A few minutes later, the door of the classroom creaked open, and in stepped Felix, his movements deliberate and calm. He strode to his seat, his strides carrying the faint air of someone still recovering from an ordeal. As he reached his desk and was about to sit, a timid voice interrupted the murmurs in the classroom.
"Thanks… for the other day."
He turned around to see his bespectacled classmate, a frail boy with a nervous demeanor, come up to him with an ice cream bar clutched in his hand. His eyes were down toward the floor; his voice low and soft but forthright. His trembling hand extended the ice cream to Felix.
Felix blinked, taken aback. "Hum… ha… you really don't have to bring anything," he said in a soft tone, trying to refuse the gesture. But the boy found courage he had never had and cut him off mid-way.
"Please, accept this," the boy pleaded, his head bowing further down, as if the weight of his gratitude could not be held upright.
The class fell silent, their collective attention drawn to the unfolding scene. Every eye was on Felix now, leaving him no choice but to relent.
"Alright," he said softly, his voice tinged with resignation. "Thanks, I'll take it then." He reached out and gently took the ice cream bar from the boy's trembling palm.
The boy nodded shyly and shuffled back to his seat, his shoulders visibly relaxing as he sat down. Felix set the ice cream bar on his desk and leaned his head into his left palm, resting his elbow on the desk. A quiet sigh escaped his lips as he tried to sink into his thoughts.
Suddenly, a familiar voice pierced through the room, half in excitement and half in relief.
"Felix! Felix!"
Felix's body tensed reflexively, and he turned toward the back door just as Milo burst in, his face alight with unrestrained emotion. Felix instinctively rose as Milo strode toward him with purpose.
"I thought you were going to die and leave me behind!" Milo exclaimed, throwing his arms around Felix in a heartfelt embrace.
"It's alright now," Felix murmured, his voice steady, as he patted Milo's back reassuringly.
Milo leaned back a bit, his hands still laid on Felix's shoulders as he took a hard scan up and down his length.
"Is everything really okay?" Milo pressed, concern etched so richly in his voice.
Felix gave him a tiny reassuring smile. "I'm fine, really."
But Milo didn't let it go. "What was wrong with you? How in the world did you get in that condition?" he pursued, gently scooting Felix back into his seat and himself perching on the desk.
Felix was momentarily at a loss for words but eventually recounted how he got injured, carefully avoiding the part about resurrection.
"That's all there is to it," he concluded in a normal tone.
He leaned back, his face thoughtful as he digested the explanation. "So that's what happened… I thought those bullies had done something to you. I almost fought them, but they kept denying it," he muttered, furrowing his brow and resting his chin on his hand as he sat in contemplation.
"I told you, I'm fine," Felix said again, this time firmer.
Just then, Felix's acute hearing detected faint footsteps in the hallway below. He straightened up slightly. "Milo, you should go back to your class. The next teacher will be here soon," he said, nodding towards the back door.
Milo snorted, his smug grin waving off his concern. "Don't worry. The teachers are having an emergency meeting. They won't be here anytime soon.
Before Felix could say anything, the front door swung open and the female teacher for the period strode in, the heels of her shoes clicking against the tiled floor.
Milo froze in his spot, turning to look from the teacher back to Felix in amazement. "Wait," he whispered in incredulity. "How would you have known the teacher just came in?
Felix's heart skipped a beat, and a thin sheen of sweat formed on his forehead. "Hah…" he stammered, searching for a response.
"Hey, boys!" The teacher's stern voice cut through the tension like a blade. "I know you're both having a reunion, but can't it wait until after class?"
Milo and Felix exchanged panicked glances as beads of sweat trickled down their faces.
The teacher's stare narrowed on Milo. "And you-out of my classroom before I help you out myself," she commanded, her tone no compromise.
Milo didn't wait for further encouragement. He raced toward the door like a criminal evading capture, his footsteps reverberating down the hall.
She now faced the class, her face a bit softened. "Good morning, class," she said, calm and composed.
"Good morning, ma'am," chorused the students.
Her eyes turned to Felix, her face a mask of concern. "Felix," she called.
"Yes, Miss Tope," he said, rising out of respect.
"How is your health?" she asked, her stern demeanor giving way to genuine care.
I'm fine now," Felix responded, his voice steady as he sat back down.
Miss Tope nodded, a barely visible smile stretching her lips. She turned to the blackboard and, with the piece of chalk in her hands, boldly inscribed Mathematics.
"Today, we'll be looking at quadratic equations," she began, launching into her lesson as the class settled into its rhythm. Questions flowed back and forth between the students and the teacher, the air buzzing with the dynamic exchange of knowledge. Felix, for the moment, couldn't help but feel the lingering gaze of curiosity from Milo's earlier outburst.
Soon, the bell for break echoed across the school, slicing through the calm and signaling a burst of activity. The once-quiet corridors became alive with chattering voices, footsteps echoing from every direction as students spilled out of their classrooms, eager to grab a bite or socialize.
In the midst of this sudden bustle, Felix, who had been seated quietly, finally composed himself after Milo's earlier question. Rising from his seat, he decided to step out and get some snacks. As he reached the classroom door, a familiar voice halted him.
"Felix!" Milo's voice carried a teasing lilt.
Felix froze mid-step, letting out a low hum of acknowledgment. His body stiffened as Milo approached, his presence all too familiar yet slightly unnerving now.
"Remember how you somehow knew the teacher was about to enter?" Milo began, his left hand casually resting on Felix's shoulder.
Felix's calm exterior cracked. A bead of sweat trickled down his temple, swiftly followed by more, as though a dam had burst.
"Since you just gained back your consciousness, your hearing must've gotten sharper, right?" Milo's tone was light, but his gaze held a hint of curiosity.
"Ye… yes," Felix stammered, forcing out the words like they were stuck in his throat.
"Alright then," Milo said with a grin, effortlessly brushing off the tension. "Let's get some snacks!" He strode ahead with purpose, leaving Felix to release a heavy sigh of relief.
Watching Milo's retreating back, Felix felt a mix of amusement and exasperation. But before he could linger on the moment, Milo turned back, waving an arm dramatically. "Come on, buddy! Break will be over soon!"
Felix's eyes widened slightly, caught off guard by the enthusiasm. He mustered a faint smile, replying with a quick, "Sure," before picking up his pace to catch up.
The two walked side by side, their conversation weaving between jokes and idle chatter. The hallway buzzed with life, students brushing past them, their laughter and footsteps creating a lively symphony. As they approached the school supermarket, a gleaming glass structure bustling with activity, Milo's pace quickened.
"Wow!" Milo exclaimed, his eyes lighting up like a child's. His gaze was fixed on a row of three limited-edition strawberry yogurt bottles displayed inside, their vibrant pink hue standing out amidst the colorful array of snacks. The movement of students inside the supermarket briefly obscured his view. Milo's heart skipped a beat as he saw one of the bottles being plucked off the shelf.
"What?!" His voice rose in panic, and without a second thought, he darted inside, determined not to miss his chance.
Felix chuckled softly at his friend's dramatic reaction, preparing to follow him when something caught his attention. A faint, unclear voice filtered through the cacophony of the break period, tugging at the edges of his sharp hearing.
His gaze instinctively shifted, scanning the distance until it landed on a familiar figure. Rose. She stood far across the school premises, her stance poised yet commanding, engaged in a conversation with a male student.
Felix's eyes narrowed, his pupils subtly dilating as he tried to piece together the scene. His gaze danced between Rose and the male , observing their expressions and body language with unexplainable intensity. The world around him seemed to blur for a moment, the lively chatter of the students fading into the background as his focus sharpened.