SOMETHING THAT WAS NEVER YOURS
590 Words
The classroom was loud in its usual way.
Chairs scraping, low conversations, papers flipping. Kai Watson sat at his desk with Marvis and Zayn beside him, half-listening to whatever they were talking about.
But his attention wasn’t there.
His bag was open slightly.
One book still felt unfamiliar.
He frowned faintly but said nothing.
The classroom door suddenly opened.
Silence didn’t fall.
It shifted.
Tyresse Cole walked in.
Straight.
Calm.
Unbothered.
He didn’t look around.
Didn’t pause.
Didn’t acknowledge the stares that immediately followed him.
He just walked directly toward Kai.
Whispers started instantly.
“What is he doing here?” “That’s Tyresse…” “He doesn’t even come to this side of school.”
Marvis leaned closer. “Yo… why is he here?”
Zayn didn’t answer.
Neither did Kai.
Tyresse stopped right in front of Kai’s desk.
Looked down.
Then spoke.
“My book.”
Kai blinked once.
Slowly leaned back in his chair.
“…What book?”
Without repeating himself, Tyresse placed a book on the desk.
Not gently.
Just simply.
Kai frowned.
He picked it up.
Looked at it.
Then glanced into his own bag.
Something clicked.
He paused.
“…Oh.”
He reached into his bag and pulled out another book.
The matching one.
Kai sighed slightly.
“…My bad.”
He placed Tyresse’s book forward.
Tyresse took it immediately.
No hesitation.
No expression.
Then he turned.
And walked away.
Just like that.
Kai stared at the empty space where he had been.
Then scoffed.
“…Not even a thank you?”
Marvis immediately burst out laughing.
“Bro, he came all the way here just for that!”
Zayn shook his head, laughing too. “And left like nothing happened.”
Kai clicked his tongue.
But didn’t respond.
The afternoon was quieter.
Kai came alone this time.
He needed a book.
Something for class.
Nothing complicated.
He reached the library aisle and sighed.
Too quiet.
Too tall shelves.
He grabbed a ladder.
Climbed.
“Of course it’s the highest one,” he muttered.
Halfway up—
the ladder shifted slightly.
Kai froze.
“Wait—”
He slipped.
A hand caught him instantly.
Tyresse.
Again.
Kai looked up sharply.
“You—”
Tyresse didn’t say anything.
Just held him steady.
Kai steadied himself.
“…Let go, I’m fine.”
Tyresse released him immediately.
No reaction.
Kai grabbed the shelf again, irritated.
“This is getting annoying.”
Then—
his body suddenly went still.
The height.
The moment.
The shock.
Everything hit at once.
His grip loosened.
His vision blurred slightly.
“…Tch—”
He collapsed forward.
Tyresse caught him fully this time.
No hesitation.
Kai fainted.
Silence.
Tyresse looked down at him for a second.
Then adjusted his grip.
Carefully.
Tyresse carried him in without drama.
No shouting.
No attention-seeking.
Just direct action.
He informed Kai’s friends briefly.
Then placed Kai inside the clinic.
On the way out, he dropped the book Kai had come for.
Right beside the bed.
Then left.
Kai slowly opened his eyes.
White ceiling.
Clinic smell.
Confusion.
“…How did I end up here?”
Marvis leaned forward immediately.
“Bro, you fainted.”
Zayn added, “Tyresse brought you here.”
Kai frowned slightly.
“…Again?”
Marvis nodded. “Yeah.”
Zayn crossed his arms.
“Just rest. We’ll tell you everything later.”
Kai leaned back slowly.
Still confused.
Still irritated.
But quiet.
Somewhere far away, Tyresse had already left.
Like nothing had happened.
But this time—
Kai didn’t forget it.
- Writer
