CHAPTER -7: Teeth In The Dark

It was late.

The hallway was empty, lights humming like dying stars.

Ayan had been heading out when the voice came—soft, casual, and entirely too close.

> "You're getting really good at disappearing, you know that?"

He stopped.

Slowly turned his head.

Kairo leaned against the wall, hands in his pockets, hoodie slouched like he belonged everywhere. His grin was easy. Too easy.

> "You follow me now?" Ayan's tone was ice.

> "Follow? No. I just… happen to end up where you are. Weird, huh?"

Ayan didn't respond. He kept walking.

But Kairo moved off the wall, falling into step beside him like it was nothing.

> "You always do that," he said, voice calm.

"What?"

"Pretend you don't hear me. Pretend nothing gets to you."

Ayan didn't slow down.

> "Because nothing does."

Kairo laughed softly, but there was steel under it this time.

> "Liar."

Ayan stopped.

Not dramatically. Just… stopped.

He turned his head, and his eyes burned cold fire in the dim light.

> "Say that again."

Kairo didn't back down. He stepped closer, voice dropping low.

> "You heard me. You're lying. About everything."

The air tightened.

A beat stretched like a wire ready to snap.

Then Ayan spoke, his voice silk and venom all at once:

> "You think knowing my name makes you special. You think smiling at me every day earns you something. It doesn't. You're nothing to me, Ren. Nothing. And the sooner you figure that out, the less it'll hurt when I cut you out completely."

Kairo's breath hitched—barely. But he didn't move back.

If anything, he leaned in just an inch, a soft, dangerous smile tugging at his lips.

> "You keep saying you'll cut me out," he murmured.

"But you never do."

Ayan's jaw flexed.

His silence was louder than a scream.

And then—he walked away.

Sharp, quiet, unflinching.

But Kairo stayed behind in the empty hall, heart pounding like a war drum.

Because for the first time, he was certain of one thing—

Ayan wasn't indifferent.

Ayan was angry.

And anger meant something to break through.

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