Silent Affection

Chapter 4: Breaking the Silence

The school library was nearly empty when Kiomie arrived the next day. The usual hum of students had died down, leaving only the sound of quiet footsteps and the occasional rustle of pages being turned. Kiomie walked to her usual table in the back, her heart beating a little faster than normal.

Theo was already there, seated with his back to the window, his expression calm as ever. He had a notebook open in front of him and a copy of The Great Gatsby on the table. When he saw her approach, he gave a small nod, acknowledging her presence.

“Hey,” Kiomie greeted, setting her things down and sliding into the seat across from him. She wasn’t sure why, but something about being alone with Theo made her more nervous than she expected. Maybe it was the quiet way he observed everything, or the fact that she still didn’t really know much about him, even after all these years.

“Hey,” Theo replied, his voice low and steady. He glanced at the book in front of him. “So, I thought we could focus on the theme of unspoken emotions—how the characters never really say what they’re feeling, but it’s obvious in their actions.”

Kiomie nodded, trying to focus on the task at hand. “Yeah, that makes sense. Gatsby’s whole life revolves around Daisy, but he never outright says it until the end. It’s all just… implied.”

Theo’s eyes lingered on her for a moment longer than necessary before he looked down at his notes. “Exactly. Silence says a lot more than words sometimes.”

Kiomie’s stomach flipped at his comment. It felt like there was something more behind his words, but she couldn’t be sure. Was she reading too much into it? Theo had always been hard to read, and this moment was no exception. He seemed so at ease, but there was something about him that made her feel like there were layers she hadn’t yet seen.

They settled into a rhythm, discussing the book and taking notes. Theo was more talkative than she had expected, offering insights that made her see the novel in a new light. Kiomie found herself relaxing as the conversation flowed naturally between them. The project didn’t feel like a burden anymore—it felt… enjoyable.

After nearly an hour of discussing themes, character motivations, and silent emotions, Kiomie realized she was smiling. She hadn’t expected to feel this comfortable with Theo. He wasn’t distant or cold like she had assumed—he was thoughtful, observant, and quietly kind.

As they finished drafting their outline, Theo leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms casually. “You’re good at this,” he said, surprising her.

Kiomie blinked, caught off guard by the compliment. “At what?”

“Breaking things down. Understanding what’s really going on beneath the surface,” Theo replied, his gaze steady. “Most people just focus on what’s obvious. You see more than that.”

Her cheeks warmed at his words. She had always prided herself on paying attention to details, but hearing Theo acknowledge it made her feel seen in a way she hadn’t expected.

“Thanks,” she said quietly. “I just… I like trying to understand things. People, too. Even when they’re hard to figure out.”

Theo’s eyes darkened slightly, a flicker of something unreadable passing across his face. For a moment, it felt like he was on the verge of saying something important, but then he hesitated, the silence between them growing heavy.

Before she could ask what was on his mind, Theo’s phone buzzed on the table, breaking the moment. He glanced at the screen and frowned slightly.

“Sorry, I have to go,” he said, standing up and gathering his things. “Something came up.”

Kiomie tried not to feel disappointed as she nodded. “Yeah, sure. No problem.”

He paused, his expression softening just a little as he looked at her. “We’ll meet again tomorrow?”

Kiomie nodded, offering a small smile. “Yeah, same time?”

“Same time,” Theo agreed. Then, without another word, he turned and left the library, disappearing as quietly as he had arrived.

As she watched him go, Kiomie couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to Theo Adler than she had realized. He wasn’t just the quiet boy at the back of the classroom. He was thoughtful, perceptive, and… complicated.

And for the first time, she found herself wanting to break through that silence, to see what lay beneath the calm exterior he always presented.

Maybe there was more to him than anyone had ever noticed.