WHISPER

Chapter 5

"I'll wait..."

For the next few days, Éris was all I could think about. His name lingered in my mind like a song I couldn't stop replaying. Every time I tried to distract myself with schoolwork or my newfound friendship with Nathan and his friends, thoughts of Éris crept back in. Why did he tell me to stay away from him? Why did he say it was for my own good?

I didn't want to admit it, but I was already in too deep. Whatever Éris was hiding, I was determined to find out.

I sat at my desk, staring blankly at my textbook. It was no use—I couldn't focus. With a sigh, I closed the book and grabbed my phone. I had been avoiding texting Nathan, unsure of how to explain what had happened with Éris, but I knew he might have answers. After all, they all seemed to know something I didn't.

Frustrated and restless, I decided to head out for a walk. It was Saturday, and with no classes, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to clear my head and maybe pick up a few things from the store. The cool air felt refreshing against my skin as I threw on my jacket and slipped into my shoes, hoping the walk would distract me from my racing thoughts.

As I wandered through the aisles of the small corner store, I scanned the shelves absentmindedly. My mind was still on Éris, and I was starting to question why I couldn't just let it go. That's when I saw him.

Éris was there, standing just a few feet away from me, casually browsing through some snacks. My heart skipped a beat, and for a moment, I froze. I knew it was wrong to approach him. He had made it clear that staying away was the best option, but seeing him there, so close, made it impossible for me to resist.

I grabbed a few essentials—bread, some snacks, and an orange juice—and made my way to the counter. As I stood there, an idea popped into my head, one I didn't fully think through. Before I could stop myself, I handed the orange juice to the cashier.

"Could you give this to that guy over there when he comes up to pay for his things?" I asked, glancing over at Éris.

The cashier gave me a curious look but nodded in agreement. I paid for my groceries and quickly left the store, my heart racing. I wasn't sure what I was expecting to happen—maybe nothing—but I just felt like I needed to do something to break the ice. To show him that I wasn't going to disappear so easily.

As I was walking, I heard a voice call out, "Hey, wait!" I knew it was him. My heart skipped a beat, but I kept walking, though I slowed down, almost like I was hesitating. He caught up to me quickly, his footsteps steady behind me.

"Why did you do that?" Éris asked, his voice low but demanding.

I felt the weight of his words, but I couldn't bring myself to look at him. My eyes stayed fixed on the pavement in front of me, unsure of what to say. I didn't know why I had done it. Maybe I was trying to get his attention. Maybe I just wanted some kind of reaction from him—anything to pull him closer instead of pushing me away.

"I... don't know," I finally muttered, my voice barely audible.

Éris sighed, and I could feel his gaze burning into me, making me nervous and unsure. "You should stay away from me," he said, but his tone wasn't harsh. There was something else in his voice—something that almost sounded like regret.

I clenched my fists, frustrated by his words. "Why? Why do you keep saying that? What is it you're hiding?" I blurted out, finally turning to face him. His expression was unreadable, his eyes guarded, as if he was holding back a thousand things he wanted to say but couldn't.

"It's for your own good," he said, his voice firm but not unkind.

"That's not an answer," I shot back, feeling a mix of anger and desperation well up inside me. "You keep saying that, but you won't explain why! You saved me that night, and now you're telling me to stay away? I don't understand, Éris. I just want to know the truth."