Arc 1 The invisible girl: CHAPTER 4 Partnered

CHAPTER 4

Partnered

Kai POV

Yuna looked personally offended by existence today.

Honestly?

It was entertaining.

The second the teacher announced our names, the entire classroom exploded into whispers while Yuna sat frozen beside me like she had just received a prison sentence.

Which, apparently, was me.

I leaned back slightly in my chair.

"You look upset."

She slowly turned toward me.

"Because I am."

Direct.

Again.

I almost smiled.

Around us, students were openly staring now.

Mostly girls.

And judging by their expressions, they looked ready to start a war.

Unfortunately for them—

Yuna either didn't notice or genuinely didn't care.

Probably both.

The teacher continued explaining the partnership project from the front.

"You'll be working together throughout the month. Participation affects your final grade."

Yuna visibly died inside.

I could actually see it happen.

Beside the windows, Eli mouthed:

"He's enjoying this."

Noah nodded immediately.

Traitorous idiots.

The bell finally rang several minutes later.

Instantly the classroom became loud again.

Students crowded around their assigned partners while chairs scraped loudly across the floor.

Yuna, however, stood up so quickly it looked like she was escaping a crime scene.

I grabbed her wrist before she could disappear.

The movement was automatic.

But the second my fingers touched her—

she froze.

So did I.

For a brief second, the noise around us faded strangely.

Her skin felt cold from the rain outside.

Yuna slowly looked down at my hand around her wrist.

Then up at me.

Her expression was unreadable behind those glasses.

"Let go."

Not angry.

Not nervous.

Just quiet.

I released her immediately.

Something uncomfortable twisted slightly in my chest.

Weird.

Yuna adjusted her sleeve subtly afterward like she was hiding her wrist again.

Then she grabbed her bag.

"What?"

I frowned slightly.

"We need to discuss the project."

"Do we?"

"Yes."

She sighed like this conversation physically exhausted her.

"Fine."

Then she paused.

"But we're not doing it at your mansion."

I blinked once.

"You assume I was going to invite you over?"

"You look expensive."

That caught me off guard enough that I laughed quietly.

Actually laughed.

The classroom went silent again.

Apparently nobody had witnessed that before.

Yuna looked mildly disturbed by it.

"That's concerning," she muttered.

Interesting.

Most people tried making me laugh.

She looked annoyed that it happened naturally.

Behind me, Noah immediately started coughing dramatically.

"Kai laughed. Write down the date."

"This is historical," Eli added.

Yuna looked toward the ceiling briefly like she was asking the universe for patience.

Then she turned back toward me.

"Library after school."

Before walking away immediately.

I watched her disappear through the classroom door.

And for the first time in a while—

I genuinely looked forward to something school-related.

Rain poured harder by afternoon.

The library windows fogged softly from the cold weather outside while students hurried through the hallways trying not to get soaked.

Meanwhile—

Yuna sat across from me looking deeply unhappy.

We'd been working together for twenty-three minutes.

Yes, I counted.

Because she hadn't looked at me once.

She focused completely on her notebook while quietly writing project notes with perfect handwriting.

Honestly, it was slightly impressive.

"You take this seriously."

Without looking up, she answered:

"Unlike some people, I enjoy passing my classes."

"Ouch."

Still no reaction.

I studied her quietly instead.

She really did avoid eye contact constantly.

Not nervous avoidance.

More like—

intentional distance.

Like she built invisible walls around herself without realizing it.

Outside, thunder rumbled softly.

The library lights flickered briefly.

Yuna finally looked up toward the windows.

And for the first time all day—

her expression softened.

Very slightly.

She liked rain.

I noticed that immediately.

Interesting.

"You like storms?"

She blinked once like she forgot I existed.

Then slowly nodded.

"They're quiet."

That answer shouldn't have made sense.

But somehow—

it did.

For several seconds, neither of us spoke.

The atmosphere between us felt strangely calm now.

Not awkward.

Just...

quiet.

Then suddenly—

the library lights shut off completely.

Several students screamed.

The storm outside roared louder.

And before Yuna could react—

lightning flashed brightly across the windows.

A loud crack of thunder followed immediately.

The sound startled her enough that she flinched forward slightly.

Straight into me.

For one brief second—

Yuna was pressed against my chest.

Both of us froze.

The library became completely silent around us.

And slowly—

very slowly—

Yuna looked up at me with wide eyes.

Too close.

Way too close.

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