CHAPTER 33: FATE?

[Continuation —]

A name slipped from Valkyrie’s lips before she even realized she’d said it.

The knock that had startled the room moments ago came again.

She froze. Her friends all exchanged glances. Soda was closest to the door, halfway through picking a strand of glitter from her hair, and Lily whispered, "Wait... did Someone just say hello?"

Valkyrie swallowed hard, suddenly aware of how fast her heart was beating.

"Uh, yeah," came the familiar voice through the wood. It was calm and soft at the same time, the voice she’d been trying not to think about since that night by the riverside. "It’s... it’s me. Sky."

A hush fell over the room. Soda turned toward Valkyrie with a knowing smirk. "Oh, this is going to be good."

Lily elbowed her playfully. "Don’t start."

Tekna glanced between them all. "Should someone open the door before he thinks he’s at the wrong room?"

But Valkyrie was already moving. She was moving Slowly and hesitantly, then got to her feet and walked toward the door. Every step felt louder than it should have— the soft creak of the floorboards, the faint hum of magic that seemed to linger in the air around her. She reached for the handle, hesitated, then finally pulled it open.

And there he was.

"SKY"

Sky stood in the hallway, with his hands in his pockets, his purple academy jacket slightly unbuttoned at the collar. His wings weren’t visible— they were hidden as they always were in public— but something about him still radiated that faint angelic energy that made the air feel lighter. Bryan stood beside him, his arms folded, offering an awkward half-smile like he wasn’t sure whether to stay or disappear.

"Hey," Sky began softly. "Uhm... Can we... talk?"

Valkyrie blinked, her grip tightening on the doorknob. "Now?"

"Yeah, just for a second."

Inside, Soda mouthed go on while Lily tried not to giggle. Tekna, ever the observer, leaned against the bedpost, pretending not to eavesdrop but clearly listening to every word.

Valkyrie stepped halfway into the doorway, keeping one hand behind the frame as if she needed it for support. "What’s this about, Sky?"

He ran a hand through his hair, exhaling. "The other night. At the riverside." His gaze flickered with guilt, or maybe nerves— but his tone was steady.

"I messed up okay, I shouldn’t have... you know, leaned in like that. It was... I don’t know..." He sighed, half laughing at himself. "I just wanted to say I’m sorry... I really am."

Valkyrie blinked, a little taken aback. "You came all the way here... to apologize?"

Sky nodded. "Yeah. I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I thought I should make things right."

From inside, Soda whispered under her breath, "Oh, he’s definitely in love."

Lily bit her lip, hiding a grin. "Soda, shh!"

But Valkyrie’s expression softened slightly. The corners of her mouth curved too— not quite a smile, but close. "Sky, it’s fine. You don’t need to..."

"No, I do," he cut in gently. "I don’t want you thinking I’m that kind of guy. You didn’t deserve that awkward ending." He hesitated, searching between her eyes. "You looked... uncomfortable. And I don’t ever want to be the reason you feel that way."

Her throat tightened. The memory of that day at the riverside hit her hard— the warmth of his breath, the moment just before the almost-kiss, the way her heart had stopped mid air— flickered back in sharp detail. "It wasn’t..." she began, then stopped herself. "I just didn’t expect it. That’s all."

He nodded slowly. "Then maybe you can let me make it up to you. Dinner? Or... no pressure. Just something small. You pick the place."

"Ahhh..." Valkyrie stuttered, but before she could finish Lily jumped in. "I think you’ve done enough, Mr Sky!"

Sky blinked, he was startled for a minute

Lily folded her arms dramatically, grinning like she was auditioning for a stage play. "Our dear Valkyrie here’s still recovering from the previous fiasco."

The other girls burst out laughing. Valkyrie groaned, covering her face. "Lily..."

Sky scratched the back of his neck, smiling awkwardly. "Right. Yeah, I... deserved that."

Bryan, who’d been silent until now, leaned slightly to peek past Sky into the room. His gaze caught Soda’s— and recognition clicked instantly. "Oh. Hey... Soda, right?"

Soda froze mid-laugh, her eyes widening a bit before a shy grin crept across her face. "Bryan! Yeah. From the music class."

"Wow, small world." He chuckled, stepping forward just a little. "Am happy to see you again, didn’t expect to see you here." He lied.

Soda shrugged, trying not to look flustered. "Didn’t expect you either. Guess fate’s got jokes huh!."

Lily glancing looks from soda to bryan then whispered to Tekna, "Oh, look at that— we’ve got two lovebirds tonight."

