Suzie paced the balcony, her sandals thudding against the wooden floor in no particular rhythm. The plastic cup in her hand was nearly empty now—just a few melting ice cubes, leaking cold water over her fingers.
It was freezing. But her head felt like it was on fire.
And she had no idea why.
That conversation with Nelson? It was nothing. No big deal. No secrets, no drama. Just... whatever. Forgettable.
"Whenever he's in a mood, he just plays guitar."
Nelson had said. Totally normal. Who cares?
But then he'd added something that made her stop cold.
"Anyway, he's changed a lot. His style, his vibe… even his name," Nelson said, trying to recall. "What was it again… Dave?"
She stopped walking.
Dave?
Her brain twitched like it had been poked. Like it recognized something—but the pieces didn't fit. Not yet.She frowned. Her thoughts spun faster, chasing after a feeling. Something weirdly familiar. Something she couldn't shake.
The cup cracked in her grip.
"Why does that name sound like I've heard it before?"
The discomfort settled in her gut, cold and slow. The name felt close—but far, like a dream she almost remembered.
Then, it started coming back.
A kid, always sitting alone in the corner of the classroom. Head down. Drowning in books that looked way too advanced for someone his age. Never talked much. Barely made a sound. But he was always there.
Her brow tightened.
Who was that?Why did it feel like she was on the edge of remembering something that actually mattered?
Her heartbeat picked up. And the more she tried to ignore it, the more it clawed at her.
She shut her eyes. Took a breath.Didn't help.
What came instead were flashes—bits and pieces with no timeline.
His laugh. That weirdly formal way of speaking.And a guitar.
Her hand gripped her thigh, trying to ground herself.
Robin.
Why did his smile always get under her skin?
Why did it bother her so much to see him around Lyra?
Why did she hate having him nearby—like just being in the same space with him felt… wrong?
Her chest tightened.
She bit her lip, hard, keeping the rising heat inside.
Robin hadn't done anything to her.He hadn't said anything cruel.Hadn't hurt her.
And still…Something was off.
Something she couldn't name.It wasn't hate. It wasn't simple.
It cut deeper than that.
She sank into the garden bench and let the night air hit her face, her thoughts still a mess.
And for the first time, she asked herself—really asked herself— 'Who the hell is Robin?'
--------
Walter sat alone at a table by the cafeteria window, absently stirring his drink like he was hoping it'd give him answers. It had been a while since he'd eaten lunch without someone clinging to him, talking nonstop, demanding his full attention.
He looked up when someone approached.
Arlo.
The guy raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised to see him alone, then pulled out a chair and sat down without waiting for an invite."Alone today?" he asked, casual as ever.
Walter gave a dry smile. "Look who's finally asking me to lunch."
Arlo chuckled. "Didn't think you knew how to eat without that clingy girlfriend of yours."
Walter let out a sigh, set down his spoon, and leaned back."Yeah… Suzie and I are on a break."
"A break?" Arlo echoed, eyebrow lifting a little higher.
Walter nodded and took a slow sip of his coffee. "Something like that."
Arlo didn't push. He just leaned on the table, eyes quietly studying his friend, who—oddly—looked more relaxed than usual.
"And how's that going for you?"
Walter paused before answering, his voice soft. "Honestly? Not as bad as I expected." He gave a faint smile that barely reached his eyes.
Arlo tilted his head, now genuinely curious.
"I don't know," Walter continued, fidgeting with his spoon. "Since the break, I've just... felt more alive. I used to plan everything around her—picking her up, waiting if my classes ended early, tagging along to cheer practice, eating at her favorite café, shopping with her…"
He trailed off.
Arlo knew Walter wasn't the type to complain about spending money. That was never the issue. What he didn't say—and what Arlo definitely picked up on—was how much effort it took just to stay in that relationship.
"I used to think it was cute," Walter said, laughing under his breath. "How clingy she was. The pouting, the tantrums... I actually found it kind of charming. But lately? It's like she snaps at everything. And when I say no? She bites."
Arlo watched him closely. Walter was staring into his coffee like it held some kind of truth he hadn't seen before.
"Maybe this is the real Suzie," Walter murmured. "Maybe I'm only just now seeing it. Or maybe... I made her this way. Spoiled her too much."
Arlo gave a soft laugh. "Wouldn't be surprised. She's always wanted things her way, hasn't she? But hey, no way I was gonna be the guy who pointed that out while you two were all lovey-dovey. I like living."
Walter let out a short laugh. "Smart man."
"I'm a safe man," Arlo said with a shrug. "My job's to support and occasionally advise—not ruin friendships."
Walter exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Still… I miss how things used to be."
Arlo stayed quiet, letting him keep going.
"Back in high school," Walter said, gazing out the window. His tone softened. "We thought everything would stay the same, you know? You, me, Suzie, Lyra. Like we were untouchable."
Arlo nodded silently.
"But turns out, relationships aren't the only things that get tested. Friendships do too."There was a flicker of pain in Walter's voice. Not the dramatic kind—just the kind that sneaks in when you finally admit something you've been avoiding.
