She couldn’t help but feel a bit lighter after that. For once, everything felt normal. Maybe it was because Leo didn’t take himself too seriously, or maybe because he had a way of making her feel like she could let down her guard without fear of judgment.

But there was something else, too.

Every time she caught Riven looking her way, his eyes were colder, more distant. She wasn’t sure why, but it felt like something had shifted between them since their last encounter. His silence was suffocating, his presence almost overwhelming. Every time she tried to talk to him, he would slip away, retreating into his own world.

What’s going on with him?

Aria couldn’t stop herself from thinking about him. It was frustrating. There was no reason she should care what he thought, but there was something about him that unsettled her—something that was both intriguing and infuriating.

As the practice session wrapped up that afternoon, Aria stepped out into the hallway to get some fresh air. She needed a break, away from the constant pressure and the loud music. The corridor was quiet, and she took a deep breath, letting the cool air clear her mind.

A few moments later, she heard footsteps behind her.

Turning around, she was surprised to see Riven walking toward her, his expression unreadable.

"Aria."

She blinked, not expecting him to speak to her.

"Riven," she replied, trying to keep her voice steady, even though her heart had started racing.

He paused in front of her, looking her over as if debating whether to say something more.

"I’m sorry for the way I acted the other day," he said, his voice lower than usual. "I didn’t mean to snap at you."

Aria raised an eyebrow, taken aback.

"You don’t owe me an apology," she said, her voice soft. "You were just... having a bad day, right?"

Riven didn’t answer right away. Instead, he looked at her, his dark eyes seemingly searching for something, as if trying to figure her out.

"Maybe," he said finally. "But that’s not the only reason."

Aria swallowed, her curiosity piqued.

"What do you mean?"

Riven looked away, his jaw tightening.

"Forget it. It’s nothing." He turned to leave, but then hesitated, glancing back over his shoulder.

"Just... don’t get too close, Aria."

His words hung in the air, and before she could respond, he was gone, disappearing down the hallway as quickly as he had come.

Aria stood there for a moment, staring after him. Don’t get too close?

The words echoed in her mind, and for the first time, she felt a sense of unease. What had he meant? Why did he seem so torn when it came to her?