Lunch had never been Velithra's favorite part of the day. The noise, the crowds, the cliques—it always made her feel like she was standing in the middle of a storm without an umbrella.
But today, when she stepped into the cafeteria, Kai was already there.
And he noticed her immediately.
He didn't wave.He didn't call out.He just stood up from his table like it was the most natural reaction in the world.
Velithra felt her chest tighten—half nerves, half something warmer.
Kai walked over, ignoring a few girls who tried to get his attention. His steps were unhurried, but purposeful. When he stopped in front of her, his eyes softened in that way that always made her feel too seen.
"You okay?" he asked.
Velithra nodded. "Yeah. Just… crowded."
Kai glanced around the room, then back at her."Want to sit somewhere quieter?"
She hesitated, glancing toward her usual table, where her "friends" were pretending not to stare. The silence between her and Kai must have dragged too long, because he leaned slightly closer.
"You don't have to go over there," he murmured. "Not if it drains you."
Velithra swallowed. "Where would we sit?"
Kai pointed toward the back corner of the cafeteria where no one else bothered to go. The light was dimmer back there, and the noise didn't reach as sharply.
Her voice barely left her mouth. "Okay."
They sat down, both with trays in front of them. The quiet was comfortable, not awkward. Kai didn't fill it with pointless chatter; he let it sit, warm and unhurried.
Velithra poked at her food. "You didn't have to come get me."
"I know." Kai opened his drink. "I wanted to."
She paused mid-bite. "Why?"
Kai looked at her for a long moment—long enough to make her heartbeat feel uneven.
"Because you look like you're trying to disappear when you walk into loud places," he said quietly. "And it… bothers me."
Velithra felt something press against her chest. "Why does it bother you?"
Kai's jaw tightened slightly. Not in anger—more like he was thinking carefully.
"Because I don't like seeing you shrink," he said. "You don't deserve that."
Velithra dropped her gaze.
Kai let the silence stretch just long enough before he spoke again—gentler this time.
"You don't have to shrink around me. Ever."
She looked up at him slowly, her eyes wide, unsure what to do with the warmth spreading through her.
They ate in quiet after that, but it wasn't really silence.
It was full of something new.
Something steady.
Something almost electric in the way it filled the space between them.
When lunch ended, Kai stood first and held out a hand—not to grab her, not to pull her—just offering, open and patient.
Velithra stared at it.
Kai's voice was soft. "Only if you want."
Her fingers shook slightly as she placed her hand in his.
Kai didn't grip tight.He didn't tug her closer.He just held it gently, like it was something fragile he didn't want to break.
And together, they walked out of the cafeteria—past the noise, past the stares, past everything that used to trap her in silence.
Velithra felt it:the beginning of something shifting.
Something she wasn't sure she was ready for.But something she wanted to try.