Phrase I

The door to Room 108.

The lights hit him before the door even fully clicked shut.
Too bright.
Too open.

Kai sighed.
He already had his expectations.
h
But—

Someone was sitting near the back.
In his row.

Kai's feet hesitated.

The guy didn't look up.

His hood was up and he was hunched forward.
Like he was trying to shrink.

But even sitting down...

he was still...

Tall.

Kai lowered his eyes and began moving to same seat as before—just two chairs over.
His bag slid to the floor, and he sat.


The room buzzed with light conversation.

People coughed.
A door creaked.
Chairs scraped.

Kai propped his elbows on the desk and rested his chin in his hands.

What would he say?

Would he turn and ask about the syllabus.
Or the professor.

Or—

What would I say back?
Would he wa—

SKRIIITCH

—Kai felt his body jolt back to reality, his ears ringing.

He turned—

The chair was empty.

Kai blinked.


Still empty.


He looked across the room.
Only faded mumbles and echoed whispers.

He looked across the row.

He felt his nose scrunch before he saw—

There he was.

Near the far wall, in the back row.

Same jacket.
Same presence.
Same hood, still up.

Alone.

Kai's lips parted.
And closed again.

Kai hadn't noticed him move.

His gaze dropped to the desk.
He slowly spun his pen around his fingers.

Class blurred.
Not because it was fast—the opposite.

The lecture continued over bullet points.
The slides shifted before anyone could finish reading.
The professor's voice rose and fell without urgency.

Kai stared ahead.
He hadn't taken notes.

His eyes drifted back to the chair again.

Still empty.

Why'd he move?

Kai tapped his pen against his lip.

Maybe he didn't want to sit near anyone?

Kai frowned.

Was I too close?

A thought lodged in his chest.
Kai quietly raised his arm and sniffed.

I don't think I smell...

His jaw tightened slightly.
He shifted in his seat.

Who gets up and moves across the room just because someone sits next to them?!
Seriously!
Who does that?

Kai wiped his hand over his face.

"Ugh."


The professor dismissed the class with a dry "That's all for today,"
followed by a reminder that Kai couldn't hear.

Chairs shifted.
Bags zipped.
The room rustled, finally awake.


Kai gathered his things.
Then glanced over—

The tall guy was already moving.

Straight through the door.
His eyes were fixed forward like they didn't see anyone.

No glances.
No words.

Not to Kai.
Not to anyone.

It felt too sharp to be accidental.

Kai blinked once.

It was the same guy.
The one walking across campus.

The hair on his neck stood up.

Kai had no thoughts.
He only felt a pit in his stomach.

He stayed frozen in place.

His bag slipped off his shoulder.