The Heartless 🖤

Ming v/s Outcast

Answer of the previous chapter's riddle: Piano 🤣🤣🤣
First one to give right answer is @hollypolly222

🕳🕳🕳🕳🕳🕳🕳🕳🕳🕳🕳🕳🕳🕳🕳🕳
Joe's (POV)

I always liked the back compound garden of the Engineering block. It was quiet, isolated, and perfect for sneaking in a peaceful nap between classes. No one ever came to disturb me here but now...
Ever since the whole outcast thing happened, this place had become less mine and more of a shared space with Dew and Col. Not that I was selfish or anything, but it wasn't the same anymore. I couldn't just come here, close my eyes, and disappear into sleep like I used to.

And right now, lying on the bench with my eyes closed, I was reminded of exactly why. Dew was sitting next to me with a soda can in his hand scrolling Instagram, completely unaware or unconcerned about the fact that I was trying to nap. I can bear with this sound but soon Col will appear and-

"Hey guys exam results are out!", here he comes... I heard the cheerful voice of Col as he made his way to us.

"It seems that you scored good! being all jumpy like this.", Dew remarked while opening another can 🥫.

"Of course I did! What about you two? Your result is out or not?", he replied taking seat next to Dew.

"Result is out and guess what, I passed.", I heard Dew reply as I imagined the kind of triumphant expressions on his face.

"Wow congrats man!", Col said. I heard the clinking of cans, Dew might have given him one.

"What about you Joe?", he asked and God why they are involving me in their chit chat. Can't they see am sleeping 😴. They have already disturbed me with their loud voices.

I could feel Col's gaze shift over to me, but I kept my eyes firmly shut, hoping they'd forget I was even here. No such luck.

"Hey are you sleeping?" Col asked, nudging my leg like he was trying to wake me from a real nap. "How'd you do in the exams?"

I didn't move, hoping he'd drop it. But I could hear Dew snicker beside me, and I knew it was too late. My moment of peace was officially over.

Col must've noticed the annoyed expression that crossed my face, because the next thing I heard was his voice again, but this time with a teasing edge. "Wait, Joe... did you even pass?"

Dew choked on his drink, liquid sputtering everywhere as he coughed and laughed all at once. He barely caught his breath before he clapped Col on the back. "Pass? Dude, Joe's marks are enough to pass five students like us."

I could feel the heat rising in my face. Dew always had this way of turning a simple moment into a full-blown embarrassment.

"Shut up, Dew," I muttered, opening my eyes just long enough to glare at him.

Dew grinned, completely unfazed by my irritation. "Hey, I'm just stating facts. You're the genius here, not me. I'm still trying to figure out how you even have time to study with all the stuff you're dealing with."

I sighed and sat up, knowing that if I didn't shut him up soon, he'd never stop. But before I could get a word in, a familiar voice called out across the garden.

"Joe!"

I froze, my head snapping toward the sound. May's voice was unmistakable, and just like that, Dew and Col stopped laughing.

My first instinct was to tell her to go away. I don't want anyone to see her with us, but something stopped me. The way she moved, her face-something wasn't right. Her usual confident stride was missing, replaced by hesitant, uneven steps. Her shoulders were slumped, her eyes wide with panic, darting between us like she was trying to hold herself together but didn't know how.