In the quiet interval between classes, Rai purposefully made his way toward his favorite sanctuary on the school grounds: the tree near the edge of the courtyard.
He had chosen the spot out of a desperate hope that Julian wouldn't bother searching for him here today.
Standing in its dense shadow, Rai leaned back against the rough, moss-dusted bark, taking a moment to simply exist far away from the chaotic noise of the hallways.
Yet, looking up at the familiar scenery, his mind didn't find total peace; instead, it immediately brought back thoughts of Ron.
'The kid surely missed a lot of classes,' Rai thought, a slight tightness forming in his chest. 'But he can manage to catch up before the final exams... if he hasn't given up completely.'
During the time they had spent together, Rai had developed a genuine, quiet bond with the younger boy.
