The afternoon class session ended in a breeze after nearly two hours of discussions before the actual experiment demonstration.
Dismissal bells resonated in the distance, echoing from the halls in blaring chimes as students began to move out of the classrooms in chaotic scatters.
Pitter-pattering soles on tiled floors.
Giggling, chattering, and booming voices.
The Academy's corridors are now alive and bustling.
Raphael walked amongst the crowd with a bag slung over his shoulder and books on his arm.
The surge of students passing by crossed his path as he navigated between them with a bit of a swerve left and right.
Shoulders nudged against each other from a slight misstep. One clicked his tongue in annoyance and called out with a growl.
"Hey!"
Raphael noticed and paused from his step before turning around.
"Sorry," he casually apologized.
The man standing in front of him leered closer to his face and chest on full display in an attempt to intimidate him.
"Watch where you're going, man," he warned.
Raphael blinked.
"I apologize," he repeated plainly, unfazed.
His eyes studied the guy in front of him. A semi-bald guy with striking pink-dyed strands and a black fade from the sides. The eyes glaring back at him were sharp and menacing, enough for him to understand clearly his demeanor.
One thing else....
He seemed familiar, like he had seen him somewhere else a while ago.
"You need to do better than that," he scoffed. "You never mess with Predators."
He flexed his neck to the sides, snapping in every movement before cracking the knuckles on his fists.
Raphael finally realized.
The Predators.
A complete utter coincidence that he bumped into one.
Ironically, he never thought he would get into trouble instantly.
Before Raphael could fully process his thoughts, a fist aimed straight at his face.
His eyes widened. Too quick for him to react on time.
He braced for impact as his eyes shut tight.
"Whoa. Careful now, Flipper." Another man's voice spoke in between them, carrying this charismatic and soothing tone.
"You don't want to poke the devil right behind him."
The punch didn't happen.
Raphael opened his eyes to take a peek. A hand caught the attacker's fist, holding him back in a tight grip.
"Mikey, this guy is pissing me off!" Flipper frowned.
Mikey, the guy in a white cap dressed in a varsity jacket, shook his head.
"Nuh-uh. Look."
His finger pointed at Raphael, but more specifically, right behind him. Immediately, Flipper's expression shifted from a glare to a mild frown as he lowered his arm.
"Tch," he scoffed.
Someone else was there. Another presence. Raphael realized as he slowly glanced behind.
Orange streaks of hair caught from the corner of his eyes in an instant. Standing with poise and confidence, a few inches back, right next to him.
It's her. Sylvia.
"Hm? Picking fights like usual?" Sylvia mocked them in a tease.
Flipper clenched his teeth with an irritated growl while Mikey just remained calm and composed, stopping the other from doing something unnecessary.
"No. Just passing by." Mikey explained with a grin.
"You better be." Sylvia's voice turned low, and her eyes glared threateningly.
Mikey motioned Flipper with a tap on his back as they both turned around and walked off the corridor, leaving the scene.
Raphael's tensed shoulders instantly dropped as he heaved a deep sigh.
He was saved.
Unexpectedly from Sylvia.
"Sylvia... I am grateful." Raphael thanked with embarrassment etched on his face. "Sorry for causing you trouble."
Her lips curved into a small, satisfactory smile.
"You still owe me a favor after this," she kindly reminded.
Raphael's jaw dropped.
"W-what?"
She chuckled softly, tilting her head slightly over to the side.
"It's just how it is, Raphael."
Speechless once again.
Raphael couldn't tell whether she was just teasing him like a joke or a serious one, but his thoughts leaned towards the latter.
He is still indebted to her once again.
"Be careful." Sylvia leaned in to whisper.
Her words broke through the silence, but he remained paralyzed on the spot. Her fingers traced lightly on his arm from top to bottom.
"Don't get involved too much, Raphael."
A warning.
Perhaps, to warn him about them, the Predators.
He quietly nodded. "I'll be careful next time."
Sylvia's gaze lingered on his for a little while longer, discreetly watching every twitch on his lips, brows, or any change in his expression.
"Good."
She smiled before walking out.
The heels of her shoes clicked in every step before disappearing into the crowd of students.
Raphael snapped out of his trance.
Whatever happened. He sensed danger, but for some reason, he felt more relieved in Sylvia's presence.
Afterwards, he resumed his steps along the corridors, heading towards his destination, his locker.
Tap.
Click!
The soft chime activated as soon as he tapped his ID card onto the small panel attached to the locker's door.
His fingers reached for the handles, opening it.
A smiling picture of Elena greeted him like bright sunshine.
Every time he opened his locker, the face of Elena's smile reminded him once more of his purpose, painting life in this dull metallic box.
A soft smile curved out of his lips.
Then, he began stashing his textbooks and notebooks into one corner, alleviating him from the heavy burden in his bag and arms.
Something else caught his attention when the soft thud of the books being slammed on the side made a paper slip out from the corner.
It wasn't just an ordinary paper but a white, crisp parchment envelope with a heart sticker embedded at the center.
It fell out, but his hand was quick enough to catch it.
A letter?
He flipped it around to see who it was addressed to and from whom.
To: Raphael Kiersten
Just his name.
While he was scrutinizing the letter in his hand, A tap on his shoulder startled him in a flinch.
"Hey, Raphael. What are you up to?" Harian peered over his shoulder in curiosity but with a warm smile.
"Oh, it's just you, Harian." Raphael sighed. "Just found something."
"Ooooh, what is that?" He leaned in closer. The envelope looked familiar, which made him grin further.
She finally delivered it.
"Not really sure. A letter?" he rubbed his chin, quite unsure how to go through with this.
"Hmm? Looks like fan mail." Harian teased him slightly as he nudged his side. "Wanna read it?"
Raphael just laughed awkwardly.
No way someone like him would gain 'fans' from doing nothing.
Shaking his head in disbelief.
"How is that even possible? I barely did anything."
Harian shrugged. "You never know. But whoever it is, they've got good taste to be honest."
Raphael let out a soft chuckle.
"Right... I will read it later," he decided as he stashed it into his bag. "You got anything to do?"
"Nope. I have no practice for today. I guess we can head out together." Harian suggested.
"Sure." Raphael complied with a nod.
As he shut the locker door with a clunk, the two headed out together while chatting about their day in the Academy. The distance of their voices echoed in the long hallway.
From the corner of Class 2-B, a woman clutched her chest tightly, and her breath was gasping. Her cheeks flushed in a red streak, putting a blush on her soft porcelain skin.
Kim Hyeon-ju had been waiting for this moment, watching discreetly.
He took her letter.
He mentioned reading it later.
Excitement flared deep in her skin as she squealed in her thoughts. A slow smile curved out of her soft lips, small but exuberant.