Arlo took a sip of his drink, still saying nothing. He knew Walter didn't need advice. Not right now. He just needed someone to sit there and listen.
Walter tapped his fingers on the table, then muttered under his breath, "Love inside a friendship… feels kind of cursed."
"Or maybe," Arlo finally said, "it's just part of growing up."
Walter looked at him, then gave a dry laugh. "If this is growth, I'd rather go back to being that clueless high school kid."
"No such luck," Arlo replied.
The conversation faded, swallowed by the cafeteria buzz around them.
Walter let out a long sigh, then smiled faintly. "At least I still have someone to eat lunch with."
"You're lucky I wasn't busy."
Walter laughed, and for a second, things almost felt normal.But even through the laughter, he knew—deep down—so much had changed.And none of it was going back to how it used to be.
Arlo watched him, quiet again, noting how Walter fiddled with his spoon like he was still lost somewhere in his own head.
Then, without a word, Arlo leaned back and let his thoughts wander.
If he was being honest, Walter probably should've been with Lyra from the start.
She used to care about him—genuinely. Maybe more than Suzie ever did. He still remembered the way she used to look at Walter from across the room, how she'd go out of her way just to be near him. Even if it was just to say hi.
But that ship had sailed.Lyra had found someone better now. Someone who actually saw her.Someone who pulled her out of the spiral she used to be stuck in.
And as for her secret… yeah, that was staying buried.Telling Walter now would only make things worse.No point dragging the past into the mess of the present.
Arlo sighed quietly—and then something else flickered in the back of his mind.
Suzie.
The last time he talked to her, something felt… off.There was a look in her eyes. A tension in the way she spoke about Robin and Lyra. Something cold.Something vengeful.
And now, with her and Walter on a break?
Not great timing.
If she was already coming apart, this could push her into doing something reckless.
Arlo drummed his fingers on the table, thinking.Maybe it was time to keep an eye on her.
Quietly. From a distance.
He groaned internally. 'God, this is exhausting.'
He hated drama. Absolutely hated it.
But if stepping in could stop something worse from happening down the line...Maybe it was a price worth paying.
--------
She had no idea how long she'd been sitting there, flipping through her notebook without really seeing it. Page after page, her eyes scanned the lines, but none of it stuck. None of it made sense.
Ever since that conversation a few days ago, her head had been a mess. There was something she couldn't quite explain—something stuck, pressing against the edge of her thoughts. And the more she tried to ignore it, the more it clawed at her.
As usual, she was in the design studio—surrounded by sketch pads, colored pencils, and tiny mock-ups scattered across her desk. She was a third-semester Interior Design student, and right now she was supposed to be working on a spatial concept for a modern hotel lobby with a minimalist theme.
But her mind was nowhere near that lobby.
The 3D model on her laptop sat unfinished, the cursor frozen mid-frame like it was waiting for her to care.
"Suzie?"
A hand touched her shoulder lightly, snapping her out of it. She blinked, turning to see one of her classmates already seated beside her, eyebrows raised.
"You okay? You've been zoning out."
Suzie blinked again, trying to collect her face. "I'm fine, Marie."
"Really?" A second voice chimed in. It was a girl, sliding into the seat across from her, blonde hair pulled back and skeptical expression in full force. "You barely said anything during the presentation earlier. That's not like you."
Suzie let out a quiet sigh, closing her notebook and leaning back in her chair. "I'm just… a little distracted Vi."
Vi or you can call her, Vivian nodded slowly, then tilted her head. "Is it about Walter?"
Suzie paused, then shook her head. "No."
"You sure?" Vivian narrowed her eyes.
Suzie nodded again—this time with a little more force. "Yeah."
Marie raised her shoulders. "Alright. But seriously, if you need anything… just say it. Don't bottle everything up."
Suzie offered a small, practiced smile. That was all.
When class ended, she packed her things quickly—shoving her laptop into her bag, winding the charger in a loose coil, gathering the scattered sketches in one hurried sweep. A few classmates glanced at her, probably wondering why she looked like she had somewhere to be.
But the truth was, she didn't.She just needed to get out.
Out of the studio.Out of her head.
Instead of heading toward the usual spots—the campus café, the library, or even her own apartment—her feet took her somewhere else entirely.
The School of Communications.
The building stood tall and sleek, all glass and clean angles that caught the late afternoon sun. A few students lounged on the front steps, chatting lazily, cameras and tripods at their feet.
Suzie slowed down.She wasn't even sure why she'd come here.
She wasn't looking for anyone, not really.She just… followed something. An impulse.
She wandered past the entrance, eyes scanning the unfamiliar crowd. Students hurried around, some glued to their laptops, others adjusting recording gear or arguing about scripts.
The second-floor hallway was quieter.Most people up here moved fast, heads down, lost in their own deadlines.
Suzie walked slower, peeking into half-open doors.She didn't know what she was looking for.All she knew was that she had to look.
Then she spotted two students near a window bench. One had a black backpack, the other was hunched over a tablet.
She walked up, her voice light. "Hey. Sorry to bother you."
They looked up—mildly surprised.
