Silent Affection

Chapter 2: A Glance That Lingers

The afternoon sun streamed through the large windows of the school library, casting soft light across the rows of books. Kiomie sat at her usual table near the back, surrounded by textbooks and notebooks. She was supposed to be studying, but her mind kept drifting, as it often did these days, toward Theo Adler.

She hadn’t spoken a word to him, not since they started high school three years ago. They shared several classes, often in the same room, yet the gap between them felt enormous. It was ridiculous, really. How could someone she had never even spoken to occupy so much of her thoughts?

Nora had gone to a club meeting, leaving Kiomie to study alone. The stillness of the library usually helped her focus, but today her mind wandered, imagining what Theo was like when he wasn’t surrounded by silence.

A quiet rustle broke her thoughts, and Kiomie glanced up. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw him—Theo. He was in the library, too, standing a few rows away, scanning the shelves. She hadn’t expected to see him here, in this peaceful corner where she often sought refuge. He was supposed to exist only in the halls, in the classroom, or in the distance.

For a moment, she watched him. His tall figure was relaxed, his gaze focused as he scanned the spines of the books. There was something calming about the way he moved, deliberate and thoughtful. The way he was entirely in his own world, oblivious to the chatter and noise of everything around him.

Suddenly, as if sensing her gaze, Theo turned slightly, his eyes locking onto hers.

Kiomie froze, her breath catching in her throat. For what felt like a long moment, neither of them moved. Theo’s dark eyes were steady, almost curious, as if he was silently wondering why she was looking at him. But there was no hostility or discomfort in his gaze. Just… calm.

Kiomie quickly looked down at her notebook, her heart racing. Great, now he probably thinks I’m staring at him like a weirdo. She forced herself to focus on the math problems in front of her, though her mind was anything but focused.

After a few minutes, she risked another glance in Theo’s direction, but he had moved, disappearing somewhere between the shelves. She sighed, feeling both relieved and disappointed. There was no way he hadn’t noticed her staring at him. Now, if he ever did speak to her, it would be awkward.

Trying to push the encounter from her mind, Kiomie buried herself in her notes, determined to get some studying done. But not even five minutes later, a shadow fell across her table, and she looked up to see Theo standing there, holding a book in his hand.

Her breath caught again. He was… here. Right in front of her. She hadn’t expected him to approach.

“Is this seat taken?” His voice was soft, low, almost surprising in its warmth.

Kiomie blinked, her brain taking a second too long to process what was happening. “Uh, no,” she stammered. “It’s free.”

Theo nodded and sat down across from her, placing the book on the table. It was one of the novels from the school’s literature section. He opened it and began reading, as if it was the most natural thing in the world to sit with her.

Kiomie stared at him for a moment, unsure what to do or say. This was the closest she had ever been to him. She could see the subtle lines of concentration on his face as his eyes scanned the page, his expression neutral and calm. The silence between them was heavy, but not uncomfortable.

Minutes passed, and Theo remained focused on his book, while Kiomie struggled to concentrate on her work. Finally, unable to hold back her curiosity, she spoke.

“You… like to read?”

Theo looked up from his book, his eyes meeting hers again. There was a brief pause before he responded. “Yeah. It helps me think.”

Kiomie nodded, not sure what else to say. It was such a simple answer, but it felt like a window into the quiet world he inhabited. A part of her wanted to ask him more—what kind of books he liked, what he thought about in the silence. But another part of her was too nervous to push further.

Theo must have sensed her uncertainty, because he offered a small smile, something so subtle it might have gone unnoticed if she wasn’t paying attention. “Do you come here often?” he asked, surprising her again.

Kiomie swallowed. “Yeah, it’s kind of my go-to spot. It’s quiet.”

“I noticed,” he said, closing his book. “You like the quiet, too.”

It wasn’t a question, more of an observation. Kiomie found herself nodding before she even realized it. “Yeah… I guess I do.”

Theo’s gaze lingered on her for a moment longer before he stood up, slipping the book under his arm. “I’ll see you around, Kiomie.”

Before she could respond, he was already walking away, leaving her sitting there with her heart racing and a thousand questions swirling in her mind.

As Theo disappeared through the library doors, Kiomie couldn’t help but wonder if this was just a coincidence. Or if, maybe, there was more to the way Theo seemed to notice her than she had ever realized.