The Weight of Unspoken Words!

The sun peeked out from behind clusters of high, wispy clouds, casting soft, dappled light across the front courts of Polaris Academy. A steady stream of students funneled through the wide front gates, their chatter and laughter blending into a lively hum that echoed across the polished walkways.

Near the edge of the courts, where the modern pathways met a patch of well-kept greenery, Kai sat in the shade of one of the Academy's few ancient trees. Its gnarled trunk and sprawling branches creating a quiet refuge amid the bustling energy of the morning.

She perched on a small concrete bench with a book rested in her lap, its pages fluttering faintly in the breeze. Though her eyes scanned the words, her gaze occasionally drifted, and her mind wandered further still.

Fazian stood at a distance, his steps slowing as he spotted her beneath the tree. The single strap of his backpack hung loosely from his shoulder, the weight a faint echo of the unease in his chest. Something had changed between them—an unspoken shift he couldn't ignore. Fazian bit the inside of his cheek, unsure whether to approach or turn back, but his feet made the decision for him, drawing him forward.

The crunch of gravel beneath his boots caught Kai's attention. She glanced up, her expression unreadable as the noise of the other students faded into the background.

"Hey," Fazian began as he reached her. He hovered for a moment, uncertain, before continuing, "It's been a minute."

"Has it?" she replied, snapping her book shut with a soft thud.

He hesitated, then nodded. "Yeah, actually. It has." Finally, he eased onto the bench beside her, leaving his backpack slung over his shoulder. "I counted."

Kai raised an eyebrow, a faint smirk tugging at her lips. "Really? That's a little… weird, no? How long has it been?"

"Is it? I mean, the last time we really talked had to be when we went to the café. That was weeks ago."

"We've talked here and there," she countered, her tone light but dismissive. "No big deal."

"I mean, yeah, we have, but…" Fazian exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. "I don't know, maybe it's just me, but you've seemed… distant. I just wanted to make sure you're okay."

Kai blinked, his words catching her off guard. For the first time, she realized just how much time she'd spent away from Fazian lately. But why? Was it their exchange at the café? Something else? The answer felt just out of reach, like a thought she couldn't quite grasp.

Before she could respond, Fazian pressed on. "Was it me? I don't know—maybe I went too far."

"No, no," Kai interrupted, shaking her head. "With what?" Though she couldn't fully explain her behavior, she wanted to reassure him that he wasn't at fault.

"The café," he clarified, his voice quieter now. "Was it too much? I figured it might've been. I mean, I just wanted us to have a good time. You're one of my best friends, and I… well, maybe I shouldn't have brought up politics. I know how you feel about that."

"Faze," Kai chuckled dryly, reaching for his hand before awkwardly pulling back. He frowned slightly at the gesture, but she pushed forward, panic flickering in her eyes.

"It's not you," she stammered. "It's me. Honestly, the café was fine. Great, actually. I had fun—I really did. But I just… I don't want to give you the wrong idea, you know?" She shifted slightly, angling herself away.

"You've been one of my closest friends for so long," she continued, her voice quieter now. "But I have to be careful. I don't want to make a decision I'm not ready for."

Fazian's gaze dropped to the ground. He nodded slowly, as though absorbing the weight of her words. "I see."

"I'm sorry," Kai said, her voice earnest. "I'm sorry for being distant, for giving you the wrong idea. I just… I've had a lot on my mind. You didn't do anything wrong. Really."

Fazian quickly shook his head. "No, it's fine. Totally fine," he said, though his voice wavered. Clearing his throat, he stood and adjusted the strap of his backpack. "Like I've said before: you know where to find me."

With a faint, two-fingered salute and a smile, Fazian turned and walked away, his steps measured, though his shoulders sagged slightly under the weight of unspoken words.

Kai remained on the bench, her book still closed on her lap, her gaze following him until he disappeared into the sea of students. Once again, his parting words echoed in her mind. You know where to find me. The simplicity of the phrase carried an unexpected weight, a reminder of his patience and the quiet understanding he'd always shown her.

