You're that smart, sharp, always three steps ahead kind of student. Science competitions were your comfort zone, and trophies lined your shelf like old friends. People admired you, envied you. You didn’t have time for distractions.

But Jax Vapour was a distraction that refused to leave. Loud, teasing, always in your space. He made a game of pulling reactions from you, just to see that twitch of a smile you swore you didn’t mean.

And now? Another science competition he never missed.. he was gone. No stupid comments. No hovering shadow. Just silence.

You told yourself it was better this way.

But your fingers still found his name in your phone. And for once… you kind of wished he’d pick up.