The Silent Half

Chapter 2

The twins kept walking side by side, the whispers trailing after them like a current. One drew light like a flame; the other carried his shadows quietly.

Their guide was already waiting by the steps to lead them to their lecture halls. And as the Parker twins entered the building, the entire university seemed to turn its gaze toward them.

For most, it was the beginning of a fascination.

For Conrad, it was simply another day of pretending he wasn’t still haunted.

“This is the hall for freshers in the business department. Feel free to meet your head of department if you need anything,” the guide explained. He wasn’t required to be that polite—but these were the Parker twins.

“Thanks,” Conrad murmured.

They stepped inside and found seats near the center. For a moment, the room was hushed. Then, a girl finally gathered the courage to speak.

“Um… hi. I’m Clara. Welcome.”

Conner leaned forward with his usual easy charm. “Nice to meet you, Clara. First day nerves?”

Clara flushed, nodding quickly. “A little.”

“Don’t worry,” Conner said smoothly. “We’ll survive together.”

A ripple of laughter spread around them. Conrad forced a polite nod. “Hi,” he whispered, his voice nearly lost in the chatter.

Seeing that the twins weren’t unapproachable, more students joined in. A tall boy behind them leaned forward. “So, which of you is older?”

“Conner,” Conrad answered before his brother could.

Conner smirked. “By three minutes. Which obviously makes me wiser.”

The boy chuckled, and even Clara relaxed, joining in the laughter. Conrad pressed his lips into a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. He swallowed the urge to retreat into silence, answering when spoken to though every word felt heavy.

A girl on the left leaned closer, eyes bright with curiosity. “You two look so alike. How do people tell you apart?”

Conner winked. “Easy. I’m the one who talks more.”

The class laughed again, charmed by him. Conrad forced another small smile, staring down at the desk, wishing he could disappear.

The lecturer entered then, tall and serious, introducing himself before launching into an outline of the course. The room settled into quiet scribbles of pens on paper.

Conner, however, couldn’t resist. He leaned sideways, nudging Conrad’s arm. “Bet you already regret sitting in the middle. Everyone’s staring.”

Conrad shifted slightly, whispering back, “Focus, Conner.”

His brother grinned, unbothered, whispering another quip that earned him a half-stifled chuckle from the students nearby. To the room, the Parker twins looked inseparable, the perfect pair. To Conrad, it felt like a performance he no longer wanted to play.

---

Across campus, in a private lodge reserved for only three students, luxury erased any hint of student life. Velvet curtains framed tall windows, leather couches sprawled across a polished floor, and the faint scent of expensive cigars clung to the air. It resembled an elite club more than a school dormitory.

Mark Williams stretched lazily on one couch, a cigarette balanced between his fingers. “You should’ve seen last night’s party. Absolute madness. I swear, New York girls hit different.”

James Arthur, lounging nearby, gave a half-smirk as he scrolled on his phone. “You say that about every party, Mark.”

Mark laughed. “Because I’m always right.” He puffed out smoke and grinned. “Speaking of, did you hear? The Parker twins finally arrived. Whole campus is buzzing.”

James glanced up, smirk widening. “Second-richest family’s heirs? Figures. People love shiny new toys.”

Mark chuckled, nodding. “I wonder which one’s the troublemaker. Bet they’re not as perfect as they look.”

Jeremiah Smith sat by the window, cigarette in hand, gaze fixed outside. He hadn’t said a word. The smoke curled upward, his expression unreadable.

“Jeremiah,” James teased, “you don’t seem impressed.”

Jeremiah finally looked their way. His cold, sharp stare silenced the room. He said nothing, but the message was clear—he didn’t share their amusement.

The laughter died. Mark shifted awkwardly. James cleared his throat and looked back at his phone.

Jeremiah leaned back in his chair, exhaling slowly. He didn’t need to speak. His silence carried more weight than their words ever could.

"Conrad...." he let his thought end there.