Hypernova : A Sequel to Supernova

Episode 2.2 - It's Time To Decide

Nine sat in the furthest corner of the quad, the stone bench half-hidden by the shade of an oak tree. His fingers absently traced the rim of his coffee cup, the liquid inside long forgotten. He stared down at the invitation for the research's launch with golden guilded letters sitting in his folder.

This whole thing was insane.

Retrieving his phone, he went to the only contact he felt he could talk to about this situation. Nine began typing, but then hesitated, watching the cursor blink in the chat thread with Jade. He frowned and deleted the message.

"I'm the one who told him I didn't want to hear about Jorah anymore." Nine reminded himself, his thumb tapping against the screen. "It doesn't matter if I saw him." He bit his bottom lip. "I don't have anything to do with him anymore. Just like he doesn't want anything to do with me."

Not placated by his own reasoning, Nine's frown deepened. "But he just ignored me. Even if things are over between us, he just acted like I never existed..." The words tasted bitter on Nine's tongue, a sharp sting spreading through his chest. He wasn't supposed to care anymore. But why did it hurt so much?

As Nine struggled with his thoughts, footsteps approached—soft, hesitant.

"Excuse me," a small voice forced him to look up. Nine glanced up to see a girl, probably a freshman, standing there with a shy, uncertain smile. In her hands, she clutched a snack wrapped in plastic which she reverently extended towards Nine . "I—I brought you this."

Nine forced a smile, glancing at the snack he knew he couldn't eat. Still, he wasn't about to crush her enthusiasm.

"That's really kind of you," he said softly, nodding in acknowledgment.

Her eyes lit up, but an awkward silence hung between them. She fidgeted with her now empty hands, clearly trying to muster the courage to say more. The pause stretched on, and Nine could feel the unease creeping up. He was used to these moments, where people didn't seem to know how to talk to him beyond his stage persona.

I... I listen to your songs all the time," she blurted out, her voice small but filled with sincerity.

"Thanks," he said again, voice quiet. Though he shifted slightly on the bench, he tried at least to maintain his easy smile and eye contact.

"Do you... miss performing?" she asked hesitantly. "Like, being on stage and everything?"

Nine bit the inside of his cheek, contemplating how to respond. Do I miss it?

He nodded, keeping it simple. "Sometimes."

Her smile faltered for a moment, and she hesitated before murmuring a rushed goodbye, clearly unsure of how to continue the conversation. Nine watched her retreat, relief washing over him as she disappeared from view. Nine sighed. It seemed not even sitting this far away from everyone could prevent him from being approached but what could he do but bear with it?

Alone once more, his eyes drifted back to the invitation. "Maybe I really should just drop out."

The words barely left his lips when Ontae's voice chimed in. "Drop out of what?"

Nine looked up to see Ontae standing over him, hands in his pockets and a curious expression on his face.

"You're here," Nine greeted with a faint smile

"I am." Ontae nodded. "Did you wait long?"

"Not really." Nine shook his head. "About ten minutes."

"Got it." Ontae tilted his head, eyes narrowing at the plastic-wrapped snack sitting on the stone table. "What's this?"