9

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The afternoon sun spilled lazily across the sidewalks, casting soft gold on the narrow streets of Cyberaya. It was the kind of warm that made the pavement glow but didn't burn, and the breeze skimmed past just enough to keep it from feeling heavy. School had ended, and the usual rhythm returned: two figures walking side by side, their steps in sync, backpacks slung over shoulders, words few and far between.

Alicia's gaze flicked to the sidewalk cracks ahead of her. Step, step, step. Her fingers fidgeted slightly with the strap of her bag.

Ali finally glanced sideways. "You're quieter than usual," he said, not teasing this time. "Anything up?"

Just noticing.

"Hmm, just thinking." she responded, gaze still lingering on the sidewalk cracks. "I've been meaning to ask you something, now that I think about it."

Her expression was unreadably calm and bored, casting a heavy contrast to her thoughts. "Are you... doing better?"

His head tilted to the side. "Doing better in what sense?"

"After the mission, you know?" the words left her hesitantly, before she added, "If you're alright to talk about it."

"Hmm, quite alright. I feel the same as before." 

She drew a breath, contemplating hard. Should she? The question alone felt heavier than it had any right to. Her mind ran through a dozen different outcomes, none of them certain, none of them safe. What if he didn't say anything? Worse — what if he did, and it was exactly what she feared hearing? Honestly, she didn't even know what answer she wanted. Her thoughts tangled between the hope she refused to admit and the fear she didn't want to face.

But a flash of boldness struck her anyway—the kind that didn't feel brave, just necessary.

"...Why did you take the hit for me?" she asked, voice flat. Almost careless. The words slipped out before she could even process them, as if she wasn't the one who'd spent the entire day avoiding this very question.

Ali didn't answer immediately. He kept walking, eyes on the sidewalk ahead.

"...Would you rather I didn't? he finally said, glancing sideways at her.

There was no teasing in his voice this time. Just something quiet. Sincere.

"I would do it again if I had to," he then added, voice quieter than before.

"Just for me..?" she inquired quietly. "There's nothing in it for you, though."

"I don't really know." he shrugged. "At least you wouldn't be hurt,"

"You shouldn't care too much," she began, something quieter laced in her tone. "About me. You know?"

"Why?" he asked, a curious glint flickering in his eyes.

Her hazel eyes finally met his. 

"Because if you do... it makes me hope for something I shouldn't."

A pause lingered in the air.

Ali blinked, like her words had caught him off guard. His brows drew together, not in confusion, but in quiet thought.

"For... what?" he asked, his voice low. Not teasing. Not smug. Just... honest.

Alicia felt something inside her drop. Something break. Not like she hadn't considered this outcome — she had. A dozen times. But still, some part of her had held on to the smallest sliver of hope. An expectation she hadn't meant to grow. She looked away, jaw tightening.

"...Never mind," she said quietly, and began walking ahead again.

...

Ali sat on his bed, tablet in hand. He was on a video call with Viktor, playing Detektif Jebat. Typical. The game's familiar soundtrack filled the background, and the two were locked in their usual back-and-forth—fingers tapping fast, reflexes sharper than ever.

"Ha! Got you again," Viktor grinned from the screen, leaning back smugly in his chair as the victory animation played.

Ali sighed, flopping dramatically onto his pillows. "You've gotta be hacking. There's no way you keep winning."

"It's not hacking if it's called skill, Ali. Try it sometime," Viktor shot back, chin raised in mock pride.

Ali narrowed his eyes. "Says the guy who rage-quit last week after I wiped you out in under two minutes."

"That match doesn't count," Viktor declared. "My app glitched."

"Sure it did."

They both chuckled, the tension easing into that easy rhythm of friendship. The call continued, light banter and game sounds echoing in the room. But even as Ali queued up another round, something tugged at him — something unsettled. He hadn't been able to focus properly. Not really. Not since...

He hesitated, fingers hovering above the screen. Then finally:

"Hey, Viktor... can I ask you something?"

Viktor blinked. "You? Asking for help? Historic. Should I be screen-recording this?"

"I'm serious."

That got Viktor to sit up a little straighter. "Okay, okay. What's up?"

Ali didn't look at the screen right away. He stared at his tablet, hesitant, then finally glanced back up.

