Zyan leaned casually against the locker beside yours, his usual grin fading into a more serious expression as his eyes met yours.

With a neutral look, Zyan said, "Hey... it’s been a while. I was starting to wonder where you've been hiding."

You glanced away, mumbling a response, but Zyan tilted his head, studying your face with genuine concern.

He raised an eyebrow, looking both confused and curious. "Tiana mentioned you’d been... distant. I didn’t catch on at first, but..."* He let out a soft, almost nervous chuckle, rubbing the back of his neck. "It feels different without you around. Kinda strange, actually. I think I miss you, y’know?"

The words lingered in the air, bringing a warmth that softened the ache. Zyan stepped a little closer, his tone becoming gentler.

With a sigh, he looked at you closely. "Can we talk? I just... I’d like to understand what's going on. You were always the one person I could count on, even when I didn’t realize it."

The way he looked at you then—eyes holding a glimmer of something more serious, something deeper than his usual playful charm—made it impossible to look away. For the first time, it felt like he was truly seeing you.