Angelo sat on the tutorial center's rooftop, his hands tucked inside his hoodie pockets as he stared at the sunset. The world was quiet up here. Below, the chatter of students gradually faded as they left for the day. He preferred it like this—alone, with only the sky and his thoughts.
Well, almost alone.
"Skipping classes again?" Jade's voice cut through the silence.
He didn't look at her. "I didn't skip. I just… left early."
Jade sat beside him, her sewing kit in hand. She had been learning tailoring for a while now, though Angelo often joked that she spent more time scolding him than actually sewing.
"You're impossible," she muttered, threading a needle. "One day, you'll get kicked out, and I'll be the only one left to say 'I told you so.'"
"I'd still find a way to ignore you," he replied lazily.
Jade flicked his forehead, and he swatted at her hand.
The two sat in comfortable silence for a while. The sky darkened, city lights flickering to life.
Then, Jade spoke again. "Are you okay?"
Angelo hesitated.
He had been having strange dreams lately—fragments of memories he couldn't place, voices he didn't recognize, and a deep, gnawing feeling that he had forgotten something important.
"I'm fine," he lied.
Jade didn't believe him, but she didn't push.
Instead, she held up a piece of fabric. "What do you think? I made this for my younger brother."
Angelo studied the cloth. It was simple but well-stitched. "Looks good," he admitted.
Jade smiled. "Maybe I'll make you something someday."
He smirked. "Like what? A blanket so I can sleep more?"
"I was thinking a muzzle so you'll stop talking nonsense."
They both laughed.
For a brief moment, Angelo forgot about the weight in his chest.
---
Later that night, he lay in bed, staring at the ceiling.
The dreams came again.
He was somewhere cold. Dark.
A voice echoed—his own, yet not.
"You are waking up."
Angelo turned, but the dream shattered before he could see anything.
He woke up with a sharp breath.
His phone buzzed.
A message from JJ: "Exam timetable's out. You're gonna fail if you don't start studying."
Angelo groaned.
Maybe he should start paying attention in class.
Or maybe he'd just wing it, like always.
---
The next morning, Angelo found himself at the tutorial center, staring at the notice board. The timetable was pinned up, and it looked as dreadful as he expected.
He felt a nudge from behind.
Eli leaned in. "So? You ready for the exams?"
"I was born ready," Angelo said with a confident grin.
"You haven't opened your notes since the semester started."
"Exactly. My brain is a clean slate. I won't be confused by useless information."
Eli sighed. "That's not how it works."
Jade, who had appeared beside them, scoffed. "Let him be. Maybe failing will finally teach him a lesson."
Angelo rolled his eyes. "You guys have no faith in me."
"We have too much faith in reality," Eli corrected.
Before Angelo could retort, another voice cut in.
"You guys are always so loud."
They turned to see Theo, a quiet but sharp-tongued student from their class. He rarely spoke unless he had something sarcastic to add.
Angelo smirked. "And yet, you're always here listening."
Theo ignored him, shoving his hands in his pockets. "You're going to fail."
Angelo feigned offense. "You too? You people act like I have no academic potential."
Jade snorted. "You don't."
Angelo dramatically clutched his chest. "I have feelings, you know."
Eli checked his watch. "Come on. We have class."
Angelo groaned. "Let's just go home."
Jade grabbed him by the collar. "No. You are coming with us."
Despite his complaints, Angelo allowed himself to be dragged away.
---
By lunchtime, he was already regretting his life choices.
He slumped onto a cafeteria chair, glaring at his plate of food. "I swear, this rice looks like something out of a horror movie."
JJ, who had joined them, snorted. "It's just rice, man."
"Is it?" Angelo poked at it with his fork.
Theo, who sat across from him, shook his head. "You're so dramatic."
"Life is dramatic," Angelo shot back.
Eli leaned forward. "So, are you actually going to study?"
Angelo sighed. "I guess I have no choice."
Jade smirked. "Good. Because I already made you a study plan."
Angelo choked on his drink. "What?"
"You need help, and I'm not letting you slack off."
JJ grinned. "This is going to be fun."
"For you," Angelo muttered.
As the group continued their banter, Angelo felt a strange sense of normalcy.
For a moment, he forgot about the dreams, the strange whispers in his head, and the nagging feeling that something was missing.
Maybe—just maybe—life wasn't so bad.
At least, not yet.