Mira crossed the cafeteria with Tasha beside her a carton of fries balanced carefully in her hands. She stopped at Elena's table straightened her shoulders and put on a smile that was a little too bright to be natural.Hey Elena she said. You look tired. So,I thought you might need some energy.
Elena sat with her friend surrounded by neatly arranged notes. She looked up slowly surprise flickering across her face before settling into a polite slightly awkward smile.Oh thank you Mira.
Mira nodded quickly relieved she had not been shut down. She placed the fries on the table and picked up a small bottle.Do you want sauce?she asked tilting her head. Which one do you like?
As she spoke she absentmindedly shook the bottle. Her grip was nervous her movements rushed. She did not realize the cap had loosened.
The next second it came off Sauce spilled out in a sudden messy splash landing straight across Elena's notes. Not just a drop, It spread fast Thick and glossy seeping into the pages and smearing the ink beneath.
Mira frooze.Oh my God I'm so sorry she blurted out panic rushing into her voice. I will clean it.
I will fix it.It's fine Elena said quickly her tone tight. Don't worry about it. I will handle it.But Mira was already fumbling through her bag. She pulled out a tissue and leaned forward trying to help. The tissue soaked up some of the sauce but mostly it just spread it further. The pages crumpled slightly. The writing blurred.Elena's expression changed.
Her jaw tightened,The politeness vanished.
She stood up abruptly grabbed the fries and walked straight to the trash can Without hesitation she threw them away and turned back around.
I hate greasy food she said coldly, her eyes fixed on Mira and people who don't mind their own business. Mira stood there speechless the tissue still clutched in her hand,Her face burned with embarrassment.From a distance Aira had watched the entire scene unfold,Her reaction was not dramatic Just observant.She exhaled softly and muttered That's my sister's version of turning a simple hello into a disaster in slow motion.
Then she walked over. Elena was already heading back anger still sharp in her posture. She was coming straight toward Mira when Aira stepped into her path.Elena stopped for half a second looked Aira and said sharply Tell your sister to learn some boundaries.
Then deliberately she slammed her shoulder into Aira's and walked past without slowing down.
Aira staggered just slightly then steadied herself.
She turned her head and watched Elena walk away.No attraction,No fascination. Just a cool,measured look Like she was filing Elena away under a mental category she would deal with later.
Her lips curved into a restrained unimpressed smile.Rude she murmured. But clear.She turned back to Mira. Mira looked like she wanted the floor to swallow her whole.I didn't mean to ruin anything she said quietly.Aira gently took the tissue from her hand.Next time, she said calmly not unkind but firm say sorry once and step back.Helping too much sometimes makes things worse.Mira nodded ashamed but grateful.Aira glanced once more in the direction Elena had gone.
No sparks. No softness.just one clear thought.
Complicated. Sharp-tempered. Definitely not someone to underestimate,And for now that was enough.
A few moments after the earlier incident Elena walked with her two friends to a corner of the lounge and sat down with her three other friends. The three were still whispering among themselves about the little mishap with the sauce when the third one leaned forward and asked directly
What happened?Elena's two friends who had been there all along exchanged a quick glance and began to explain.Basically that was Aira and yes, you bumped into her on purpose right on her shoulder.The third friend's eyes widened in surprise as she exclaimed What? Really? Elena, you actually bumped into her?Elena gave a slight casual nod and said in a flat tone Yeah, The third friend nodded again as if processing the information and asked You do know she's the head senior, right? Elena measured her response carefully her tone completely unaffected,So?
The first friend spoke with emphasis She's quick to anger. If you mess up, she will come after you immediately.The second friend recalling an old incident said Remember? Once in school, she broke a girl's nose in a fit of anger, all because that girl had pushed Mira. She even got suspended for it.The third friend laughed and added,And in college if she loses her temper, you know exactly what she's capable of.The friends exchanged glances a hint of surprise in their eyes, but Elena's reaction made it clear that Aira's presence hadn't fazed her at all, and she had no intention of showing any emotional response..