SOMEHOW, IT'S HIM.

TWO WORLDS, ONE SILENCE.

(THE GHETTOS— EVENING)

The sun was sinking low, spilling orange light across the streets like fading fire.

René and Anna stepped out of the small convenience store, paper bags in hand.

Cheap snacks. Cold drinks. Small comforts.

Anna stretched her arms dramatically.

"I swear, school drains my soul."

René smiled faintly. "You say that every day."

"And I mean it every day."

They walked slowly down the street, unbothered by time.

Cars passed. A bus rattled loudly. Somewhere far away, a siren faded into nothing.

The city was loud—but familiar.

Alive in a way STARS High School wasn't.

Anna suddenly stopped.

René almost bumped into her.

"What?"

Without answering, Anna pulled out two popsicles from the bag like treasure.

"Emergency happiness."

René blinked. "You spent everything on this?"

Anna placed a hand on her chest.

"We spent everything on this."

René shook her head, laughing as she unwrapped hers.

"You're unbelievable."

"And yet," Anna said proudly, "you love me."

They crossed into a small park and sat on a worn wooden bench.

Swings creaked nearby. Children laughed in the distance.

For a moment, everything felt normal.

Anna kicked her feet lightly.

"You know," she said softly, "a few months ago, our biggest problem was math homework."

René nodded.

"And now?"

Anna leaned back.

"Now you're basically famous, we go to an elite school, and a rich guy stares at you like you stole his future."

René choked slightly. "Anna!"

Anna laughed loudly.

"I'm serious! Our life turned into a drama series."

René shook her head—but she was smiling.

Anna leaned her head onto René's shoulder.

"But we're still here," she said quietly.

René didn't answer.

She just leaned back.

And for a brief moment…

Everything felt simple again.

*

(REES MANSION — NIGHT)

The dining room was too large for conversation.

Only two people sat at the table.

Raymond.

And his father.

Silence stretched between them like tension.

"You embarrassed the family today."

Mr. Reesmon's voice was calm.

Too calm.

Raymond didn't look up.

"I didn't know breathing counted as embarrassment."

His father's expression hardened.

"You were seen fighting. It's everywhere."

Raymond continued eating.

"I didn't ask to be filmed."

"You shouldn't have been fighting."

That made him pause.

Slowly, Raymond lifted his gaze.

Tired.

Cold.

"You care more about image than truth."

The fork stopped mid-air.

The air changed.

"You will act like the heir of this family," his father said firmly.

Raymond leaned back slightly.

"I never asked to be one."

Silence dropped.

He continued anyway.

"Everything I have—"

"I didn't ask for it."

The words cut deeper than shouting.

"Sit down," his father ordered.

Raymond didn't move.

"You think responsibility is easy?" his father continued. "You have no idea what it costs."

Raymond let out a quiet laugh.

"No."

His voice lowered.

"I know exactly what it costs."

A pause.

"Control."

The word hung in the air.

Sharp.

Heavy.

Uncomfortable.

"You're becoming reckless," his father said. "Fighting, Darwin, school incidents—"

"Don't mention him."

The tone changed instantly.

His father didn't stop.

"Darwin is part of this family structure whether you accept it or not."

That was enough.

Raymond stood.

The chair scraped loudly.

"I'm done."

He walked out.

And this time—

No one stopped him.

*

(RAYMOND'S ROOM — LATER)

The door clicked shut behind him.

Silence swallowed everything instantly.

Raymond leaned against the door for a moment.

Eyes closed.

The mansion outside was perfect.

Too perfect.

Everything controlled.

Everything expected.

He walked to the window.

City lights stretched endlessly below.

Alive.

Distant.

Unreachable.

His phone lay untouched on the table.

No notifications.

No interruptions.

Just silence.

For the first time all day…

No one was watching him.

And somehow—

That felt worse.

*

(REESMON MANSION — MORNING)

The alarm rang once.

Raymond didn't move.

A second later, his hand reached out and shut it off.

Silence returned immediately.

The room stayed still.

Too large.

Too quiet.

Too controlled.

Raymond sat up slowly, running a hand through his hair.

His expression was already tired—before the day even began.

He glanced at the window.

Outside, life was moving.

Cars. People. Noise.

Everything happening without him.

He didn't move with it.

