Movement I: Lines of Fault

  Phrase I: Switching Seats

  The door to

  The lights hit him before the door even fully clicked shut.

  Too bright.

  Too open.

  Kai sighed.

  He already had his expectations.

  But—

  Someone was sitting near the back.

  In row.

  Kai’s feet hesitated.

  The guy didn’t look up.

  His hood was up and he was hunched forward.

  Like he was trying to shrink.

  But even sitting down…

  he was still...

  Tall.

  Kai lowered his eyes and began moving to same seat as before—just two chairs over.

  His bag slid to the floor, and he sat.

  The room buzzed with light conversation.

  People coughed.

  A door creaked.

  Chairs scraped.

  Kai propped his elbows on the desk and rested his chin in his hands.

  —Kai felt his body jolt back to reality, his ears ringing.

  He turned—

  The chair was empty.

  Kai blinked.

  Still empty.

  He looked across the room.

  Only faded mumbles and echoed whispers.

  He looked across the row.

  He felt his nose scrunch before he saw—

  There he was.

  Near the far wall, in the back row.

  Same jacket.

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  Same presence.

  Same hood, still up.

  Alone.

  Kai’s lips parted.

  And closed again.

  Kai hadn’t noticed him move.

  His gaze dropped to the desk.

  He slowly spun his pen around his fingers.

  Class blurred.

  Not because it was fast—the opposite.

  The lecture continued over bullet points.

  The slides shifted before anyone could finish reading.

  The professor’s voice rose and fell without urgency.

  Kai stared ahead.

  He hadn’t taken notes.

  His eyes drifted back to the chair again.

  Still empty.

  Kai tapped his pen against his lip.

  Kai frowned.

  A thought lodged in his chest.

  Kai quietly raised his arm and sniffed.

  His jaw tightened slightly.

  He shifted in his seat.

  Kai wiped his hand over his face.

  "Ugh."

  The professor dismissed the class with a dry "That’s all for today,"

  followed by a reminder that Kai couldn't hear.

  Chairs shifted.

  Bags zipped.

  The room rustled, finally awake.

  Kai gathered his things.

  Then glanced over—

  The tall guy was already moving.

  Straight through the door.

  His eyes were fixed forward like they didn't see anyone.

  No glances.

  No words.

  Not to Kai.

  Not to anyone.

  It felt too sharp to be accidental.

  Kai blinked once.

  The hair on his neck stood up.

  Kai had no thoughts.

  He only felt a pit in his stomach.

  He stayed frozen in place.

  His bag slipped off his shoulder.