Something Strange
858 Words
CHAPTER 13
Leanne spent the entire morning avoiding Chris.
Unfortunately—
Chris noticed immediately.
“Why are you running away from me?”
“I’m not.”
“You literally changed directions after seeing me near the stairs.”
“That was tactical movement.”
“That was fear.”
Leanne ignored him and continued walking faster through the academy hallway.
Behind her, Chris gasped dramatically.
“Carl! She hates me now!”
Carl looked completely unbothered beside him.
“You embarrassed her for twenty minutes straight.”
“She saw abs illegally!”
“That sentence somehow sounds worse.”
Kai sighed tiredly while carrying books.
Ren quietly turned another page of his novel.
Meanwhile Leanne continued marching away with dignity.
Or at least—
She tried to.
Because Chris suddenly appeared beside her again out of nowhere.
“How are you so fast?!” she whisper-yelled.
“I’m emotionally athletic.”
“That’s not real.”
Chris grinned proudly.
“You’re still red.”
“I’m going to push you into a fountain.”
“That sounds romantic.”
Leanne immediately covered her face.
Why was he impossible to defeat?!
Then suddenly—
Her phone buzzed.
Mom.
Leanne blinked.
That was unusual.
Her mother rarely contacted her during school hours unless it was important.
Quickly, Leanne answered the message.
> “I’m near the academy for a meeting. Let’s eat lunch together later.”
Leanne softened slightly.
Despite being strict, her mother still tried.
In her own way.
Chris leaned closer dramatically.
“What’s that face?”
“What face?”
“The soft emotional one.”
“There is no soft emotional face.”
“You look like a sad puppy.”
“You’re annoying.”
Chris laughed brightly.
Then Carl suddenly spoke calmly.
“Chris. Student council meeting.”
Chris froze.
“…Oh no.”
“You forgot again?”
“I reject responsibility.”
“That’s unfortunate because responsibility accepted you.”
Kai snorted quietly.
Ren looked unsurprised.
Chris sighed dramatically before looking back toward Leanne.
“Don’t disappear while I’m suffering.”
“No promises.”
“Cruel.”
Leanne laughed softly while watching the boys walk away toward the council building.
And somehow—
Her chest felt warm again.
Dangerous.
Everything about this club was dangerous.
---
Later that afternoon, Leanne headed toward the academy café to meet her mother.
The campus had grown quieter now since most students were in class.
Cool wind brushed through the garden pathways softly while sunlight reflected across the academy fountains.
As Leanne approached the café corridor—
She suddenly stopped walking.
Because she recognized her mother’s voice nearby.
“…I’m grateful you helped with the paperwork.”
Leanne blinked.
Paperwork?
Curious, she stepped slightly closer toward the hallway corner.
And froze.
Adrian Cortez stood beside her mother.
Student Council President Adrian Cortez.
Talking calmly with her mother like they already knew each other.
Leanne stared in confusion.
What?
Why would Adrian know her mother?
Her mother smiled politely while holding several folders in her hands.
“You really saved us a lot of trouble,” she said softly.
Adrian nodded once.
“It wasn’t difficult.”
The atmosphere between them felt strangely familiar.
Not exactly close.
But definitely not strangers.
Leanne frowned slightly.
Since when did they know each other?
Then Adrian suddenly noticed her standing nearby.
Their eyes met instantly.
Silence.
For the first time—
Adrian actually looked surprised.
“…Leanne.”
Her mother turned immediately.
“Oh! There you are.”
Leanne slowly walked closer while staring suspiciously between them.
“…What’s happening?”
Her mother blinked innocently.
“Hmm?”
“Why are you talking to Adrian?”
Adrian remained perfectly calm as usual.
“Your mother had scholarship documents that needed approval.”
“Oh.”
That sounded reasonable.
Probably.
Maybe.
Still—
Something felt strange.
Leanne glanced between them again carefully.
Her mother looked slightly nervous now.
Weird.
Very weird.
Then Adrian calmly handed the folders toward her mother.
“Everything should be finalized now.”
“Thank you again,” her mother answered warmly.
Leanne stared harder.
Warmly?
Since when did her mother speak warmly to terrifying student council presidents?
Adrian’s gray eyes shifted briefly toward Leanne again.
And for some reason—
His expression softened slightly.
Only for a second.
Then it disappeared completely.
“You should head inside,” Adrian said calmly. “Your reservation might expire.”
Reservation?
Leanne blinked.
Her mother smiled awkwardly.
“Oh right.”
Since when could they afford café reservations inside St. Aurelius Academy?
Leanne’s confusion grew stronger.
Something about this situation felt… off.
But before she could ask more—
Adrian suddenly looked at her carefully.
“You seem tired.”
Leanne blinked.
“…What?”
“You should rest more.”
Silence.
Why did that sound strangely personal?
Then Adrian looked away first.
“…Goodbye, Mrs. Cruz.”
And without another word—
He walked away down the hallway calmly.
Leanne stared after him in confusion.
Meanwhile her mother suddenly avoided eye contact.
“…Let’s eat.”
Leanne narrowed her eyes slightly.
Very suspicious.
Very, very suspicious.
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