Before she could say anything, he got up and opened his arms slightly. "So… friends again? Just a quick hug?"
She rolled her eyes but stepped forward, giving him a light, awkward hug. "Don't get used to it," she mumbled.
Joshua laughed softly. "I won't."
But the second she turned around, the air shifted.
Kyle stood by the office doorway.
His lip was split, his cheek bruised — and his eyes… cold. He was watching her and Joshua, his expression unreadable.
"Kyle," she started, stepping forward. "It's not what it looks like—"
He didn't let her finish.
"Seems like you forgive people pretty fast, huh?" he said, his voice low and sharp. "Guess that's one of your many talents."
Her stomach dropped. "Kyle, no. You don't understand—he just—"
But he was already turning away, jaw tight.
"Kyle!" she called again, her voice cracking. "Please, just listen!"
He stopped for a heartbeat, his back still to her. She thought maybe — maybe he'd turn around. But when he spoke, his words cut deeper than she expected.
"Don't bother," he said quietly. "I've seen enough."
And then he walked away.
Raye stood frozen in the middle of the hallway, the sting of tears rising in her chest.
Joshua shifted awkwardly beside her. "Uh… that wasn't exactly how I meant for this to go."
She didn't answer. She couldn't. Her throat felt tight, her vision blurry.
For the first time in a long while, Raye felt something she hated — guilt.
Not because she did something wrong… but because the one person she didn't want to hurt thought she already had.
She couldn't let him go , just like that . She chased him across the court, her heart exploding with panic.
"Kyle!" she called when she caught sight of him walking furiously to the car park .
"It's not what you think!"
He didn't even pause.
Raye heart sank when he didn't even stop . She placed her hand on her knee trying to catch her breath .
Why the hell did she even hug Joshua !!!.
But it was nothing . She didn't even like him anymore .
"KYLE!"
He stopped. Slowly turned.
And the look he gave her—
Cold. Not angry.
It was even better , if he had glared Raye thought gulping softly while staring at him .
Raye took in a deep breath slowly standing upright , she flung her hand exaperatedly .
"Talk to me , don't walk away ,tell me what I did wrong ??".
"You really don't know what you did wrong?" he said quietly.
Her throat tightened. "He was just apologizing. I didn't know —"
"You didn't know," he repeated , shaking his head. "Of course."
"You're overreacting !"
"Stop," he said. "Just stop."
She blinked softly taking a step forward .
"Are you… mad at me or hurt?"
He met her eyes. "I got suspended for defending your name. Then I see you hugging the same ex who treated you like trash."
"…I didn't mean to hurt you—"
"You didn't have to. You just had to choose."
He walked off.
Raye wanted to call him but ended up saying quietly.
"At least ..let me explain ".
She ran her fingers through her hair watching him walk further away .
This time, she didn't chase him.
She couldn't
He didn't let her finish.
She doubt he would even let her speak .
Raye felt like pulling her hair _ which she did , stomping her foot frustratedly.
This was real bad .
Raye trudged across campus, every step heavier than the last. Her stomach twisted with nerves, replaying the moment again and again—Kyle's sharp eyes, the tension, and then him stomping off like she didn't even exist.
When she reached the bench by the main building, she spotted Jane lounging there, earbuds dangling, scrolling through her phone.
"Raye! Why do you look like someone just stole your soul?" Jane asked, raising an eyebrow. "What happened is Kyle okay now ...girl ,speak you giving me a fright here ".
Raye sank onto the bench beside her, burying her face in her hands. "It's… it's complicated."
Jane huffed, leaning closer. "Complicated? Well the whole fight thing was complicated , just elaborate more ".
Raye exhaled shakily. " so I went to the nurse office and found that Kyle actually left ...from the bruises I saw I could tell he refused to get treated ...then I had to run to the counsellor office and there I met Joshua ...." Raye trailed off looking at Jane frown who was about to talk as she stop her . "let me finish , he didn't come to do anything ...I suppose, something let to another ..but he came apologize like literally begged and all and then he asked for a hug ..... He … he saw me hug Joshua." Her cheeks flamed. "I didn't even mean anything by it, I was just being polite. But… he looked at me, and then—he just walked away. Ignored me completely."
Jane blinked, stood up from the bench then sat back down . "Wait. You hugged Joshua, and Kyle just lost it? Even I will loss it if I was in his shoes ?".
"Don't make it worst Jane , you would ?" Raye asked growling while massaging her temples .
"I would and I would probably have slapped your senses back into your head , why hug Joshua after everything ..what makes you think he was genuine??".
"I don't know he was about to cry, he knelt down in public I could see through his eyes that he was sincere ".
Jane scoffed clearly displeased at what Raye had said . " So as you could see through Danielle that she was sorry ..but guess what, she wasn't ".
"Thats not the deal I was panicking and it was a quick hug , if he meant something he wouldn't have come to a place were Kyle was ..he didn't even run away when he saw Kyle and he did apologize and told me to calm down ...ugh Jane that's not the point Kyle is angry and am worried ".
"Fine , I can scold you later but girl did you text him ?"
"I tried," Raye muttered, pulling her phone out. "I sent five messages already. Nothing. No reply. Not even… a hint that he saw them." Her fingers hovered over the screen, heart sinking with every second that passed.
Jane leaned back, crossing her arms and giving her that teasing-but-serious look. "Five messages? Girl, he's not a mind reader. But he also probably wants you to chase him a little. "
Raye groaned, flopping back on the bench. "I… I don't even know what to say to him. I feel… stupid for even hugging Joshua , I shouldn't have , he needed me and I disappointed him again ."
Jane nudged her shoulder lightly.
"Don't worry I believe he is gonna reply to your messages ,he can't guess what's going on in that head of yours unless you at least give him a sign."
" Jane am so worried ,I love him so fucking much and it's hurts seeing him angry ".
Jane was taken aback by Raye quiet confession .
Normal occasion she would have teased her ,but her friend was truly worried , so instead , she hugged her patting her head slowly.
Raye stared at her phone, the messages blinking silently on the screen, each one a small plea she wasn't sure she had the courage to send again. She hugged her bag tightly, letting the anxiety and hurt settle in her chest.
Jane shook her head with a half-laugh clearly amused "Okay, fine. You're officially allowed to freak out for five minutes. But then you're texting him again. Maybe six… seven times. He'll respond. He has to."
Raye gave a small, uncertain smile, feeling some warmth from Jane's words, even if her heart was still tangled in knots over Kyle.