Fragments of the Abyss

The days dragged on, and life returned to its monotonous rhythm. Alonie adjusted to her teaching job with ease, her natural charm winning over students and staff alike. For Ritu, life was a blur of indifference. He retreated into his shell, his existence as muted and hollow as ever.

On a cold, gray afternoon, Ritu left school and trudged home, the chill biting at his skin. Along the way, he stopped by a corner shop, his routine unchanged. He grabbed a pack of Pocky and a bottle of Sprite, paid silently, and stepped back into the dreary streets.

As he walked, he spotted someone familiar—Rulie, the quiet girl from his class. She was climbing into a car, and not just any car—Mr. Dek's.

Ritu paused, watching from a distance. His face remained blank, his mind processing the sight with cold detachment. He didn't care about Rulie or her life. Why should he? Everyone was just noise in the background of his existence.

But as he walked home, Alonie's face crept into his thoughts. The way she smiled, the way her voice softened when she spoke to him—it was like an itch he couldn't scratch.

"What's wrong with me?" he muttered to himself, frustration bubbling beneath the surface. He'd never felt anything like this before. Love? Jealousy? They were foreign, almost alien emotions.

The next day, Ritu entered the classroom to a wave of murmurs and whispers.

"Did you hear about Rulie?"

"Yeah, she's five months pregnant, and she doesn't even know who the father is."

"Gross."

Ritu froze, flashes of yesterday flickering in his mind. Rulie, climbing into Mr. Dek's car. The pieces didn't quite fit, but something about it gnawed at him.

The teacher entered, silencing the gossip.

"We have a new transfer student today," she announced.

The door opened, and in walked a tall, striking boy. He had piercing blue eyes, broad shoulders, and a confident stride. His white T-shirt clung to his muscular frame, and his sharp, predatory gaze swept over the room.

"Introduce yourself," the teacher said.

The boy's voice was deep and steady. "My name is Teae."

The girls in the class whispered excitedly, their eyes glued to him. The boys looked on in quiet admiration. But Ritu remained indifferent. Transfers were nothing new, and this one was no different.

At least, that's what he thought.

When English class began, Alonie entered the room with her usual grace. But something shifted when her eyes landed on Teae.

Ritu noticed it immediately—the subtle change in her expression, the way Teae's face lit up as he looked at her. It wasn't obvious to anyone else, but to Ritu, it was as clear as day.

Something passed between them, something unspoken but palpable.

Ritu's chest tightened. It was a strange, suffocating feeling, one he couldn't name.

Jealousy.

Days turned into weeks, and Ritu's unease grew. Teae rarely spoke to anyone except Alonie. They seemed drawn to each other, their interactions filled with a quiet intensity.

One evening, Ritu stayed late at school for cleaning duty. Tired and frustrated, he decided to take a different route home, one he usually avoided because of the crowds.

As he walked, he passed a small restaurant and glanced inside. His footsteps faltered.

There they were—Alonie and Teae, sitting together at a table. They were laughing, their smiles warm and genuine.

Ritu turned away, his chest tightening painfully.

"Why do I care?" he muttered, his voice shaking. "She's nothing to me. She doesn't matter."

But the truth was undeniable. He cared. He cared more than he wanted to admit.

Rain began to pour, soaking him to the bone as he walked aimlessly through the streets. He stopped in the middle of the road, his face tilted toward the sky, the cold droplets running down his skin.

"What's the point?" he whispered, his voice lost in the storm.

A shadow fell over him.

"Ritu," a familiar voice called softly.

He turned to see Alonie, holding an umbrella over him. Her hair was damp, her breathing heavy, as if she'd been running.

"Why are you here?" he asked, his voice flat.

"I saw you outside the restaurant," she said. "I had to make sure you were okay."

"Why?" he demanded, his voice rising. "Why do you care?"

Alonie hesitated, then said, "It's cold. Let's talk at my place. It's nearby."

Alonie's apartment was small but cozy. She handed Ritu a towel, and he sat silently on the floor, his eyes fixed on the rain streaking the windows. The tension in the room was suffocating.

After a long silence, Ritu spoke.

"What were you doing at the restaurant?"

Alonie hesitated, then answered honestly. "Teae asked me out on a date. I said yes."

Ritu's heart sank. The words hit him like a physical blow.

"Why?" he asked, his voice cracking.

"Because…" She trailed off, unable to meet his gaze.

Ritu's emotions boiled over. Tears streamed down his face as he blurted out, "I love you, Alonie."

Her eyes widened, her cheeks flushing. For a moment, she seemed at a loss for words. Then, softly, she said, "Ritu… I can't."

The rejection hung heavy in the air.

Ritu stood, his face devoid of emotion. "I should go."

"It's raining," Alonie said, reaching for his arm.

"I don't care," he said, pulling away.

He stepped out into the storm, the rain washing over him. Alonie watched him leave, guilt twisting in her chest.

"Did I do the right thing?" she whispered to herself, her heart heavy with doubt.

Five months passed. Ritu never returned to school. He vanished without a trace, leaving no clues behind.

Teae noticed the change in Alonie. She seemed distant, her once-bright demeanor clouded by sadness. She often stared out the window, lost in thought, as if waiting for someone who would never come back.

One day, a teacher entered the classroom with an announcement.

"We have a new transfer student joining us."

The class groaned. "Another one?"

The door opened, and in walked a girl with silver hair that shimmered like moonlight. She was tall and slender, her presence commanding the room's attention.

"My name is Roéà," she said, her voice soft but firm.

As she took her seat, the whispers began again.

But Teae couldn't shake the feeling that something about her was… off.