friend clapped a hand on his shoulder.

The hours passed.

When the final bell rang, the room filled with movement again.