Chapter 8 Chapter 8

Chapter 8 Chapter 8

Myla’s POV

He didn’t move.

That was the first thing I noticed.

He—who I believed to be the weird guy Kyle talked about at dinner last night, just sat there, half-hidden in the darkness, like he was part of it.

Like the shadows weren’t something around him… but something that had settled into him.

I think his name is Blake.

For a second, I wasn’t sure if he had even noticed me.

My fingers curled slightly at my sides as I stayed where I was with my eyes fixed on him.

He hadn’t looked up since I got here, hadn’t shifted. Hadn’t reacted one bit.

Just sat motionless

Maybe he didn’t.

I swallowed lightly with my gaze flickering away for a moment before returning to him.

I should just leave.

That would’ve made sense. That would’ve been easier.

But my feet didn’t move.

Instead, I stayed there… staring a second longer than I should have.

Something about the way he sat there—still, distant, completely detached from everything—pulled at something in me.

It felt oddly familiar. Too familiar.

Should I say something?

The thought felt ridiculous the moment it came out.

Why would I?

He wasn’t Kyle. He wasn’t someone who looked like he wanted to be talked to.

If anything, Blake looked like the kind of person who preferred silence. Who lived in it.

So why am I still here?

I exhaled quietly, shifting my weight slightly.

“Just go,” I muttered under my breath.

But I didn’t.

Instead, I took a step forward. Then another.

Slowly and carefully. Like I was approaching something that might disappear if I moved too fast.

Or worse… something that might bite back.

Still, he didn’t look at me, he didn’t acknowledge me.

Nothing.

By the time I stopped, I was close enough, close enough to turn back,.close enough to leave.

But I didn’t.

I hesitated for half a second, then lowered myself onto the edge of the bench a short distance from him.

The silence stretched heavily, pretty uncomfortable at first.

At least… that's what it looked like. But it didn't feel that way to me. Not entirely.

“Hi,” I said with my voice sounding quieter out here.

Like the night had swallowed part of it before it could fully come out.

Blake didn’t respond, he didn’t even glance in my direction.

I let out a small breath through my nose, nodding slightly to myself like that had been expected.

“Okay… yeah. That’s fine,” I murmured.

Silence again.

I shifted slightly with my hands coming together loosely in my lap.

“I think I saw you earlier,” I continued, my voice a little steadier now. “I mean last night, during dinner… and then again after.”

Nothing.

I glanced sideways at him briefly, just making sure he was still here.

He was, but he hadn't moved or shifted.

Just that same still, quiet nature.

I let out a quiet breath, leaning back slightly. “You don’t talk much, do you?”

The question slipped out before I could stop it. But got no answer.

I huffed lightly under my breath.

“Right. Of course you don’t.”

Another pause and I knew I should’ve stopped. This was already going nowhere.

But instead—

“I’m not usually like this,” I added, quieter now. “Talking this much, I mean.”

Still nothing.

I let out a dry laugh, shaking my head slightly.

“Actually… that’s not true.”

My fingers tightened together slightly.

“I just don’t usually have anyone to talk to,” I continued, not knowing why the words kept slipping out easier than they should have.

And that—

That made me pause.

For a second, I frowned slightly, like I was trying to figure out why I had just said that.

Why it hadn’t felt difficult to let it out.

My gaze dropped to my hands.

“I don’t even know why I came over here,” I admitted softly. “You didn’t even look like you wanted company.”

That finally got something out of him. Not much, but enough.

His voice came, low and flat. “What do you want?”

I blinked, turning my head slightly towards him, partly shocked he actually said a word.

For a moment there, I almost thought I didn't hear him, that I was just making things up.

But my mind cleared off quickly. That wasn’t harsh, not loud.

Just really straight.

I opened my mouth, then closed it again. Cause I didn’t have an answer.

“I…” I hesitated, letting out a small breath. “I don’t know.”

Silence followed again. But this time, it felt different.

He had spoken and that somehow made his silence heavier.

“I guess I just…” I trailed off, glancing ahead into the darkness. “Didn’t want to go back inside yet.”

No response.

I nodded slightly, like I was agreeing with myself.

“Yeah. That’s probably it.”

Another pause. Then—

“I think I’m just… tired.”

The word sat there for a moment.

“I mean—” I let out a quiet breath. “Today was just…”

I shook my head. “I don’t even know how to explain it.”

Still nothing. But I kept going.

“I tried to keep up during training. Couldn’t.” A small, humorless smile touched my lips. “Tried to pay attention in class. Couldn’t.”

My fingers tightened slightly. “Tried not to stand out.”

A pause.

“And failed that too.”

The words came out softer now. More honest.

I let out a breath, leaning forward slightly, resting my elbows on my knees.

“I guess I’m just used to it.”

The moment the words left my mouth, something shifted.

I pulled my brows together slightly.

Used to it?

I stared ahead, my thoughts catching on that.

“Yeah,” I said again, quieter this time. “I am.”

Blake didn’t respond. Didn’t move.

But something about his silence now didn’t feel empty.

It felt like he was listening.

“I’m used to being… overlooked,” I continued slowly. “Or dismissed.”

My throat tightened slightly. “I mean, it’s not new.”

I let out a small breath.

“It’s actually kind of predictable at this point.”

A faint, dry smile tugged at my lips before fading away.

“I walk into a place, and it’s like I’m already out of it before I even get the chance to be in it.”

My voice softened.

“I thought maybe this place would be different.”

A pause.

“But so far, it’s not.”

Silence wrapped around us again. But I didn’t stop.

I couldn’t.

Because now, I wasn’t forcing it out anymore.

It was just… there.

“I don’t even know what I expected,” I murmured. “I mean… look at me.”

I gestured vaguely to myself.

“I can’t keep up. I can’t answer basic questions. I can’t even figure out what I’m supposed to be doing here.”

My fingers curled slightly into the fabric of my trousers.

“So yeah… being dismissed?” I added with a small shrug. “I’m used to it.”

The words settled between us heavily as it felt good to let them out without being judged.

But it suddenly began to feel, strange. The energy shifted again as my mind kept whispering to me that I had said too much.

My shoulders stiffened slightly as I leaned back, exhaling under my breath.

“I don’t know why I’m telling you all this,” I added quietly and Blake still hadn’t looked at me.

Hadn’t said anything.

And suddenly, that silence felt different again.

My chest tightened slightly.

Right. Of course.

What was I expecting?

I let out a small breath, pushing myself up from the bench.

“That was… a lot,” I muttered, brushing my hands lightly against my trousers. “You didn’t ask for any of that.”

No response and I nodded to myself.

“Yeah. I’ll just—” I gestured vaguely behind me. “Go.”

I turned and took a step.

Then—

“You think you’re the only one?”

I froze as the words weren’t loud and I wasn't even sure if I had heard him.

So.I turned back around slowly.

Blake hadn’t moved much, but this time, his gaze wasn't on the floor, it was on me.

Sharp. Focused, and different.

“You think you’re the only one who’s been… dismissed?” He
continued, his voice still low, but no longer empty.

Something in my chest tightened.

“What?” I asked, barely above a whisper.

His expression didn’t change, but his eyes—

There was something there now.

Something deeper. Darker.

“You’re not the only one with a past like that.”