Kal and Ed collided in the narrow school hallway, shoulders brushing just enough to spark irritation.
ED frowned first.
“You?
What are you doing here?
Shouldn’t you be in the meeting?” Kel barely slowed his pace, hands still in his pockets.
“I was with a teacher.
He wanted to discuss something.” His eyes flicked toward Kal, sharp and unimpressed.
“What about you?
Since when do you wander during class?” ED clicked his tongue.
“Ana wasn’t in class.
I got fed up sitting there.” There was something in his tone—too quick, too defensive.
Ed noticed.
“Jealous?” Ed muttered under his breath, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.
“You can’t just roam around because of that.
Go back.” Kal’s expression darkened.
“Say that again.” The tension between them tightened, like a rope pulled too far.
Another second and it would’ve snapped into a full argument— —but Kal suddenly stopped.
Mid-step.
Mid-breath.
His eyes shifted past Ed.
Ed frowned.
“What now?” He turned, irritation still lingering— —and then he saw her.
Ana.
She was walking toward them slowly.
Her uniform was soaked, the fabric clinging uncomfortably to her skin.
Drops of soda slid from her sleeves, sticky and glistening under the hallway lights.
Her hair was damp, strands stuck to her face.
And yet— her expression was empty.
Not sad.
Not angry.
Just… hollow.
Until her eyes lifted.
And landed on them.
Everything changed in that instant.
Ed felt something snap inside him.
“Ana—” Both he and Kal moved at the same time, rushing toward her.
Kal was the first to reach her, immediately shrugging off his coat and placing it around her shoulders, his hands lingering just a second longer than necessary—as if making sure she was real, unharmed.
“What happened?” His voice was tight, controlled anger barely held back.
“Who did this?
How did this happen?” Ed wasn’t as restrained.
His fists clenched, jaw locked.
“Who did this to you?” The question came out like a threat.
Ana looked at them.
For a moment, something flickered in her eyes—exhaustion, irritation… something much deeper.
Then it froze over.
“Leave me alone.” Her voice was low.
Cold.
Both of them stiffened.
“I’m already at my peak of anger,” she continued, her gaze sharp enough to cut.
“Don’t make it worse.” A pause.
“Don’t you dare interfere in my business.” She didn’t wait for a response.
She walked past them—straight ahead, toward the bathroom—her steps steady, unhurried, as if nothing had happened.
As if they didn’t matter.
Silence swallowed the hallway.
Ed’s hands trembled slightly at his sides.
“Is this… normal here?” His voice dropped, dangerous.
“Is this how this school treats her?” Kal dragged a hand down his face, frustration bleeding through.
“I… don’t know.
This is the first time I’ve seen something like this.” Ed turned sharply.
“Then figure it out.” Kal glanced at him.
Ed’s expression was dark.
Unforgiving.
“Even if you didn’t say it,” Kal replied quietly, “I was going to.” Ed didn’t respond.
He just walked away.
“Tell me when you find out.” Kal stood there alone.
The hallway felt heavier now.
His fists clenched.
“…Why didn’t I know?” The words came out as a whisper.
He had heard rumors before.
Ugly ones.
He had even tried dealing with them quietly, from the shadows—thinking that was enough.
It wasn’t.
Not if this was happening right in front of him.
“Ana… why didn’t you tell me?” His frustration turned inward.
“If you had just said something… I would’ve—” His sentence broke.
His fist slammed into the wall.
The dull thud echoed.
— Inside the bathroom, Ana stood in front of the mirror.
Drops of soda slid from her chin, falling into the sink one by one.
She stared at her reflection.
And for a moment— she wasn’t seeing herself.
She was seeing a memory.
A chair scraping loudly.
A sudden splash.
Laughter.
The sharp urge to react—to fight back, to break something, someone— Her hand twitched.
But she had stopped herself.
Again.
“It’s only been four or five days…” she murmured under her breath.
Four or five days since she had entered this life.
This body.
This girl.
Ana.
A quiet life.
A normal life.
A life where she was bullied… and endured it.
“If I lose control now…” she whispered, her fingers pressing lightly against the mirror, “…everything will change.” People would notice.They would question her The sudden shift.
