Page 109 of Interion

“Yeah, but maybe, Kay...” Hiro looked between me and Aish. “Maybe you shouldn’t kiss people who are clearly into you. It can mess with their feelings.”

This time it was Aish who huffed and rolled her eyes.

“If you like someone and ask for a kiss, you're the ones in the wrong.” She seemed nervous, gesturing emphatically. “You shouldn't be whining about getting rejected.”

The four of us exchanged confused looks. Obviously, this discussion wasn't just about me and Breno.

“Well,” Breno began, uncrossing his arms and looking me in the eyes, “at least I'm glad to know I was rejected because you have a bond. It's better than being rejected for no reason.”

“Reasons!” Hiro threw his hands up, shooting an accusing look at Aish. “I wish I could say someone has reasons, but I haven't found any so far.”

“What's going on here?” I asked, looking from one to the other.

“Nothing!” they answered in unison.

I took a deep breath and turned to Breno.

“I'm sorry,” I began, feeling miserable. “I really didn't want to hurt you. You've always been and always will be my best friend, but I wasn't ready to talk about the partnership bond. Actually, I'm still not ready—I don't even understand what this bond really is.”

I held his gaze, and as I explained myself, Aish and Hiro fell quiet too, glancing at each other. I struggled to stay silent while he seemed torn between holding onto his stubbornness and letting my words sink in. Breno sighed.

“Pull your hair back.”

“What?”

I was confused and took a second to understand the request, then smiled with relief and held my hair away from my face as I stepped closer. I lowered my head, exposing my forehead. He positioned his finger, pressed his thumb against his middle finger, and gave me a flick that deserved a round of applause. I immediately felt my skin turning red, but I didn't complain—just rubbed the spot.

“I also apologize for being a pain in the ass. I'm a terrible friend for not noticing, and deep down, you're right. I was fooling myself.”

He bowed his head, waiting for the flick, and I stepped closer with a smile. Then I gave him a gentle flick on his forehead and quickly stepped back. Just like that, everything was resolved. Flicks solved everything between us—that was the rule.

“And where's the cuckold?” Breno asked as we headed toward the exit. I groaned and shook my head.

“I already told you that's not how it works. Zion will slice you to pieces just for hearing you say that.”

“Not before I kick his ass for being a terrible partner.”

“I'd like to see you try,” I teased, amused, while trying to elbow him in the ribs. It didn't work—he blocked me with a shield so rigid my bones ached from the impact. We smiled at each other, and soon I noticed Aish and Hiro weren't following us, so I stopped to see where they were. When I looked back, the two were arguing heatedly. She was pointing her finger in his face while he waved his hands in an animated speech.

“Hey! Aren't you coming?” I shouted to the couple who didn't yet know they were a couple.

They waved us off, signaling they'd follow soon—something that was clearly a lie. We continued walking through campus, killing time before leaving. The trees in that area were orange, purple, and reddish—maples, and since we were at the height of autumn, their colorful leaves painted the landscape in the most beautiful vivid hues. Breno turned around, walking backward to face me, and said with a huge smile:

“Congratulations on your score!”

I still hadn't processed the number, because it seemed surreal that it was really that high.

“Thanks! I still can't believe it,” I said, my mind drifting back to everything the sonar had said, especially the part about fighting for the son of night, the savior of our people. It was obvious it was referring to Zion, and after putting the whole puzzle together, I was certain Zion didn't kill descendants in the forest. I just didn't know what he did with them.

“Stop being modest—your gift has always been incredible, Kay. It was a given you'd be a special. Ambrose always said you were beyond any other elmedic.”

“Ambrose is a doting tutor who gives me way too much credit.” Before running after Breno, I'd seen his score. It had gone up from 600 to 850—an excellent number. “Congratulations on yours too.”

“Thanks,” Breno replied, but this time he seemed discouraged.

If he kept walking backward, he was going to end up falling, so I stopped on the path, under the shade of a plane tree with orange leaves.

“What's wrong?” I asked, worried. “Shouldn't you be happy?”