Chương 26: Thoughts Unveiled
The first day of law school was chaos, both outside and in my head. I stepped through the massive doors, feeling the hum of excitement and nerves all around me. It didn't take long for the thoughts to start flooding in.
"Isn't that the MK Group heir?"
"He looks even better in person."
"Maybe I should sit next to him. Connections like his could change everything."
I forced myself to keep walking, pretending I didn't hear any of it. Years of practice made it easy to wear a calm face, even though my mind felt like it was being pulled in a dozen directions. The constant noise was exhausting, but I'd learned to bear it. What choice did I have?
I spotted them before they saw me—two familiar faces in a sea of strangers. Kia was standing by the wall, quiet and composed, as always. Ethan was beside him, talking with the same energy that used to fill every room we shared in high school.
A small smile crept onto my face. Seeing them here felt like a piece of the past had followed me into this new, overwhelming place. I made my way toward them, weaving through the crowd until Ethan's booming voice rang out.
"Liam!" he called, his grin as wide as ever. Heads turned, but Ethan didn't seem to notice or care. "Man, I didn't know you were coming here!"
"Hi, Liam," Kia said, his voice quieter but no less warm.
"Hey," I said, smiling at both of them. "Didn't expect to see you two here."
"What, you think we wouldn't make it to law school?" Ethan laughed, slapping my shoulder. "Come on, we've got what it takes!"
Kia chuckled softly, his shy demeanor as familiar as ever. I let the conversation flow, but their thoughts seeped in, uninvited as always.
"I hope I don't come off as awkward. What if Liam thinks I'm boring?" Kia's mind whispered, full of worry.
"Kia's hair looks so good today. Should I say that? No, that'd sound weird... wouldn't it?" Ethan's thoughts were as loud and energetic as he was, bouncing from one idea to the next.
It hit me like a puzzle piece clicking into place—they liked each other. Kia's quiet admiration and Ethan's endless affection were so obvious in their minds, but to each other? Completely invisible. It was almost funny.
Eventually, Kia looked at me and asked the one question I didn't want to answer. "How's Ava?"
Her name felt like a punch to the gut. I looked away for a second, steadying myself. "She's… fine," I said, keeping my voice even. "She's in Japan now."
"Japan?" Ethan echoed, his eyes wide. "That's far. Are you guys still in touch?"
The memories hit me before I could stop them: Ava crying at the airport, her voice shaking as she told me goodbye, my own desperation as I tried to make her stay.
"Not as much as I'd like," I said quietly. I tried to smile, but it felt forced.
Kia and Ethan exchanged a quick glance, like they knew there was more to the story but didn't want to push. I appreciated that.
"So," I said, forcing some brightness into my tone, "how's law school treating you two?"
Ethan jumped on the question, launching into a story about their first week. His hands waved wildly as he spoke, and Kia chimed in with quiet corrections and additions. I nodded along, letting their voices drown out the noise of everyone else's thoughts.
But even as I laughed at Ethan's over-the-top storytelling and Kia's dry humor, a part of me couldn't shake the ache in my chest. It was Ava's absence—loud and empty at the same time—that lingered, no matter how much I tried to push it away.
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