Red String

Chapter 5 - Misunderstandings

The morning sun spilled over the corridors of Saint Elysia High, catching the polished floors and bouncing off the rows of lockers. The usual chatter and laughter of students filled the halls as Rose Blanc walked in, clutching her notebook tightly to her chest. Her steps were light, her smile natural, even though the echo of Kevin's teasing from yesterday still lingered in her mind.

She greeted friends along the way, stopping briefly to tease Adrian about his perpetually disorganized backpack and giving Mica a playful nudge as she adjusted her own notebooks. "Morning, Mica! Did you finally remember your pencil case this time?" Rose asked, her voice carrying warmth and teasing simultaneously.

Mica laughed softly, shaking her head. "Barely," she replied, rolling her eyes. "You're relentless, you know that?"

Rose grinned, shrugging. "Someone has to keep the morning lively." She adjusted her glasses and glanced toward the back of the room, where he usually sat.

Clei Mendez was there, as always, calm, composed, and quietly observant. He wasn't actively engaging with anyone, just flipping through his notes in a precise, measured way. His posture was relaxed but alert, a habitual balance that had always made him seem present and distant all at once. To Rose, it was both frustrating and compelling. She didn't understand why she kept noticing him, why his quiet focus drew her attention so easily.

Kevin, as usual, appeared like a shadow, leaning casually against her desk with a smirk. "Hey, Rose. Still working with the quiet guy? You two must be best friends by now. Or... dating?"

Rose rolled her eyes and muttered under her breath, "Kevin, stop."

"Relax," he said, leaning in slightly. "I'm just observing. You act like he notices everything you do. Just be careful—people might get the wrong idea."

Rose frowned. Wrong idea? She looked over toward Clei. He was calmly flipping through his notebook, expression neutral, completely unbothered.

He doesn't notice me... right? she thought, uncertainty tugging at her.

By the time the first period ended, Rose had tried to brush off Kevin's words, but a small unease lingered. She packed her things and made her way to the library for their group project, determined to focus on the work rather than the teasing.

The library was quiet, the soft hum of air conditioning blending with the occasional rustle of pages and low whispers from other students. Rose found the table where Clei and Evan had already set up. Evan glanced up from his laptop and gave a small grin. "Looks like you're here to compete for his attention again," he whispered, smirking.

Rose rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress a small smile. "I'm here to finish the project," she replied softly.

Clei sat across from her, quietly arranging his notes with precise movements. He didn't look at her unless necessary, and when he did, it was always calm, measured, never overly expressive. His neutrality was consistent, but it was oddly reassuring. Unlike Kevin's teasing, which felt exaggerated and loud, Clei's presence had a weightless stability that somehow made her feel noticed without pressure.

Rose set her laptop down and opened the outline for their presentation. She started typing quickly, fingers dancing over the keys, trying to organize the points efficiently. As she worked, she became aware of the subtle presence of Clei beside her, flipping through the notes she had scattered across the table.

"Uh... is this okay?" she asked nervously, pointing to the reorganized outline he had placed neatly in front of her.

Clei glanced up briefly, his tone calm and even. "This layout is more logical. It will make the presentation clearer." He returned to his own work without adding another word.