"I'm trying to find someone. Maybe you can help?"
The guy exchanged a glance with the girl before turning back to her. "Who are you looking for?"
She leaned against the wall, pretending to think. "Robin. Do you… know what he's like?"
The change was immediate. Their expressions shifted.
"Robin, huh?" the guy said. "Robin that I known is good-looking, kind of cool… but super quiet. Keeps to himself."
"Totally," the girl added, not even glancing up from her screen. "He's not exactly warm. Doesn't really click with people."
Suzie kept her smile intact, letting their words settle. "So, not many people know him personally?"
"Pretty much," the guy said with a shrug. "But if you're curious, you could ask Nelson. He's probably the only one Robin actually talks to."
Nelson.Of course.She had asked him. And it got her nowhere.
"But," the girl added with a sly grin, "if you're trying to hit on him… careful."
Suzie turned to her. "Careful?"
"Yeah," the girl laughed. "He's taken. I heard he and his girlfriend are practically glued together."
"Total simp, if you ask me," the guy added, half-joking. "You're not getting in there easily."
Suzie nodded, still smiling.But inside, something sank.
That wasn't what she came here to hear.
She didn't care if Robin was hot or cold or halfway in love with someone else.What bothered her ran deeper than rumors or reputations.
Because now she was sure—Robin wasn't just quiet.
He was a question.And she was running out of patience.
'Where the hell do I even look next?'
--------
The student council room felt unusually mellow. A few members were gathered around the large table, loose sheets of paper and scribbled notes scattered everywhere. Normally, meetings were more structured—tense, even. But today's topic wasn't about a campus festival or a major event, so the mood was noticeably lighter.
"So," Alton—the council president—leaned back in his chair, glancing around at the group, "the campus wants every department to have some kind of Valentine's decor. Nothing over the top. Just a few festive touches to brighten the mood."
Mei, casually spinning a pen between her fingers, raised an eyebrow. "So… we're talking flowers, ribbons, and pink crap all over the place?"
Someone across the table snorted.
"If you're not into it, feel free to let someone else handle the decorating," they teased.
"I never said I wasn't into it," Mei shot back, then nudged Adam beside her. "I just think Adam's better for this kind of thing. He's got that whole perfectionist-aesthetic energy."
The bespectacled guy, who had been quietly scribbling notes in the corner of his notebook, sighed. "I don't mind helping. Just don't dump everything on me."
Lyra chuckled from the far end of the table. "What if we split things up? Every faculty gets a student council rep to oversee the decor. That way we can keep the theme consistent."
Robin, who had been quietly doodling abstract shapes in the margin of his notes, finally spoke up. "Actually… maybe we go with a more neutral theme? Not everyone's into Valentine's. Maybe something softer—less in-your-face pink hearts everywhere."
Alton nodded. "Good point. Let's aim for elegant, not cliché."
Ideas bounced around the table. Lyra jotted down the key points. Adam started sketching rough layouts. Mei chimed in now and then with sarcastic commentary that kept the room from getting too serious. Meanwhile, Robin kept quietly doodling, but this time the scribbles were starting to look like rough concepts.
Eventually, Alton tapped the table lightly to get everyone's attention.
"Alright. Let's divide things up. Adam—you'll handle the design direction and make sure each faculty follows the same theme. Mei, Lyra, and a few others will handle the actual execution."
Mei let out a dramatic sigh. "Ugh, fine. I swear, if this gets annoying…"
Alton shot her a look, half amused. "You say that now, but I know you'll still give it 100%."
Mei rolled her eyes. Lyra laughed softly. Adam, on the other hand, was already refining his draft layouts.
"Okay," Alton continued, "unless anyone's got anything else, we'll start prep tomorrow. Keep it subtle, but let's make the Valentine vibe stick."
There was a brief pause. Then Robin raised his hand.
"Can we add, like… a surprise element? Maybe little random notes people can find around campus?"
Mei squinted at him. "Like… paper fortune cookies?"
Robin grinned. "Yeah! But not just cheesy love stuff. Maybe quotes. Uplifting messages. Something unexpected."
The room perked up. Heads nodded. The idea was simple, but it clicked.
After a few more quick exchanges, everyone agreed to include the secret-note idea.
"Alright then," Alton said, rising from his seat. "Meeting adjourned. Start prep tomorrow. Keep it tasteful."
As everyone began packing up, Mei slouched in her chair, watching Adam organize his notes with a level of focus that almost seemed excessive.
She glanced at one of his sketch pages, then smirked. "You're really into this, huh?"
Adam glanced at her over his glasses. "If we're doing it, might as well do it right."
Mei laughed under her breath and stood up. "Fine, Mr. Perfectionist. Just don't blind me with tacky colors."
Adam sighed while Lyra and Robin snickered behind them.
And just like that, preparations were quietly set in motion. Valentine's Day was coming.
They didn't know it yet, but beneath the paper hearts and soft pink lights, something else was beginning to take shape. Whether it was a memory, or something far messier—like feelings they hadn't quite figured out—none of them could say for sure.
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*** TO BE CONTINUE ***