HEART STRINGS

Rumors

The whispers followed them all the way down the hallway.

"Did you see that?"

"Rose actually stood up to Maltilda."

"I've never seen anyone do that."

"Maltilda looked furious."

Rose kept walking as if she couldn't hear any of it.

She hated being the center of attention.

Kelvin caught up with her a few moments later.

"Rose."

She stopped.

He studied her face carefully.

"Are you really okay?"

She smiled.

"I'm fine."

"You don't sound convinced."

"I've dealt with worse."

The words slipped out before she could stop them.

Kelvin noticed the change in her expression.

"Worse?"

Rose looked away.

"It's nothing."

He wanted to ask more.

But something told him she wasn't ready.

So instead, he said quietly,

"If she bothers you again..."

"I know."

She smiled gently.

"You'll figure something out."

A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Then Jasmine suddenly appeared between them.

"There you are!"

Rose blinked.

"You nearly gave me a heart attack!"

"I was looking everywhere for you."

Jasmine looked from Rose...

To Kelvin...

Then back again.

"Oh..."

"What?" Rose asked.

"I interrupted something."

"You didn't."

"You definitely did."

Kelvin cleared his throat.

"We were just talking."

Jasmine grinned.

"Sure."

Rose sighed.

"You're impossible."

"I've accepted that."

The three walked toward the cafeteria together.

Across the courtyard...

Maltilda watched from the classroom window.

Her hands were clenched into fists.

"He embarrassed me..."

she whispered.

Brielle stood beside her.

"No."

"You embarrassed yourself."

Maltilda turned sharply.

"Whose side are you on?"

"The right one."

Naomi walked over carrying a juice box.

"You started the argument."

"I was protecting what belongs to me."

Naomi nearly choked on her drink.

"Kelvin isn't a handbag."

Brielle burst into laughter.

Even a few nearby students couldn't help smiling.

Maltilda glared at both of them.

"You two are terrible friends."

"We're honest friends," Brielle corrected.

"There's a difference".

The cafeteria buzzed with conversation.

Students filled every table, their voices blending into one loud, cheerful hum.

But today...

There was only one topic.

"Did you hear what happened?"

"Rose actually stood up to Maltilda."

"I thought she was too quiet."

"I guess we were wrong."

Rose lowered her head as she walked through the cafeteria.

She wished, more than anything, that people would stop talking about her.

Jasmine, however, seemed to be enjoying every second.

"You've become famous."

"I don't want to be famous."

"Too late."

"I'll return it."

"You can't return fame."

Rose sighed.

"I'll try anyway."

Jasmine laughed.

"You really are something."

They reached an empty table near the windows.

Rose had barely placed her tray down when someone pulled out the chair beside her.

Kelvin.

He sat down naturally, opening a bottle of water.

The entire cafeteria seemed to freeze.

"...Did he just sit with her?"

"I've never seen Kelvin eat with anyone."

"Not even the basketball team."

"Isn't that Rose?"

Whispers spread from table to table.

Rose slowly looked around.

"...They're staring."

Kelvin calmly opened his lunch.

"They stare at everything."

"That's... strangely comforting."

"It shouldn't be."

A tiny smile appeared on Rose's face.

Across from them, Jasmine looked between the two before dramatically covering her own eyes.

"I can't."

Rose blinked.

"What now?"

"The chemistry."

"There is no chemistry."

"There is."

"We're eating lunch."

"Romantic lunch."

"It's rice."

"It can still be romantic."

Kelvin quietly took a bite of his food.

Without looking up, he asked,

"Does she always do this?"

Rose nodded.

"Every day."

"I feel sorry for you."

"I've learned to survive."

Jasmine gasped dramatically.

"Excuse me?"

Kelvin looked completely serious.

"I'm joking."

"...You tell jokes?"

"So I've been told."

Rose laughed.

A genuine laugh.

Kelvin looked at her for a second longer than he intended.

There it was again.

That smile.

It made the noisy cafeteria seem... quieter.

Across the room...

Maltilda had stopped eating.

Her fork remained suspended in the air.

She watched Kelvin laugh softly at something Rose had whispered.

He never laughed.

Not like that.

Not with anyone.

Brielle followed her gaze.

"I know."

Naomi sighed.

"You're staring again."

"I'm observing."

"No," Brielle replied.

"You're jealous."

"Of course I am"

Naomi raised an eyebrow.

Maltilda looked away.

"I just don't understand."

"What?"

"What does he even see in her?"

Brielle smiled gently.

"Maybe..."

"...the fact that she isn't trying to make him notice her."

Those words lingered.

Maltilda didn't answer.

She couldn't.

