"We often discover the true weight of a relationship not through the happiness it gives us, but through the fear of losing someone when they can no longer stand beside us."
...
Code sat in his chair, sipping soda as he relaxed in his room.
Behind him, Ivy stood in her big white shirt, her arms wrapped around his neck. She leaned close to his face, holding her phone in front of him as she showed him pictures of various shopping items.
Code swiped to the next picture. It was a small music player.
"I think we should get this one too. It’ll be useful for filling the silence in this room."
Code studied the screen for a moment.
"You shouldn’t fantasize about things you can’t afford, Ivy."
Ivy puffed out her cheeks and pulled the phone away.
"What do you mean by that? I’m not fantasizing about anything."
"Sure."
Code took another gulp of his soda.
Ivy smacked his shoulder before walking over to the bed and throwing herself onto it. She buried her face in the pillow.
"...Jerk."
Then—
Knock. Knock.
Code turned towards the door.
Ivy lifted her head from the pillow. "Who could that be?"
"It’s me, Torin. Open up."
Ivy sat upright on the bed as Code rose from his chair and headed for the door.
Before opening it, he glanced back at her.
"You should probably put on some clothes."
He unlocked the door and pulled it open.
Torin stood outside in a green shirt and black shorts.
"Sorry to bother you this late."
"Yes. It’s ten o’clock at night."
Torin scratched the back of his head.
"Well, I just wanted to check up on you and see how you were doing."
"I’m fine."
"Yes, yes. I can see that you’re fine. You’re obviously fine. What could possibly happen to you, anyway?"
"Right."
An awkward silence settled between them.
Neither seemed particularly interested in speaking first.
Code eventually sighed.
"What do you want, Torin?"
Torin glanced down the hallway, then back at him.
"Can I come in? It doesn’t look good standing outside your room this late."
He looked to his right, then his left, before returning his attention to Code.
"Please..."
Code shifted to the side, allowing him to enter.
Torin stepped into the room, and Code closed the door behind him.
The room was quiet and almost empty of activity. Torin stood in the middle of it while Code walked past him and sat on his bed.
He gestured towards the chair.
"You can sit there."
Torin pulled the chair back slightly before sitting down.
For a while, neither of them spoke.
Torin tapped his fingers lightly against the table.
’How should I even start a conversation with him? What are we supposed to talk about?’ Think, Torin. Think.’
"Torin, if what’s happening is really bothering you, you could just apologize. Then everything would go back to the way it was."
Torin looked at Code, his expression firm.
"I stand by my decision, Code. I’m not apologizing until Ken apologizes first. And nothing is bothering me. I just thought we’re friends, and I should get to know you better. I haven’t really had the chance to talk to you alone. That’s all."
’Uh-huh. You’re just stubborn.’
Torin shifted in his seat.
"So... how was your day?"
"Fine."
"Just fine? Nothing else?"
"Yeah. Just fine."
Torin stared at him in disbelief.
"Code, you need to learn how to give answers longer than one line. If you keep responding like that, how are we supposed to have a long-lasting conversation?"
"Sorry."
"Now, tell me what you did today. Let’s start there."
Code thought for a moment before answering.
"After classes, Ivy and I tried to settle the conflict between you and Ken. Then I returned to my room, took a quick nap, went to work, and came back. I was drinking my soda when you arrived."
Torin blinked.
"Wow."
He scratched his head, struggling to find something to say.
"That’s... that’s interesting. I... uh, don’t even know where to begin."
’This was stupid. This was stupid. I shouldn’t have come here. Code has such a boring lifestyle.’
Torin forced a smile.
"Do you do anything else?"
"No."
"...Okay."
Silence returned.
Torin’s attention eventually wandered to the soda cans on the table. He looked at them for a moment before turning back to Code.
"Can I have one of your sodas? Just one."
...
Torin lay sprawled on the floor behind the chair, fast asleep.
Five empty soda cans were scattered around him.
Code sat on his bed, staring at the sleeping boy.
’Just one, huh?’
The bathroom door opened, and Ivy stepped out.
She crouched beside Torin’s head and examined him.
"Poor thing. He looks miserable without his friends."
She gently patted his head.
"We really need to get them back together. They’re suffering because they’re apart."
Code stretched out on his bed.
"I’ll leave that to you."
Ivy picked up one of the empty cans and glanced inside before setting it down again.
"So, how many are left?"
"Three."
She straightened up.
"We’ll need to buy more, then. But not soda this time. I’m getting tired of it."
She tapped her chin thoughtfully.
"I think energy drinks would be better."
"Mmmm."
Ivy looked down at Torin again.
"Is he going to sleep here?"
Code stared at the ceiling.
