Secrets

Chapter 3 - Unexpected Surprise

As Mia exited the classroom, she barely had time to take a breath before she was swarmed.

A cluster of students closed in around her, their faces alight with curiosity. These were people she'd spoken to in passing, shared projects with, or simply nodded to in the hallways. Now, they all seemed to close ranks, their energy buzzing with excitement.

"What the—" Mia muttered, instinctively taking a step back.

"Tell us about him! What's his name? Where's he from? Is he single?!" one girl blurted out, her eyes wide with enthusiasm. The others chimed in, voices overlapping in a chorus of questions.

It hit Mia like a flash of lightning. It wasn't that no one was interested in him; they were just as captivated as she was. They were scared—too intimidated by his aloof, enigmatic aura to approach him.

His presence seemed to draw people in effortlessly, like moths to a flame, but there was an unspoken boundary, an invisible warning: Get too close, and you'll regret it.

The same force that pulled them in also kept them at arm's length.

Mia's eyes scanned the sea of eager faces, looking past them until she caught sight of Eliza standing at the edge of the crowd.

Unlike the others, Eliza's expression was guarded, her thoughtful eyes clouded with something unspoken. Her arms were crossed tightly over her chest, her usual playful demeanor replaced by a serious, almost brooding frown.

"Hey, Eliza," Mia called, seizing the chance to escape. "I thought you said you couldn't meet me after school?"

Eliza's eyes widened as all heads turned toward her, putting her squarely in the spotlight. For a moment, she looked like a deer caught in headlights.

Mia didn't wait for her to respond. She slipped through the throng of students, weaving her way toward Eliza, who offered her a strained smile as she approached.

"I took care of it already," Eliza said quickly, her voice low as the crowd began to disperse, disappointed by the lack of gossip.

"So now I'm free as a bird. Want me to walk you home? I've got to show you this sick new website—it's got the most gorgeous makeup, and it's so cheap you'll want to cry."

Her tone was light, and the excitement in her voice seemed genuine, but Mia could tell something was still off.

Yet the sight of Eliza's familiar grin eased the tightness in her chest. The knot of anxiety that had been building all day loosened, replaced by a comforting wave of relief.

"That sounds great," Mia said, returning the smile.

Together, they headed toward the school gates, leaving the lingering questions—and the boy with the forest-green eyes—behind them.

At least for now.

On their way home, Mia and Eliza's conversation flowed naturally, shifting from makeup to their favorite shows.

Soon, they were animatedly arguing over that one protagonist—the universally adored character whose sheer stupidity made them want to pull their hair out.

"He's so dumb!" Eliza exclaimed, throwing her hands in the air. "Like, how does someone that clueless survive more than two episodes?"

"That's what makes him charming!" Mia countered, laughing. "It's part of his arc, El! He's supposed to grow on you!"

"Grow on me? He's giving me gray hairs!"

Their laughter echoed down the street, a welcome distraction from the events of the day. But then, a voice cut through the air, halting them in their tracks.