Because deep down...

She knew Brielle might be right.

Back at the table, Rose looked at the clock on the cafeteria wall.

"We should probably go."

Kelvin nodded.

"We still have to finish the presentation."

Jasmine pointed her fork at Rose.

"See?"

"What?"

"He remembers."

Rose frowned.

"Remembers what?"

"The project."

Rose stared at her.

"...Of course he remembers the project."

Jasmine slowly lowered her fork.

"That wasn't what I meant."

Kelvin stood, picking up his tray.

"I'll see you after class."

Rose smiled.

"Okay."

He walked away.

The moment he disappeared through the cafeteria doors...

Half the room erupted into whispers again.

Jasmine leaned closer.

"You know..."

Rose looked up.

"What?"

"I think he's changing."

Rose blinked.

"What do you mean?"

"He smiles."

"So?"

"He talks."

"He always talks."

"Not like that."

Rose looked toward the cafeteria doors where Kelvin had disappeared.

She thought about the rain.

The library.

The awkward silences.

The small smiles.

The way he always seemed to notice things no one else did.

Then she quietly shook her head.

"We're just friends."

Jasmine smiled to herself.

"That's exactly how these stories usually begin."

Outside the cafeteria, Kelvin walked alone down the hallway.

He reached into his pocket for his phone.

Instead...

His fingers brushed against something unexpected.

A small folded sticky note.

He frowned before opening it.

It was written in neat handwriting.

Don't forget to eat lunch tomorrow too. — Rose

Kelvin stared at the note for several seconds.

Then...

Without realizing it...

He smiled.

Not because of the note.

But because someone had remembered something about him, too.

The final bell rang, echoing through Golden High School.

Almost instantly, the classroom came alive.

Chairs scraped against the floor.

Students packed their bags, laughing as they rushed toward the door.

The teacher gathered her books and smiled.

"Don't forget, your project presentations are in less than two weeks."

A chorus of groans filled the room.

"Two weeks?"

"We're finished."

"I haven't even started."

The teacher chuckled.

"That's exactly why I'm reminding you."

She walked out, leaving the classroom buzzing with conversation.

Rose zipped up her school bag and tucked her notebook under her arm.

Before she could stand, Kelvin stopped beside her desk.

"Ready?"

She looked up.

"For the library."

A small smile appeared on her face.

"I almost forgot."

"I didn't."

"I can see that."

They walked out of the classroom together.

The hallway was crowded with students heading toward the stairs.

Some greeted Kelvin.

Others simply stared.

More than a few whispered when they noticed Rose walking beside him.

"They're together again."

"Isn't that his project partner?"

"They've been together a lot lately."

Rose pretended not to hear.

Kelvin noticed the whispers but kept walking.

Just as they reached the staircase—

"Rose!"

She turned.

Rowan hurried through the crowd, weaving between students until he reached them.

"There you are."

"Hi, Rowan."

He smiled warmly.

"I've been looking for you."

"For me?"

"Yeah."

He glanced at Kelvin for only a second before returning his attention to Rose.

"I was wondering..."

He rubbed the back of his neck, suddenly looking a little nervous.

"...if you'd like to hang out after school tomorrow."

Rose blinked.

"Hang out?"

"There's a new café not far from school."

"I thought maybe we could grab something to eat."

"...Just the two of us."

The hallway around them seemed to grow quieter.

A few nearby students slowed their steps.

Kelvin stood silently beside Rose.

His face gave nothing away.

But somehow...

He found himself waiting for her answer.

Rose looked apologetic.

"I'm sorry, Rowan."

His smile faded just a little.

"I already promised Kelvin we'd continue working on our project after school."

She held up the notebook in her hands.

"We're still behind."

Rowan looked at the notebook.

Then at Kelvin.

"Oh..."

He forced a smile.

"Right."

"The project."

"I forgot."

Rose smiled gently.

"Maybe another day?"

There was a brief pause before Rowan nodded.

"Yeah."

"I'd like that."

He adjusted the strap of his bag.

"Well..."

"I won't keep you two."

As he walked away, he couldn't help glancing back once.

Rose was already talking quietly with Kelvin about the project schedule.

Rowan smiled to himself.

"...Looks like I've got some competition."

He disappeared into the crowd.

Rose watched him leave.

"I hope I didn't make him feel bad."

Kelvin finally spoke.

"You were honest."

She looked at him.

"Do you think he'll understand?"

"I think..."

Kelvin slipped one hand into his pocket.

"...he already does."

For a moment, neither of them said anything.

Then Rose smiled.

"Let's go before the library fills up."

Kelvin nodded.

"After you."

They walked toward the school gate together.