Phrase IV

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Kai felt butterflies in his stomach.

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He was thinking of how to confront the tall guy.

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He held his pencil in his hand.
He put it down.

Kai knew he needed to be ready.

Okay.

He let out a deep sigh.
His thoughts cleared.

I'll Just wait until class ends.

Then say it.
Just talk.
Easy.

His leg bounced under the table.

TICK

Kai looked at the clock.
Thirty minutes left.

The lecture had already faded into noise.

Shapes on a whiteboard.
The professor mumbling about curve adjustments.

Kai wasn't listening.

TICK

"Hey, sorry if I came off weird the other day."
No—
"Hey, I think we got off on the wrong foot—"
Nope. Worse.

He tried to exhale slowly, but it came out too fast.

TICK

Kai checked the clock again.
Only five more minutes.

Just wait for it.
Just talk.
Just explain.

TICK

His eyes flicked toward the side row.

Same hoodie.
Same height.
Same silence.

TICK

The guy sat near the edge of the room.
His arms were crossed.
His hood was up.

TICK

Kai noted the time.
Two more minutes.

TICK

He wanted to apologize.

TICK

He needed to apologize.

TICK

TICK

The clock's second hand dragged.

The air felt heavy.

He needed to fix this misunde—

TICK

"—and we'll pick that up Wednesday."

Chairs scraped.
Backpacks zipped.

The guy stood immediately.


Kai blinked.

Go!

The hooded figure was already moving—slipping past the row, weaving around desks like he'd rehearsed it.

Kai hesitated, then stood.

"Wait—!"

Eyes from his row followed.
Someone muttered, half-laughing.

He grabbed his bag and ran.

THUD

Kai burst into the hallway.

Voices blurred.

The tall guy—just ahead—was already moving.

Kai followed.

His shoes squeaked.
His backpack bounced.

Someone gasped when he brushed past.

"Hey—!"

The guy didn't stop.

He turned the corner.
His hood never shifted.
His head never turned.

Kai's chest burned.
He felt an ache under his ribs.
His legs hurt.

Kai turned the corner.
It was less crowded here.

The tall guy was stopped—just ahead.

He stood at a table near the wall.
Backpack half-open.
His hands were moving.

"Hey—!"

The guy turned slightly.

Their eyes met.
Just for a second.

"—Wait!"

The guy bolted.
Backpack still open.

Kai flinched—
Then ran.


Footsteps echoed.

Someone stepped back—

"Watch it!"

His shoulder clipped something.

His lungs burned.

The guy was still ahead.
Almost running.

"Is he—chasing him?"

They passed the elevators.

Just need—talk.

The guy turned a corner.

Want—fix it.

Kai followed.

"Please— Wait—!"

Stairs.

The guy took them two at a time.

Keep going.

Kai's heart was pounding.
His fists were locked closed.

"Jesus—!"

A girl jumped out of the way.

He reached the landing—

Muttered voices.
Half-laughs.
Mild concern.

—spun the corner—

Someone shouted after him.

—hallway again.

The guy ducked around two people.

Kai barely missed one.

Almost there.
Don't stop.

A door slammed open ahead.

Kai caught a glimpse—

Fluorescent light.
A sign on the wall.

—restroom.

He didn't hesitate.

He went in.

It was quiet.

Kai could feel his breath shaking.
His legs were burning.
His head was pounding—

SLAM.

The door clicked shut.
It echoed.

His chest heaved once.
Then again.

The air inside felt cooler.


He saw him.

The tall guy.

He was near the far wall.
His back was turned.
Hands on the counter.

Head low.
Hood still up.

Kai hesitated.

Okay...

He took a step forward.

"Hey, uh—"

His voice cracked.

He cleared his throat.

"I just... I just wanted to say—"

Another step.

"You seemed mad. Back at the café. Or maybe even before that."

The guy didn't move.

Kai laughed.
Quiet. Too heavy.

He tried to soften it.

"I'm not mad, by the way. I mean—"

He took another step.

"why would I be? You don't even know me."

The guy's hands were gripping the counter.

Kai took another breath.
His throat felt dry.

"I just figured—if something happened, or if I did something—"

The guy turned.

Kai froze.

The hood slipped back just enough for light to catch his face.

His eyebrows were furled so tight they shadowed his eyes.
His nose wrinkled like he smelled dog shit.
His jaw was clenched as if grinding his teeth.

The guy's fists were closed—
his knuckles white and trembling.

Kai opened his mouth.
Nothing came out.

Kai took one step forward—

The guy took one step back.

"I just wanted to—"

—then another—

"I mean that I—"

The guy's back was against the wall.

—one more.

"I wanted to just—"

Kai raised a hand.
Just one open palm.

Kai closed his eyes.

"—say that I'm—"

SMACK

"FUCK OFF!"

Kai stood there.
His hand was burning.

SLAM

He opened his eyes.

The guy was gone.

He didn't move.
His hand was still out.

But his face felt hot.
His insides were burning.