"He might as well make himself at home. I don’t have the energy to carry him back to his room."
Ivy shook her head.
"No, no. He can’t stay here. He needs to go back to his room. Where am I supposed to sleep otherwise?"
"Your room."
Ivy folded her arms.
"No way. Torin has to leave."
Code adjusted himself beneath the covers, placed his head on the pillow, and turned onto his side.
"Help yourself. I’m getting sleepy."
Ivy pouted.
"This isn’t fair, Code."
He didn’t respond.
She looked down at Torin, who remained peacefully asleep on the floor.
Then she placed a hand on her hip.
"What am I supposed to do?"
....
Aria pressed the elevator button.
A moment later, the doors slid open with a DING!
She stepped forward, then froze.
Inside stood Ivy and Code.
Ivy held her bag with both hands in front of her and greeted her with a smile.
"Good morning, Aria."
Aria entered the elevator and took her place on Code’s left.
Ivy pressed the button for their destination. The doors closed with another DING!, and she settled beside Code on his right.
Silence filled the elevator.
After a while, Ivy decided to break it.
"How was your holiday weekend, Aria?"
"Fine."
Another silence followed.
Code continued looking straight ahead.
’Why am I stuck in this situation?’
The elevator stopped, and the doors slid open.
The three stepped out into the hallway.
They had barely taken a step when a loud commotion ahead made them stop.
Four men stood near the classroom entrance. They wore black officer uniforms with silver trim, black caps and black vests bearing three bold letters.
OED.
Standing among them was Caden.
His wrists were locked in silver restraints, the metal cuffs holding his hands tightly together.
The men began escorting him away.
"Wait—!" Ivy gasped.
Caden struggled against their grip, panic spreading across his face.
"Code! Please, help me! These people won’t listen to me! I didn’t do anything!"
One of the officers shoved him forward.
"Quiet. Wherever you’re going, your friends won’t be there to save you."
Caden went still.
Fear tightened his expression. His lips trembled, but he couldn’t seem to find the words to respond.
Code 11 stood by the classroom door with her arms folded.
"Officers," she said coldly, "if that’s all, you can take him."
The officers didn’t hesitate. They dragged Caden down the hallway towards the front elevator.
Code watched silently as they disappeared from sight.
Aria remained frozen, her eyes following the departing group.
Ivy looked from the elevator to Code 11, confusion written across her face.
"What’s going on...?"
Code 11 turned towards them.
"Come inside the classroom."
Code slid the classroom door open, and the three entered.
The atmosphere inside was tense.
Code and Aria walked to their seats and sat down quietly.
Code 11 made her way to the front of the room and stood behind her desk.
Ken immediately rose from his seat.
"You still haven’t told us why those men took Caden away!"
Torin stood as well, his voice rising with frustration.
"And if Caden said he didn’t do anything, why was he taken away? Who are those people, anyway?"
Across the classroom, Huegene sat with his legs crossed and his hands folded. His eyes remained closed, but a smirk tugged at his lips.
"I knew that big baby would eventually get himself into trouble. You should really learn to take care of your underlings, Red Bull."
Ken gritted his teeth and clenched his fist.
"Watch your mouth, Huegene."
Riven rose from his seat.
"Ken. Torin. Relax and sit down. I’m sure Miss 11 will explain everything to us. Getting angry won’t solve anything."
Ken folded his arms and sat back down.
"I know that. You don’t have to tell me."
Torin returned to his seat as well.
Only after both of them had settled did Riven sit down again.
Code 11 placed both hands on her desk and looked over the class.
"The men who took Caden away belong to the OED—the Obedience Enforcement Division."
The entire classroom fell silent.
Torin frowned.
"The OED?"
"Yes," Code 11 replied. "A case has been filed against Caden for theft."
Ken slammed his hand against his desk.
BAM!
"That’s obviously a lie! Someone’s trying to frame him!"
Code turned his attention towards Ken.
Code 11 remained unfazed.
"And yet, a pouch of missing coins was found in Caden’s room this morning."
Torin’s eyes widened.
"What?"
Riven pushed himself to his feet again.
"Miss 11, how could Caden have stolen the pouch? I know him. He doesn’t seem like someone who would steal."
Code 11 looked at him sternly.
"The law doesn’t operate according to what you think, Riven. It operates on evidence. The missing pouch was found in Caden’s room, which means he’s guilty."
Meira shook her head, her expression troubled.
"From one problem to another. What are we going to do now?"
Code 11 leaned back slightly.
"If you want to save your classmate, you can hire a lawyer to defend him in court. It’s that simple."
The classroom went completely still.
For a moment, nobody seemed to understand what she’d just said.
Then someone finally spoke.
"Court?!"