Instead, he stood.

Picked up his phone.

Looked at it for a few seconds.

Then switched it off.

Dropped it back on the bed.

"…not today," he muttered.

And chose silence over the world.

*

(STARS HIGH SCHOOL — MORNING GATE)

STARS High was already alive.

Cars arriving.

Students laughing.

Footsteps everywhere.

Then—

A black car rolled in.

Slower than the rest.

Heavier somehow.

It stopped at the gate.

Silence didn't arrive loudly.

It just… spread.

The door opened.

Jacinta Carter stepped out.

Perfect.

Composed.

Unshaken.

She didn't look around like she was new.

She looked like she was checking what belonged to her.

Whispers began instantly.

"Jacinta Carter…"

"She's here…"

"Isn't she Raymond's—"

No one finished the sentence.

Because everyone already knew.

She walked forward.

Slow.

Controlled.

And the crowd moved aside without being asked.

At the same time—

René and Anna were walking toward the building.

Anna slowed first.

"…why does it feel like something bad is about to happen?"

René didn't answer immediately.

Because she saw her.

Jacinta.

Standing in the crowd like she owned its silence.

For a moment—

Her eyes passed over René.

No reaction.

No recognition.

Just a glance.

Then away.

Like she wasn't important enough to keep looking at.

Anna frowned.

"She didn't even react."

René replied quietly.

"…maybe she didn't need to."

Jacinta continued walking.

And the school made space for her anyway.

*

(CAFETERIA — LATE MORNING)

The cafeteria was loud.

But suddenly—

It wasn't.

Silence spread without warning.

Heads turned.

Whispers followed instantly.

"Darwin is here…"

René's hand paused.

Anna straightened immediately.

"…oh no," she whispered. "Your problem is here."

René frowned.

"He's not my problem."

Anna smirked.

"Your accidental attention magnet then."

Darwin entered.

Calm.

Relaxed.

Like noise didn't belong to him.

But everything still noticed him.

He stopped at the drink counter.

Ordered something quietly.

Then—

His eyes moved.

And landed on René.

Direct.

No hesitation.

René froze for half a second.

Then looked away immediately.

Anna leaned in.

"…he's looking at you again."

René lowered her voice.

"He's not."

"He is."

"…you're imagining things."

Darwin picked up his drink.

Then—

He started walking.

Straight toward them.

Anna's eyes widened.

"…oh wow."

He stopped at their table.

Casual.

Unbothered.

"Seat taken?" he asked.

Anna almost choked.

René blinked.

"…it's a cafeteria."

Darwin nodded.

"I'll take that as no."

And sat down.

Anna whispered:

"…this is how problems start."

René shot her a look.

Darwin ignored them both slightly, sipping his drink.

Then looked at René.

"You don't like attention," he said.

"I don't."

"Bad timing then."

Anna blinked.

"Bad timing for what?"

Darwin didn't answer her.

Only kept looking at René.

And suddenly—

The cafeteria felt farther away.

*

(CAFETERIA — AFTERMATH)

People slowly left.

Noise faded.

Life moved again.

But the table didn't.

René stayed seated.

Darwin was still there.

Unbothered.

Like time wasn't urgent.

Silence sat between them.

Not heavy.

Just unfamiliar.

René finally spoke.

"…why did you sit here?"

Darwin looked up slightly.

"What do you think?"

"I think you were bored."

A pause.

Then—

"You're not wrong."

René sighed and looked away.

Typical.

Darwin never gave full answers.

A moment passed.

Then his voice came again.

"You know…"

René looked back.

He was watching her properly now.

Focused.

Not casual anymore.

"…you're pretty."

Silence.

René froze.

"…what?"

"I said you're pretty."

No teasing.

No tone.

Just fact.

René blinked.

"…you say that to everyone?"

"No."

Pause.

"…then why me?"

Darwin leaned back slightly.

"I noticed."

That was all.

No explanation.

No expansion.

Just that.

René looked down at the table.

"…you're weird."

"I've heard worse."

He stood.

Picked up his drink.

Then paused.

Looked at her one last time.

"…don't get used to it."

René frowned slightly.

"Get used to what?"

But he was already walking away.

Leaving her sitting there.

Staring at a compliment that shouldn't have mattered—

But somehow did.