PART 20

"Sky, give it some serious thought," Milk said. "Take three days; I want you to consider this carefully."  A few minutes later, Sky left the office, a whirlwind of conflicting emotions swirling inside him.

He saw Nani in the hallway, and called out his name, intending to share the news. But something in Nani's posture, a subtle stiffness, stopped him short. He retreated to his room, a knot of unease tightening in his stomach.

He felt a pang of guilt. Had he done something to offend Nani?  The sudden shift in their dynamic felt inexplicable. He muttered to himself, "Did I do something wrong again?"

Dew, ever perceptive, found him shortly after. "Sky, Milk talked to you, didn't she?" he asked, his voice was serious.

He nodded, confirming his suspicion. "He offered me to be her model," he explained. "I told her that I needed time to think."