Tekna stifled a laugh, pretending to check her nails. "Someone grab the popcorn." She whispered back.

Bryan rubbed the back of his neck, glancing at Sky. "We were actually on our way to the library. He said he needed to stop by first."

"Oh right," Sky muttered, still looking a little embarrassed. "Guess I forgot about that." He said with a silly grin.

"Of course you did man." Bryan teased. "You were too busy rehearsing your apology speech."

That earned another round of giggles from the room. Valkyrie looked mortified.

"Okay," she said quickly, waving a hand, "we get it. You’re forgiven, Sky. Happy now?"

Sky smiled, it was genuine this time. "Yeah. Thanks, Val. VAL? I can call you that now right?" He asked.

"Sky, this not the first time you called me Val, silly" Valkyrie smirked.

"Yeah...." Sky said with a heavy smile on his face then started to step back. "I’ll, uh... see you around? Val?"

Valkyrie began to laugh again, sheepishly.

But before he could leave, Soda spoke up with a light voice, teasing. "You two really should stop meeting like this. The tension in here could fry the crystals on the wall."

Valkyrie rolled her eyes. "Soda..."

"I’m serious!" she said with mock sincerity. "If the river didn’t get you, maybe a candlelight dinner will."

Bryan laughed, shaking his head. "You’re ridiculous."

"Only on Tuesdays," Soda replied with a wink.

Sky turned to Valkyrie once more, his tone was quieter now. "For real... thank you for not hating me."

Valkyrie met his gaze— warm, steady and conflicted. "I could never hate you, Sky. You just... caught me off guard, that’s all. How can I hate on my friend?"

Something in his expression softened at that. He gave a small nod, a half-smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. "Then maybe I’ll try to surprise you less next time."

"Good idea..." Lily quipped, crossing her arms.

The laughter that followed broke the last of the tension. Even Valkyrie found herself smiling— genuine smile this time... But one thing is for certain, her heart didn’t belong to him.

Bryan cleared his throat, glancing toward Soda again. "Anyway, we should get going before Mr Oscar yells at us for being late."

Soda tilted her head. "Mr Oscar?"

"Yeah," Bryan said. "He’s rounding up everyone for the Galveston trip prep. Guardians too."

"Oh," Soda murmured, trying to sound casual. "Guess that means you’re going?"

"Looks like it," Bryan replied. "You?"

"Yep," she said. "We all are going, jasmine and the others too."

Their eyes lingered on each other for a moment— a silent exchange that didn’t go unnoticed by anyone.

Sky chuckled quietly and patted Bryan’s shoulder. "Come on, man. Let’s get going."

Bryan shrugged, smiling faintly. "Yeah... guess we should..."

The girls laughed again as Sky and Bryan began to back away from the doorway.

"See you around then" Sky said one last time.

"See you Sky..." Valkyrie replied quietly. And then the door closed.

For a long moment, the room was silent except for the muffled footsteps fading down the hallway. Valkyrie stood there, staring at the door as if it might open again.

Soda broke the silence first. "Okay," she said, flopping dramatically onto her bed, "I’m officially rooting for Team Sky now."

Tekna snorted. "You say that about every guy who says two nice things in a row."

"Correction," Soda said, sitting up and pointing, "I say that about ANY guy who looks AND talk to a girl like that."

Lily turned toward Valkyrie, with a soft eyes. "So? How do you feel?"

Valkyrie hesitated, her gaze still on the door. "I... don’t know," she admitted softly. "It’s like part of me wants to run, but another part..." she trailed off, pressing her lips together. "Another part wants to stay. But I don’t have feelings for sky, romantically..."

The others exchanged quiet looks— understanding, curious and protective looks

"It’s okay girl" Tekna said "some of us have been there". She said staring at Soda in a funny way.

"But I think you should let him know how you feel Val, to stop leading him on.... I mean... look at the poor guy, he’s clearly in love...."

"Yeah..... I will, but I don’t want to break his heart". Valkyrie whispered.

"So you rather not break his heart, but play with his heart?" Lily asked as the others looked at Val in agreement.

Valkyrie had no answers, so she just stared at them in disappointment.

And then, from somewhere beyond the dorm hallway, a faint sound echoed. Distant footsteps and voices. The day outside was still bright, but somehow, in that brief silence after laughter, the air felt heavy again— like something unseen was drawing closer.

"Something heavier is on the way, I can feel it... I have to put my feelings aside, until the right time for it comes. I gotta tell him how I feel"