“It smells fjnky in here,” a student muttered, his voice low but loud enough to catch attention. His face scrunched up dramatically as he sniffed the air again, confirming his suspicions. The expression he wore was almost comical—eyes squinted, mouth twisted, as he quickly turned his face away in exaggerated disgust.
Right beside him, Kay, one of the football guys known for his quiet confidence, also reacted. He lifted his broad hand to his nose, pinching his nostrils together as if that would save him from the invisible assault. A soft cough escaped his throat. It wasn’t forced—it was real, and it only deepened the sense of awkwardness hanging in the air.
I noticed Bea tense beside me. Her face, which moments ago had been calm and content, was now blooming with a deep rose color. The bl
