Silent Bond

For the first time in a long while Califf found himself looking forward to the end of class.

Which was strange.

Very strange.

Because normally, the end of class only meant one thing:

Work.

Assignments.

More work.

And then going home.

Nothing exciting.

Nothing different.

Just the same routine over and over again.

But today— Today was different.

Because somehow, Nyvera had convinced him to spend time with her after school.

Actually...

"Convinced" wasn't the right word.

More like— Refused to accept no for an answer. The final bell rang. Students immediately flooded out of their classrooms.

Riven stretched dramatically.

"I'm free!"

Elira sighed.

"You say that every day."

"Because every day is a blessing."

"You literally slept during class."

"I was resting my eyes."

"You were snoring."

"That's an accusation."

Meanwhile—

Califfer quietly packed his things. Unfortunately. A certain time traveler suddenly appeared beside him.

"Califfer."

"No."

"I didn't even ask anything yet."

"No."

"Rude."

"No."

Nyvera pouted.

"You're hurting my feelings."

"You'll survive."

"Maybe."

"You will."

Nyvera dramatically clutched her chest.

"I cannot believe this betrayal."

Riven leaned over.

"What does she want now?"

Nyvera pointed dramatically at Califfer.

"Him."

Silence Absolute silence.

Califfer froze.

Elira froze.

Riven froze.

Several nearby students froze.

Nyvera blinked.

"...Why is everyone looking at me?"

Califfer buried his face into his hands.

"Oh no."

"Oh yes."

"Nyvera..."

"Hm?"

"...You can't just point at someone and say that."

"Why not?"

"BECAUSE IT SOUNDS WRONG."

"Oh."

"..."

"..."

"...OH."

Riven collapsed onto a desk laughing. Ten minutes later— The four walked outside the campus together. The afternoon sky glowed gold and orange.

The air felt cooler than usual.

Students continued passing by as they headed home. Nyvera walked backward in front of them.

For some reason.

Nobody knew why.

Not even Nyvera.

She just felt like it.

"Question."

Elira sighed.

"Here we go."

Nyvera pointed.

"Why does everyone rush home?"

Riven answered first.

"Because we're tired."

"Oh."

"Very tired."

"Oh."

"Extremely tired."

"Oh."

Califfer suddenly spoke.

"Some people have families waiting for them."

The moment those words left his mouth, The atmosphere shifted.

Just slightly.

Nyvera noticed.

Califfer noticed.

Even Elira noticed.

But nobody said anything.

Instead

Nyvera suddenly smiled.

"Then let's not rush."

Everyone blinked.

"Huh?"

Elira asked.

Nyvera spread her arms dramatically.

"The day is nice."

Riven nodded immediately.

"Actually..."

Everyone looked at him.

"...She's right."

Califfer looked suspicious.

Very suspicious.

"You just don't want to go home."

"Correct."

An hour later— The group somehow ended up in a small public park.

Nobody knew how.

One moment they were walking. The next moment— They were sitting beneath a giant tree.

Nyvera was lying on the grass.

Riven was eating snacks.

Elira was reading a book.

Califfer was quietly watching everything.

And surprisingly, he wasn't thinking about work.

Or home.

Or responsibilities.

For once

His mind felt quiet.

Suddenly

Nyvera sat upright.

"I have an idea."

Everyone immediately became nervous because Nyvera's ideas were dangerous, not physically dangerous.

Usually.

But dangerous nonetheless.

Riven pointed.

"See? That's the face."

"What face?"

"The face you make before causing problems."

"I don't cause problems."

Everyone stared at her.

Nyvera looked away.

"Okay maybe sometimes."

Five minutes later— They were playing a game.

A very stupid game.

One Nyvera invented herself.

"Truth Challenge."

Elira frowned.

"That's just Truth or Dare without the dare."

"Correct."

"Why?"

"Dares are risky."

Riven blinked.

"...You're saying that?"

"Exactly."

Califfer sighed.

This was going to be terrible.

Nyvera pointed at Riven.

"You first."

Riven grinned confidently.

"Ask away."

Nyvera smiled.

"When was your most embarrassing moment?"

The confidence disappeared instantly.

"Oh."

Elira immediately looked interested.

"Oh?"

Califfer looked interested too.

Very interested.

Riven pointed accusingly.

"You planned this."

"I did."

Traitor.

Absolute traitor.

Riven sighed dramatically.

"Fine."

The group leaned closer.

"Last year..."

"Continue."

"I accidentally confessed."

Silence.

Nyvera blinked.

"...To who?"

Riven buried his face.

"The wrong person."

The group froze.

"...WHAT."

"It was supposed to be her friend!"

Elira immediately started laughing.

"No way."

"YES WAY."

"What happened?!"

Riven looked ready to disappear.

"The girl said thank you."

"Oh no."

"Then her friend said thank you too."

"Oh no."

"Then both of them left."

Nyvera fell onto the grass laughing.

Califfer was laughing too.

Actually laughing.

A genuine laugh.

The kind that almost never escaped him. And for a moment— Nyvera simply stared. Because every time Califfer laughed—

Something felt different.

Brighter.

Warmer.

Like seeing sunlight after rain.

Later— The sky slowly darkened. One by one, the park lights turned on. The city became quieter.

Elira eventually stood.

"I should head home."

Riven nodded.

"Same."

After a few goodbyes

They left.

Leaving only Califfer and Nyvera. For the first time that day— Silence settled between them.

A comfortable silence.

Not awkward.

Not forced.

Just...

Peaceful.

Nyvera looked toward the evening sky.

"It's pretty."

Califfer followed her gaze.

"...Yeah."

For a while— Neither spoke.

Then Nyvera asked softly:

"Do you always work after school?"

Califfer blinked.

A small smile disappeared from his face.

"...Mostly."

"That's tiring."

He laughed quietly.

"A little."

"Why do you do it?"

The question hung in the air.

Califfer looked away.

Toward the city lights.

"...Someone has to."

Nyvera didn't answer immediately because she already knew she had seen his home.

His parents.

His life.

But hearing him say it— Somehow hurt more.

Califfer suddenly smiled again.

A small smile.

But real.

"Don't make that face."

Nyvera blinked.

"What face?"

"The worried one."

"I wasn't worried."

"You were."

"..."

"...Maybe a little."

Califfer laughed.

And once again— That strange warmth appeared inside Nyvera's chest.

Stronger this time.

More noticeable.

More dangerous.

Because she was starting to forget something important, she wasn't supposed to stay.

She never stayed.

Time travelers moved on. That was how things worked. That was how it had always worked.

So why— Why did the idea of leaving suddenly feel so unpleasant?

Nyvera looked away quickly.

Trying to ignore the feeling Trying not to think about it.

Beside her— Califfer was smiling softly.

Completely unaware.

And somewhere deep inside— The distance between them had become just a little smaller Without either of them realizing it.

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