And attention— was the last thing she needed.
Her reflection stared back at her.
Weak.
Tired.
But not broken.
“…Maybe it’s time to change.” Her voice softened.
“If I keep living like this… survival is impossible.” A pause.
Then, quieter— “Let’s change.
Slowly.” — Two weeks later.
Morning light filtered through the trees in the park.
Ana’s breath came out uneven as she pushed herself up from the ground again—arms trembling, muscles burning.
One more.
Just one more.
Her body shook.
Then gave out.
She dropped onto the grass, chest rising and falling rapidly.
“…Eight rounds,” she muttered between breaths.
When she had started, she could barely manage two.
This body had been weak.
Fragile.
Now—it was changing.
Slowly.
Just like she said.
“Come on, Ana.
You can do it.” Ed’s voice broke through her thoughts.
“Ana… you can do it,” he added, softer this time.
“Shut up,” she snapped, not even opening her eyes.
A second later, she felt someone crouch beside her.
A water bottle appeared in her view.
Kal.
She looked at it for a moment… then took it.
“…Thanks.” The three of them sat together on the grass.
A strange silence settled.
Ed broke it first.
“So… why this sudden training?” Ana already expected that question.
She closed her eyes.
“Because I’m tired.” They both looked at her.
“Tired of living like this,” she continued.
“I need to change.” Her fingers tightened slightly around the bottle.
“I don’t want to depend on anyone anymore.
I don’t want to wait for someone to protect me.” Her voice steadied.
“I want to live on my own terms.” Ed and Kal exchanged a glance.
Something in her words felt… heavier than they should have.
Kal hesitated.
“Is this because of what happened at school?” Silence.
Ana opened her eyes.
“You could say that.” Kal leaned forward slightly.
“Then tell us what happened.” Ana looked at both of them.
Really looked.
Then she stood up.
“I already told you,” she said calmly, “stay out of my business.” And just like that— She distanced herself.
Again.
Before either of them could respond— a ball came flying toward her.
Fast.
Too fast.
There was no time to react.
But Ed and Kal moved instantly.
Both of them.
They grabbed her at the same time—pulling her into them as they hit the ground.
Ana froze.
For a second, everything went quiet.
Then— her heartbeat slammed against her chest.
Too fast.
Too loud.
She opened her eyes.
Ed on one side.
Kal on the other.
Both holding her tightly.
Too close.
Way too close.
“Let go!” she snapped, pushing both of them away and scrambling to her feet.
Someone called out, asking for the ball.
She picked it up, tossed it back— and without another word— ran.
“Ana—wait!” Kal chased after her.
Ed didn’t.
He stayed where he was, staring at the spot where she had just been.
“…What was that?” He frowned.
Why did I move like that?
Without thinking.
Without hesitation.
“I get that idiot Kal would do it…” But him?
“…Is it because I actually consider her a friend now?” He let out a quiet breath.
“…Whatever.” — Later.
“See you at school.” Ana didn’t even look back as she entered her house, lifting a hand casually.
Ed and Kal went their separate ways.
For a while, neither spoke.
Then Ed glanced sideways at Kal.
“So…” he smirked slightly.
“Since when did you start going to the park so seriously?” Kal shot him an annoyed look.
“Cut it out.
You tell me first—why were you there?” Ed paused.
Then— a memory surfaced.
Sitting by the window.
Playing a game.
Looking outside— and seeing her.
Running.
Alone.
And The next day, he followed Her/ “Just felt like it,” he said lightly.
Kal narrowed his eyes.
“…Liar.” Ed chuckled.
Kal looked away, irritated— but then his phone buzzed in his memory.
That picture.
Of Ed and Ana Together.
Send by Ed Early morning.
He had seen it half-asleep— and something had twisted in his chest.
“…That’s why,” Kal muttered.
Ed blinked.
“What?” “Nothing.” Kal shoved his hands into his pockets, walking ahead.
Ed watched him for a second— then smiled slightly.
“…So that’s how it is.” Neither of them said it out loud.
But something had already begun to change.
Quietly.
Slowly.
Just like her.