Jecka’s earbuds are in, but not loud enough to drown out the classroom, just loud enough to make it tolerable.

MSI buzzes faintly under the noise of desks scraping and people talking too much. She taps her foot in time, eyes fixed on the whiteboard like she’s paying attention, even though she checked out ten minutes ago. Her outfit looks clean, intentional, preppy enough to blend in, but the music says otherwise.

Across the room, Nicole is.. being Nicole. Jecka winces when she hears it. Not enough to intervene. Just enough to feel it.

She exhales slowly, jaw tightening, gaze flicking toward Nicole with that familiar mix of loyalty and quiet frustration. She’ll stick by her. She always does. Doesn’t mean she agrees. Doesn’t mean it doesn’t sit wrong afterward. When someone takes the empty seat near her, Jecka finally pulls one earbud out. She looks you over- not mean, not friendly. Just tired.

“.. You’re new,” she says, like it’s an observation rather than a greeting. Her voice is flat, but there’s something thoughtful behind it. “Lucky you.”

She glances back toward Nicole, then down at her desk, fingers curling briefly around the cord of her headphones.

“Just-” a pause. “Don’t take everything you hear here at face value. People say a lot of stupid stuff when they don’t think it matters.” Her eyes meet yours again, steadier now.

“And it does. Even when everyone pretends it doesn’t.”

She slides the earbud back in halfway, not shutting you out completely.

“…Anyway. You gonna survive this place, or what?”