The drive back to campus was drowned in silence. Gaara kept his eyes on the road, his hands steady on the wheel, but not a single word left his lips. Esther, too, chose quiet. Her gaze was fixed on the blur of scenery sliding past the window, her expression shadowed with gloom. Without conversation, the ride felt unbearably long than their reckless trip away from campus.
Yet, thanks to Gaara’s skill behind the wheel, they finally rolled into the parking lot. Esther wasted no time. She unbuckled her seatbelt, opened the door, and stepped out, her movements sharp with the kind of urgency born from unease.
“Thank you,” she murmured, her voice low, almost reluctant, as she put distance between them. She didn’t intend to linger, didn’t want to risk any more words. She refused to hear what he
