Mina couldn’t sleep that night.

She tossed and turned, staring at the ceiling of her small, quiet room. The voice kept echoing in her head like it had been etched into her thoughts.

I shouldn't have spoken to her.

It had been Ren. She was sure of it.

But how? How could she hear his thoughts when he wasn’t even near her?

She sat up, pulling her blanket tighter around her shoulders. Her window was open a crack, letting in the cool night air. Somewhere in the distance, cicadas sang softly.

Mina closed her eyes, focused, and listened.

Nothing.

She sighed. Maybe she imagined it. Maybe it was just her brain trying to fill the void he'd left when he didn’t show up to school.

Still… something deep inside her whispered no. Something told her this was real.

The next morning, Ren was back.

He walked into class as if he hadn’t been missing for two days. No explanation. No apology. Just slid into his seat near the window and stared out like he always did.

Mina sat frozen. Part of her wanted to approach him right away, ask what had happened. Another part told her to wait. Watch. Let him speak first.

But Ren didn’t even look at her.

Not once.

The entire morning passed in silence.

At lunch, she went to the garden again. She almost didn’t bring tea this time, but something told her to stick to the routine.

Sure enough, when she arrived, Ren was already there.

He sat on the bench, arms crossed, back hunched slightly, looking more guarded than usual.

She hesitated at the path’s edge, then slowly walked forward and sat beside him without a word. The silence between them was louder than ever.

After a long moment, Ren finally spoke.

“I’m sorry.”

Mina blinked. “For what?”

“For not coming. For not saying anything.” He paused. “And for… slipping up.”

She turned to look at him. His eyes didn’t meet hers, but his voice was softer than she’d ever heard it.

“You heard me, didn’t you?” he asked.

Mina hesitated, then nodded.

Ren exhaled through his nose, like he’d been holding it in all morning. “It’s never happened before. Not like that.”

“You mean... I heard your thoughts?”

He nodded slowly. “Usually, I can control it. Keep it in. But with you, it’s like… I don’t know. Something’s off.”

Mina stared down at her cup. “Maybe it’s me. I can see auras, remember? Maybe that’s connected somehow.”

Ren finally looked at her. “You can see people’s emotions.”

Mina nodded. “It’s not something I tell people.”

Ren was quiet for a moment, then said, “I don’t have an aura. You noticed.”

“I did. That’s why I kept watching you.”

He gave a faint smile, more of a curve in the corner of his mouth. “You’re not as invisible as you think you are, you know.”

Mina looked up in surprise.

“I’ve noticed you watching,” he said. “And I didn’t mind.”

They sat in silence again. But this time, it wasn’t awkward. It felt… shared.

Finally, Mina poured him a cup of tea without asking.

Ren looked at it. “I still don’t drink tea.”

“I know,” she said, smiling. “But it’s polite to offer.”

He took the cup.