Panic

After the morning panic, most of the students lingered along the hallways, on benches to eat snacks, chat, and gossip about the recent events.

Low murmurs about Sylvia's return were the hot topic.

Some looked scared while others were intrigued, not by her presence but by the new student's reaction. 

Stolen glances from groups nearby were awaiting for anything to happen, but none of them had the guts to approach as the corridor along classroom 2-C remained barren, avoided.

No one dared to pass by or stay close. Not a single student.

From a few blocks, around the corner of a hall, a group of friends was hanging out beside the rows of vending machines.

The group consisted of Feyline, Antonio, Alexis, Robin, and Judy. All huddled together in a semi-circle, munching on snacks and chugging energy drinks.

 

"Feyline.... I thought you kept tabs on when she's coming back?" Judy huffed as she crossed her arms in distress.

"You know that she could switch your classroom into a hellhole in just a snap."

 

"Yeah... gosh. Her being absent or suspended is a blessing to be honest." Antonio truthfully remarked as he munched on gummy bears.

 

"Sorry, guys... I got lost in time, ya know." Feyline scratched her head as she leaned back on the wall, feeling defeated. " Well... just hope she doesn't do anything risky."

 

"Last time she did something like that... Robin got into trouble." Judy protested as she grabbed her boyfriend's arm in a protective grasp. " She nearly broke my guy. But I am glad she got over him before it escalated even more."

 

"Whoa... It's okay, Judy." Robin reassured her as he rubbed her back. "It's all in the past. I got a girlfriend now sooo..." he trailed off teasingly.

 

"Right." Judy blushed slightly. "Still... If she ever comes back... I will toss a spike on her face," she threatened.

 

"Seems like she's back on her usual ways though." Alexis, who was just silently twiddling his fingers, spoke out.

"The fact that suspension doesn't seem to faze her at all from her violations." Feyline just sighed in frustration.

 

"Oh yeah.... You see how she approached the new student, Raphael?" Antonio exclaimed. "I don't know, man... I felt hunted... like it sent shivers down my spine."

 

"Speaking of Raphael." Feyline paused.

 

"Oh no...." Alexis shuddered.

 

"Did we just completely leave him alone in the classroom?!" Antonio exclaimed in utter fear and shock.

 

The bell rang, indicating the end of the short break.

Quickly, they rushed back into the classroom, hoping nothing had happened to the new guy.

As the final chime continued to echo down the corridor like a blaring alarm, several soles marched in hurried steps without an ounce of hesitation.

The door to classroom 2-C burst open with the force of five people pushing through all at once in a tight entrance.

Feyline led the charge as her striking violet locks whipped swiftly before she skidded to a stop just in front of the first row. Antonio, with eyes wide open, followed right behind her, clutching a bag of gummy bears like a lifeline.

Right next to him, Alexis nearly tripped over his own feet, but recovered quickly to compose himself for any action.

Robin joined in as well, deliberately trespassing just to offer support while his hand was shielding Judy, who came in next with her fists clenched like she was ready to throw hands.

The group froze in their spot.

The classroom was surprisingly quiet except for a few papers rustling on an empty desk as the cool breeze passed through the windows.

Nothing was wrong.

Raphael sat exactly in his usual seat, the back corner by the window, with a relaxed demeanor while holding a paperback novel in his hands. His jet-black fringes fell across his forehead as he turned a page with calm, deliberate fingers.

Then, his crimson eyes flicked up briefly at the sudden sight of commotion, mildly surprised by the dramatic entrance.

Just that he looked… peaceful and at ease. Nothing out of the ordinary.

On the seat directly in front of him, Sylvia Macaulay sat normally on her chair, facing forward now with legs crossed under the desk, in perfect nonchalance. Orange hair spilled over one shoulder, and the undercut glinted slightly in the light.

Everything about her seemed like her usual self as she casually leaned her elbows on the desk with her chin resting on one. Her gaze unfazed by the distraction up front, still staring ahead at the chalkboard like she’d been paying attention the whole time.

Weird Tension? Negative.

Disheveled clothing? None.

Lingering glances? Nothing at all.

The five students stood in the doorway as they had mistakenly invaded the wrong room, their expressions dumbfounded.

Feyline blinked. “...What?”

Antonio’s gummy bears slipped from his fingers and pattered to the floor. “Dude. We thought—”

Robin exhaled hard, shoulders dropping. “We literally sprinted back here thinking she’d already—”

Judy’s fists unclenched slowly. “She didn’t… do anything?”

Alexis squinted his eyes in disbelief, peering between the two. “They’re just… sitting there.”

Raphael glanced up again at the group, brow furrowing slightly in polite confusion. “Everything okay?”

Sylvia didn’t even turn but let out a soft, lazy huff of amusement before flipping her own notebook to doodle something out of boredom in random strokes, pen scratching faintly against the paper.

The group exchanged looks.

Feyline was the first to move. She walked to her seat near the front, muttering under her breath. “This is weirdly too calm.”

Antonio scooped up his fallen gummies, whispering to Alexis. “I swear she walked in earlier like a predator in our midst, looking for prey. And now… nothing?”

Robin and Judy scooted out of the classroom, hoping no one would catch them to avoid possible sanctions.

“Maybe. We should head back to ours.” Robin suggested with embarrassment.

Judy shot a glare toward Sylvia’s back. “I still don't trust her.”

“Shh,” Robin murmured, rubbing her arm. “Let’s not provoke her.” before they disappeared back into the corridor.

Alexis slid into his seat, still staring. “He’s just… reading. Like nothing happened.”

Raphael turned another page, completely unfazed.

Moments later, students began arriving back in the classroom just in the last few seconds before the teacher of the second period arrived.

The trio still stole glances at the two, but nothing seemed to be amiss. Raphael just remained calm, composed, and absorbed in his book while Sylvia just leaned back, twiddling with her pen lazily.

They were expecting a full-blown scene, but instead, they got something unnatural and unsettling.

The classroom filled once more with the usual sounds of rustling papers, muffled yawns, and flipping of pages.

However, there was a tension built up in the air much heavier than before.

Raphael Kiersten still kept reading about the book of friendships. Perhaps, oblivious or not.

The girl in front of him smiled to herself slyly and secretively.