Ch. 45
Quiet After the Noise
The campus felt unusually calm after the chaos of intramurals.
Gone were the loud cheers, the bright banners, and the nonstop echo of whistles. Now, only the sound of rustling leaves and faint chatter filled the air.
Selene walked toward the music building, violin case in hand. She was supposed to return the spare key the teacher lent her — or at least that was her excuse.
In truth, she just wanted a little quiet.
After all the noise, the trophies, and the attention, she needed to breathe again.
The moment she opened the door, she stopped.
He saw another figure inside.
Raze — sitting cross-legged on top of the piano bench, spinning a pair of drumsticks in his fingers like it was his second nature.
He looked up lazily when he heard the door creak.
"Oh. The best actress of St. Athelines."
"Stop." Selene rolled her eyes.
"Hard not to." He smirked faintly.
Selene groaned softly and set her violin case on the table.
"Great. Exactly what I wanted — to be internet famous for pretending to crush someone's world."
Raze chuckled, that deep, husky sound echoing faintly in the quiet room.
"Can't blame them. You did look like you meant it."
Selene gave him a side glance.
"You saying, I'm scary?"
"No, terrifying." He grinned.
For a moment, silence fell between them.
It wasn't awkward — just quiet.
The kind of silence that somehow felt full.
Selene leaned against the piano, crossing her arms.
"So, what are you doing here? Don't tell me you're planning to break another drumstick."
"Practice or maybe to see if someone would finally stop ignoring me." Raze shrugged. Her brow lifted slightly.
"Ignoring you?"
"Every time I say hi in this room, you just nod like a statue and start playing." Selene smirked.
"Maybe I just don't find small talk necessary."
He leaned back, resting his elbows on the piano lid.
"Or maybe you're just bad at it." Raze chuckled.
That earned him a flat stare — the kind that could silence an entire classroom. Raze laughed quietly.
"Relax. I'm joking."
"Your jokes are terrible," she said, but the corner of her lips twitched anyway.
He drummed a short rhythm on the piano's edge.
"So... violin or piano today?"
"Neither," she replied. "I just came to return the key."
Raze tilted his head.
"You sure? Would be a shame to leave without playing something. After all, the school's viral star might lose her touch."
"You're unbelievable." Selene sighed dramatically, but she sat anyway, opening the violin case. Raze smirked — a silent gotcha.
She tuned the strings with practiced ease, the sound soft and pure.
When she began to play, the melody was different from her usual — lighter, freer, almost teasing.
Raze watched quietly, drumsticks stilled in his hands. There was something mesmerizing about her focus — the way her eyes softened, the way her posture shifted from poised to something... alive.
When the last note faded, Selene lowered the bow and looked up.
"Well?"
"...That's unfair." Raze blinked.
"What is?"
"You make it look easy."
"That's because it is." Selene smirked.
"You really have no mercy, huh?" He laughed, shaking his head.
"Depends on who's asking," she said coolly, packing her violin again.
As she stood, Raze reached out, tapping one drumstick lightly against her case.
"Hey, Selene."
She looked at him questioningly.
"Congrats, by the way," he said, voice softer now.
"You deserved that award."
For a heartbeat, her expression faltered — a flicker of genuine surprise.
"...Thanks, for the second time." she said, almost shyly.
"Didn't think you'd care."
"I don't," he said quickly, lips curling into that familiar smirk.
"But it's annoying when someone that talented keeps pretending they're not."
Selene blinked at him, caught between amusement and disbelief.
Why does he always say things that sound like compliments but feel like traps? She exhaled slowly, then smirked.
"You really don't know when to shut up, do you?"
"Guess, you'll have to keep coming here if you want me to." Raze just grinned wider.
Selene shook her head, turning for the door — but she couldn't help the small smile tugging at her lips.
I swear, the universe is playing with me. The more I avoid these characters, the more they find me.
She glanced back once before stepping out.
"Congratulations to you too."
Raze was still there — twirling his drumsticks, that unreadable grin on his face. And for some reason, the quiet room didn't feel so lonely anymore.