The days passed in a blur of review sessions, project deadlines, and whispered talks of graduation gowns. Between scribbled notes and late-night study groups, life should've felt normal, exciting even. But beneath all the chatter and laughter, something unspoken gnawed at their circle of friends.
Mina noticed it first. She always did.
Eli and Kai still sat side by side during study sessions, still shared the same inside jokes, still moved in sync as if by instinct—but something had shifted. There was a gap now, thin but sharp, like glass wedged between them. Their eyes rarely met. And when they did, Eli looked away too quickly, while Kai forced a smile that never reached his eyes.
During lunch one day, Mina leaned toward Hana and whispered, "Something's wrong with those two."
Leo followed her gaze. Eli was absently poking at his rice with a fork, while Kai scrolled wordlessly through his phone. Just a week ago, the two had been inseparable, teasing each other or whispering at the corner of the table. Now, silence stretched between them.
"Do you think they fought?" Caleb asked softly.
"Not fought," Mina murmured, watching Eli's slouched shoulders. "More like… drifted." She sighed, twisting her spoon in her hands. "And with graduation so close, this is the worst timing."
The worry spread among their group like a quiet current. Later that day, Leo caught Kai by the lockers. "Hey," he said casually, but his eyes were sharp. "You and Eli okay? You've been… off lately."
Kai hesitated. He wanted to laugh it off, to brush away Leo's concern. But the heaviness in his chest made the lie bitter. He forced a small smile. "Don't worry. Just a small disagreement."
Leo didn't press, but the look in his eyes said he didn't buy it.
Meanwhile, Mina wasn't content to let things slide. She cornered Eli after class, her tone light but her concern clear. "Hey, what's going on with you and Kai? You two were practically glued together, and now it feels like there's this wall between you."
Eli's heart jumped. He forced out a laugh. "Nothing. We're just… busy. Finals, graduation—it's a lot, right?"
Mina narrowed her eyes, studying him like she always did when she knew he was hiding something. After a moment, she sighed and let it go. "If you say so. Just… don't wait too long to fix it."
That night, Eli lay awake staring at the ceiling, Mina's words echoing in his mind. Don't wait too long. But how could he fix something he didn't even understand?
---
The weeks slipped by in a haze of exams, fitting sessions for graduation gowns, and paperwork. On the surface, the tension between Eli and Kai seemed to fade under the busyness. Their act was good enough that even Mina relaxed. Their circle laughed together again, shared snacks, and teased one another during late-night cram sessions. From the outside, everything looked normal.
But Eli felt the weight every second. Every laugh felt a little too practiced. Every smile felt like a mask.
One afternoon, their class stayed late to rehearse the ceremony. Caps slipped off heads, gowns wrinkled easily, and nobody could walk down the aisle without tripping or snickering. Mina insisted on snapping photos of everyone, teasing, "You'll regret it if I don't!" Eli posed, smiled, and even laughed when Hana pulled a silly face. But every time he caught sight of Kai adjusting his cap or laughing with someone else, his chest tightened painfully.
---
Finally, the big day arrived.
The morning of graduation was bright, sunlight pouring over the school courtyard where students gathered in neat rows of gowns and caps. The air buzzed with excitement—camera shutters clicked, parents called out proudly, and classmates waved and embraced. It should have been one of the happiest days of their lives.
But something felt wrong.
Mina noticed it first again. Eli's seat in the row of graduates was empty.
Her brows furrowed as she scanned the crowd. She pulled out her phone, scrolling frantically. No message. Nothing.
"Where's Eli?" Jace asked, his voice edged with worry.
"I don't know," Mina admitted, her chest tightening.
Leo glanced at Kai, but Kai didn't move. His jaw was clenched, his eyes scanning the crowd again and again, desperate for even the smallest glimpse of Eli slipping in late with his usual sheepish smile. But there was no Eli. Not even his parents were there.
The ceremony began. Names were called, one by one, students crossing the stage as cheers erupted around them. Kai sat stiffly, program booklet clenched so tightly in his hands the edges bent. His name was called; he walked, accepted his diploma, and smiled automatically for the camera. But his heart was somewhere else entirely.
And then came the moment he dreaded.
The principal read aloud, "Eli Han —"
The seat remained empty.
A ripple of murmurs spread through the audience before the ceremony continued, but for Kai, the silence was louder than the applause.
By the time caps were tossed into the air, Kai's chest ached so badly he could barely breathe. He pulled out his phone, calling Eli again and again. Each time, it went unanswered. Mina, Leo, Jace , and Caleb hovered around him, their smiles from moments ago gone, replaced with worried frowns.
"Maybe he's just late," Leo offered weakly.
But Kai shook his head. He knew. Something was wrong.
And then—his phone buzzed.
An unknown number flashed across the screen.
His breath caught. With trembling hands, he swiped to answer. "Hello?"
For a long moment, all he could hear was faint noise in the background. Then a voice spoke—low, unfamiliar, cautious.
"…Is this Kai?"
Kai's knuckles whitened around the phone. His friends froze, watching him closely.
His heart hammered as he forced out a reply. "…Yeah. Who is this?"