She looked up at the tree, her head tilting upward to gaze through its sprawling branches. The soft rustling of leaves in the breeze did little to quiet her thoughts. For as long as she could remember, Fazian had always been there—steady, dependable, a constant presence in her life. Lately, though, she'd let that closeness slip, pulling away without fully realizing it.

Her recent behavior, though unintentional, suddenly felt unfair. She thought of the countless moments they'd shared: Fazian's unfiltered laughter at her bad jokes, their late-night conversations that stretched until sunrise, his ability to sense when something was wrong even before she could admit it herself.

She had taken his presence for granted, assuming it would always be there, waiting, no matter how much she distanced herself.

Kai exhaled slowly, running her fingers over the textured cover of her book. As much as she wanted to rationalize her actions, she couldn't ignore the truth. Her reluctance to address the unspoken tension between them had created a divide, one she hadn't fully understood until now.

Fazian's words lingered, their meaning deeper than she'd first realized. It wasn't just an offer of support; it was a quiet reassurance that he wasn't giving up on her, even if she didn't yet have the answers to the questions swirling in her mind.

--

The late afternoon sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows over the neat streets of Polaris Academy's neighborhood. Inside their patrol car, parked on the side of a quiet road, Nyota and Kilo sat with the windows cracked, the faint hum of distant activity filtering in.

Kilo, seated in the passenger seat, leaned back with his arms crossed, a lazy grin spreading across his face. "You've got to admit," he said, glancing at Nyota, "the kid with the scooter? Highlight of the day. Who tries to ride downhill with one wheel missing?"

Nyota smirked, keeping his eyes on the rearview mirror more out of habit than necessity. "Hey, it takes guts. Or a complete lack of common sense."

"Both, probably," Kilo replied with a chuckle. He stretched his legs out, the soles of his boots pressing against the dashboard. "But at least it wasn't as bad as that time we had to deal with—what was her name? The one who mistook the patrol car for her rideshare?"

"Cheryl," Nyota said dryly, shaking his head. "And she didn't just mistake it. She insisted we drive her to the airport."

The two burst into laughter, the easy camaraderie filling the car. For a brief moment, the monotony of their routine patrol faded into the background, replaced by their shared memories of ridiculous encounters.

As the laughter subsided, Nyota's phone buzzed on the dashboard. He glanced at the screen, the name "Superintendent Argus" flashing in bold letters. "Hold that thought," he said, swiping to answer the call.

"Warrant Officer Atar speaking."

The superintendent's voice was brisk but amiable. "Atar, Hikari. Good afternoon. I hope I'm not interrupting anything."

"Not at all," Nyota replied, his tone professional, though he shot Kilo a look to signal him to quiet down.

"Good. I'm calling with a quick update. Effective immediately, today will be your last day stationed near Polaris Academy. You're free to wrap up and leave your post."

Nyota's eyebrows rose slightly, but his voice remained steady. "Understood, sir. Any particular reason for the change?"

"Reassignments across the district," Argus explained. "Details will come through official channels tomorrow. For now, consider yourselves off-duty for the rest of the evening."

"Got it. Thank you, sir." Nyota ended the call and placed the phone back on the dashboard.

"What's up?" Kilo asked, curiosity sparking in his eyes.

"Looks like we're done here," Nyota said, leaning back in his seat. "Today's our last day in this neighborhood. Superintendent's orders."

Kilo's grin widened. "Finally! Don't get me wrong, the Academy's fine and all, but I was starting to feel like a glorified hall monitor."

Nyota chuckled, shaking his head. "I don't know. It hasn't been that bad. Kind of peaceful, actually."

"Peaceful's boring," Kilo quipped. "But hey, if we're done, does this mean we can grab food on the way back? Please tell me this means we can grab food."

Nyota glanced at his watch, considering. "If you stop kicking the dashboard, maybe."

Kilo immediately sat up straight, mock-seriousness on his face. "I don't know what you're talking about. I've been a perfect passenger."

With a wry smile, Nyota started the car, the engine's low rumble signaling the end of their quiet patrol in Polaris Academy's neighborhood. As they pulled onto the road, the last light of the day painted the sky in hues of soft amber, a subtle reminder that even the most routine chapters eventually come to a close.