"Is it just me, or is Alicia acting... different recently?"

Viktor paused. "...What do you mean?"

"I don't know. She said something earlier."

Viktor's curiosity piqued. "Come on, spill it. Don't leave me hanging."

He hesitated. "She said something about not caring too much for her, if not, it'd make her hope for something she shouldn't."

Viktor froze for a second, blinking slowly. The playful glint in his eyes dimmed just a little — replaced by something far more thoughtful.

"Oh," he said, tone shifting. "She actually said that?"

Ali gave a small nod.

Viktor leaned closer to the screen, his usual smirk gone. "Ali, listen to me. She's not the type to say things like that unless she means it. Like, really means it. She's not exactly a poet, you know?"

Ali was quiet. A lecture on Alicia and her feelings. Simply wonderful.

"She's not great with feelings. Never has been," Viktor continued. "So if she's saying stuff like that, it's probably been sitting in her mind for a while. And trust me, that's not easy for her to admit."

Ali's gaze lowered. The words repeated in his head — it makes me hope for something I shouldn't.

"So... what do I do?"

Viktor let out a breath. "Well, for starters, don't brush it off. You don't have to say anything yet — not if you're not sure. But don't leave her in the dark either. If you don't feel the same, be honest... gently. And if you do..." He raised an eyebrow. "Then stop being dense and do something about it."

Ali groaned, hiding his face in a pillow. "Why does this feel harder than a history test and a surprise oral presentation combined?"

Viktor laughed. "Because you can't dodge emotions with quick reflexes."

"So, what do I do? Apologise?"

"You could. Well... do you like her?"

Surprisingly, Ali realised he'd never really thought about that. He had always brushed it off whenever someone asked or teased him about Alicia. He'd been completely oblivious to her feelings — that much he was sure of. All he ever did was care for her, like he would for anyone else.

But deep down, in a corner of his mind he didn't like to poke too hard, he knew, she did hold some kind of 'special' title to him.

"I don't know, honestly. I never thought about it."

"You act like you do."

"I just care for her, nothing much."

Viktor leaned closer to the screen, grinning. "So you're saying she's... special?"

Ali frowned. "I didn't say that."

"You kinda did. You're literally talking about her like she's built different."

"I'm just—concerned."

"Concerned," Viktor repeated, clearly amused. "You get 'concerned' when I don't return your pen. This is not that."

Ali sighed, rubbing his temple. "You're reading too much into it."

"I'm just saying, if I had a ring for every time you mentioned Alicia, I could propose for you."

"Viktor—"

"Do you think about her when you're not talking to her? Do you walk a little slower so you two end up side by side? Do you look at her and randomly forget what planet you're on?"

Ali groaned, throwing his head back. "Can you not—"

"I can, but I won't."

Ali stayed quiet, until finally, he muttered under his breath,"...I just can't like her, okay?"

Viktor blinked. "Wait—what do you mean you can't—?"

From Viktor's side of the call, a voice suddenly rang out. "VIKTOR! COME DOWN TO EAT ALREADY!"

He let out the loudest sigh. "Gotta go. But we're not done, lover boy."

The call ended.

And Ali was left staring at the screen before sighing, wishing he hadn't said anything at all. So, what do I do? Apologise? You could. Well... do you like her? ...Apologise, huh. He got up and headed to pick up his phone. He swiped open the lock screen, then entered his chat with Alicia. He then began typing out his message.

[Ali]Hello Alicia. Are you alright?Eh, seems good enough to start off. Now, moving on to the apology...

[Ali]I'm sorry about earlier. I should've 

Huh. Should've what..?

[Ali]I'm sorry about earlier. I should've considered your feelings too.

Good enough. Oh—she was online—and typing too. All he can do is stare at his phone screen and wait for her to respond from the other side. Not very helpful to think of, but enough to shorten the wait.

[Alicia]You're so dense. should I forgive?

Well, on the bright side, at least she didn't seem too serious.

[Ali] Probably not. But I hope you do anyway.

A pause. Then, her reply popped up.

[Alicia] ...I'll think about it.

By the looks of how the conversation went, the boy could only reassure himself that he wouldn't be met with dagger-like glares the next day.

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Interesting much?