It was break time. 

The cafeteria buzzed with noise, but the second my eyes locked onto Theo’s—time slowed. He was walking toward me with two of his friends, laughing at something one of them said… until he saw me.His smile dropped instantly. His entire body stilled—not a flinch, not a blink—just pure intensity as he held my gaze. The air between us crackled like static.

Then… nothing. I kept walking right past him without stopping, and so did he. No words exchanged. Just that loaded stare lingering in the space behind both of us as distance grew again.

12th grade. 2023.

The final year of high school consumed everyone—exams, projects, club responsibilities. Theo was buried under the weight of being debate club president and maintaining his perfect grades. Meanwhile, I balanced karate training with my  role as secretary for the martial arts panel.

We rarely saw each other outside of passing periods anymore. When we did? It was just a glance—a fleeting second where time seemed to pause… before life pulled us  both in different directions again.No conversations. No accidental touches in hallways like before. Just two parallel lives running alongside each other… but never intersecting.

Sports Day.

 11th January, 2023. 

The Sports Day crowd was loud, cheering for each demonstration—but I barely heard any of it. My eyes scanned the bleachers automatically, searching for him. But Theo wasn’t there.Our team’s karate demonstration went perfectly—sharp moves, synchronized forms—but my focus kept drifting to the empty seat where he usually sat during school events. Even his friends were present… but not him. A cold disappointment settled in my chest. Maybe he just didn’t care enough to show up? 

Or maybe… something else?

One day, as I was leaving practice late—sweaty and tired— I felt it. That prickle on the back of my neck. Like someone was watching me.

I turned around slowly… and there he was.

Theo stood a few feet away, leaning against a wall with his arms crossed. His usual cold expression wasn’t fully in place this time—his eyes were soft, almost hesitant. He hadn’t said anything yet… just looked at me like he had been for months. As if he was waiting for me to talk, to resolve something. But I walked away. 

DAY AFTER TOMORROW.

The corridor was quiet, the hum of third period still echoing from classrooms. I left the classroom with a pass from the teacher  because I had a practice session. I was walking down the corridor on my way  to the ground. Theo’s door swung open just as I passed—and there he was. Theo's classroom was on that way. As I was heading there, I spotted Theo at the 2nd door of his classroom, chatting with his friends. His eyes held me too. By the time I came to the 1st door of his classroom,he abruptly appeared to the 1st door and held my eyes directly as if he badly wanted to say something. 

For a second, time stopped. His dark eyes locked into mine  with an intensity that made my breath catch. He didn’t smile or call out… but his body language screamed urgency—like he needed to say something right now.

But before he could even take a step toward me? I kept walking. Head down, heart pounding—ignoring the way his gaze burned into my back until I turned the corner. Theo  froze in the doorway, his hand half-raised like he’d almost reached out. His face—usually so unreadable—twisted with something raw: frustration, maybe even hurt.He didn’t chase me. But the second I disappeared around the corner, he exhaled sharply and dragged a hand down his face… as if finally realizing how badly both of us had messed this up.

A friend peeked out of Theo’s classroom: "Dude? You good?"

Rome just grunted and walked back inside—but for once? He looked… lost.