Theo seemed really nonchalant and someone who doesn’t give a fuck unlike me.Whereas the stomach in my butterflies were  sprinting. I behaved pretty friendly but I was trying my best to  keep up his nonchalance so I didn’t show much of my excitement. He was quiet for  a few moments before looking up at me again. His expression was stoic but there was an intensity in his gaze, as if he was trying to search my face for any sort of hesitation.

Theo turned to Mark and said, “You better be up to this, you know. No screwing around.” 

“See ya in a few minutes, Theo and Mark.” I said with a grin looking at them.

Theo just huffed in response, putting hands into the pockets of his trausers.“Yeah, see ya,” he said, not even sparing me a second glance before he turned on his foot to another direction with Mark.

I understood that he wasn’t someone who always gave a forced friendly greeting while meeting someone. Doesn’t matter if the person was a stranger or known to him. I liked it. At least, he wasn’t like someone who keeps us to get benefitted. He was geniune. He wasn’t a people pleaser but again he was when he needed; an opportunist. 

The competition was gonna start in 5 minutes. I entered the auditorium. Theo was already there with Mark. He was sitting with his elbows on the desk and a pen twirling in his fingers.But as I  entered, I swear I saw his gaze shift to me for just a split second before he quickly looked away, that familiar scowl on his face. 

I didn’t know if he felt something like I did or not. The moment I sat beside Theo, my stupid heart stopped beating. The debate was great. Mark,Theo and I, we all made great points and logic on the debate.  I was praying and hoping to get selected for the final because I knew how serious he was to get into the final round and I didn’t want to make a bad impression on him about me. 

After some time, the teacher called all the selected team names. 

“Hydra”

We all were stunned. Hydra was our team name. We were selected for the finale. A quiet breath I hadn’t realized I was holding left my lips. We had done it. We had made it to the final. The final was the next day. 

Theo glanced at me from the corner of his eyes, arms still crossed over his chest. But there was a flicker of something in his expression…was it satisfaction ? Relief? Or something else entirely? 

But there was something in his gaze. Maybe he felt something but he didn't want to admit it. Theo was quiet for the rest of the day. The whole time, I  could feel his gaze lingering on me, that cold stare of his somehow more intense than usual. 

The daylight was gone and the moon showed up in the sky. It was a full moon that day.

“Be under the Administration building after the assembly.” A text came under Theo’s name.

The next day had come—the day of the final. You felt so anxious, your stomach was in knots, your palms were sweating. After the assembly, I waited for Theo near the administration building. It’s been almost 30 minutes, the first class was about to start.