As Rhian dragged his tired body back to his dorm, sleep on his mind and food somewhere after that, the last thing he expected was to feel a hand slap the back of his head.
It wasn't painful.
But it was enough to instantly piss him off, in his already tired and little patient state.
His body turned automatically, ready to swing or at least yell, whatever strength he had left was about to be used on whoever just decided to test him.
Only to see that familiar, annoying grin staring right at him.
Ash.
The same ashy blonde hair. The same smug look like he'd been waiting all day just to annoy Rhian for fun.
Rhian stared at him for a moment, completely unamused, before letting out a long, deep sigh. The kind of sigh that said 'I should have known'.
Ash clicked his tongue, walking alongside him without asking.
"What's with the zombie walk?" Ash asked casually, looking him up and down like he was examining a dead man. "Did your muscle mommy beat you harder than I thought? Should I report domestic abuse or are you into that?"
Rhian didn't even respond.
He just kept walking.
Silence was easier.
Ash threw an arm lazily over his shoulder, dragging his feet along like he had nowhere else to be.
"You hungry? You look like you're about to eat a brick wall."
Rhian yawned without covering his mouth, too tired to even fake manners.
"I'll eat later…" he muttered.
Ash raised a brow. "Later? You sound like you're dying now."
Rhian didn't answer, just kept walking, making his way toward the dorms while ignoring Ash's nonstop commentary right beside him.
If there was one thing certain in this new life of his… it was that annoyance had a name.
And it was Ash.
For all of Ash's loud mouth and constant teasing, Rhian couldn't bring himself to actually be mad at him.
Ash was... harmless.
Annoying? Absolutely.
But harmless.
He wasn't trying to look cool. He wasn't trying to act better than anyone. He was just being himself, naturally loud, naturally... stupid, and naturally everywhere.
And honestly, after everything that happened today, that wasn't the worst company to have.
Ash must've noticed Rhian's drained state too because, for once, he toned himself down. He walked beside Rhian without throwing more jokes, just quietly matching his pace.
It was peaceful.
Until Rhian spotted someone ahead.
Someone familiar.
A little bit of energy returned to his legs when he recognized the figure.
Kye.
The same Kye he'd come with from the outskirts, after they separated at the reception, he hadn't run into even once.
Rhian hadn't thought much about it, after all, the academy was huge, probably different schedules, different classes, but seeing him now, standing near the path like he was waiting or maybe just finished his own thing, brought a small comfort.
Rhian lifted his hand lazily in greeting.
Rhian felt that bit of relief.
After all, Kye seemed like a good guy.
'Maybe I can introduce him to Ash and Aras,' Rhian thought, a small spark of thought running through his head.
Seeing Kye not reacting to him at first, Rhian figured maybe he didn't notice him. He did look like a walking corpse after all. So without thinking much of it, Rhian called out casually as he walked over.
"Yo, Kye."
Ash raised a brow, curiosity rising. "Friend of yours?"
Rhian nodded without hesitation. "Yeah, we came from the outskirts together."
Ash looked mildly impressed, probably expecting someone with a similar vibe to Rhian. But what happened next wasn't what either of them expected.
Kye turned his head slowly, locking eyes with Rhian.
For a second, Rhian thought nothing of it, just a casual greeting between two guys from the same place.
But Kye's face… told a completely different story.
There was no recognition, but he did have clear disdain.
Just the sharp, dismissive look of someone staring at something beneath them. A look that didn't even see Rhian as a person worth nodding to.
And just like that, Kye turned away.
As if Rhian was just another nobody on the street.
Insignificant.
Forgettable.
Rhian slowed for a second, staring blankly. Confused didn't even begin to cover it.
'...What?'
Did something happen?
He thought they were cool. They didn't talk much, sure, but they came from the same place, shared the same bus, even talked a little. Kye's dad had literally asked them to look after each other.
'I shared my bread with him'
Ash noticed it, too.
And for the first time, Ash wasn't smiling.
He frowned, glancing at Rhian, then at Kye's retreating back.
Ash opened his mouth, probably ready to say something or call the guy out, but then stopped.
Realization hit him fast.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
Rhian had just come from Evolved Class.
The class only Cursed were placed in.
Ash scratched his head, clicking his tongue like it all finally clicked.
'Damn… so that's how it is.'
He leaned in closer to Rhian, voice low but honest.
"I think news about you being a Cursed is already spreading," Ash whispered.
Rhian's eyes widened a little. That… made sense. Way too much sense. The stares, the odd looks on the way back, even Kye's reaction, it wasn't random.
It wasn't personal either.
People didn't need a reason after that.
Rhian kept walking without a word, but the confusion was gone now. His face was blank, his thoughts sharper.
'So this is how it is...'
This was going to be his life now.
'To think I even shared my bread'