Velithra didn't let go of Kai's hand until they were halfway down the hallway. Even then, she didn't pull away—she just slowly, hesitantly loosened her fingers, testing the feeling of space.
Kai didn't cling.
He let her hand slip out of his naturally, his expression unreadable but gentle.He didn't push.He didn't assume.He just let her move at her pace.
"Sorry," Velithra murmured. "I—I didn't mean to hold on that long."
Kai blinked once, slow. "Why are you apologizing?"
"I don't know… it just felt—"
"Comfortable?" he offered softly.
Velithra felt her face warm. "Yeah."
Kai nodded, hands sliding into his pockets. "Then don't apologize for that."
She wasn't used to someone saying things like that—to someone actually meaning it. It made her insides twist in a strange, fluttery way.
When they reached their classroom door, Kai suddenly stopped walking. Velithra turned, confused.
"Kai?"
His eyes were fixed on her—dark, steady, focused in a way that made her throat tighten.
"Can I ask you something?" he said.
Velithra swallowed. "Okay."
He took one small step closer. Not enough to overwhelm her, but enough that she could feel his presence around her, warm and grounded.
"When you looked at me at lunch," he said quietly, "was that just… being polite? Or was there something else?"
Velithra's breath caught.
"I—I don't know," she admitted, cheeks warming. "Everything feels new. Different. I'm still trying to understand it."
Kai's eyes softened immediately, as if those words mattered more than she realized.
"Thank you," he said.
"For what?" she whispered.
"For being honest with me. I know that's not easy for you."
Velithra shifted her weight. "Is it… bad that I don't know what I'm feeling yet?"
Kai shook his head. "No. It just means you're human."
She blinked. His voice was gentle but low, almost grounding.
He leaned down a little—not close enough to touch her, but enough that she could hear every word clearly.
"When you figure it out," he said softly, "tell me. Not because you owe me anything—just because I want to understand you."
Velithra's heart thumped hard enough that she wondered if he could hear it.
"Kai…" she whispered.
The hallway noise faded. Everything felt distant except for his eyes locked on hers.
Then Kai did something unexpected—something small but intimate:
He said her name.Softly.Like he was tasting it.
"Velithra."
Her breath hitched.
"N-No one says my name like that," she murmured.
Kai's expression shifted—not quite a smile, but something warm and intent.
"That's because other people don't pay attention," he said. "I do."
Velithra looked away, suddenly overwhelmed—but not in a bad way. In a way that made her feel full, warm, almost dizzy.
"Class is starting," she managed.
Kai stepped back, giving her space again."Then let's go," he said softly."But stay close. Okay?"
She nodded.
And for the first time in a long time, Velithra wanted to.