“I am not the person you're looking for,” Those are the only words Phidel uttered– leaving Rowan more puzzled than before as she dashed off.
  “If she isn't then who is she and where is the one he is looking for? How are they related ?” Rowan pondered. For goodness sake, he needed clarity which for some reason~ he wasn't, getting. “Phidelia!” he called, rushing after her.
  Phidel on the other hand hassled down the hallways in her possible best to escape Rowan. She knew she would have to open up to him one day but it was not today. What made her even say what she said?
  “You're so stupid Phidel,” she mumbled– looking out for Rowan as she hurried the stairs to the main hall. “You should think before you speak.” she huffed. 
  “Phidel!” 
  At that moment, a voice called out to her. Intuitively, she lurked around with a panicked stricken look. For some reason the voice was familiar but that was none of her cousins. Instantly, her gaze settled on a figure approaching a few steps ahead of her. 
  “Ethen?” Phidel muttered in a near whisper– swiftly wrapping a hand around his arm as he neared her and pulled him along. 
  "What are you doing here?" she whispered as they came to a blind spot along the hallways. Her eyes scanned around for any passerby. 
  "Because of you." He blurted which had Phidel puzzled. 
  "Me?" Her brows furrowed. "Why?" She inquired. It's not like she had been in contact with people from her previous location except her parents. Not even her best friend, Rio. But it looked like there had been some talks about her. "What did you hear?"
  "Rio is worried about you Phidel," he muttered with a concerned gaze. "Though I wasn't around when you left, I came to hear everything." 
  Intuitively, Phidel scoffed at Ethen's words as though they were lies. " Thought you didn't want to see me again?" She uttered with a wistful smile- emphasizing the bitterness in her voice.
  “Don’t get me wrong, Phidel. It wasn’t as you thought.” His words strike the tinder inside of her, ready to spake fire.
  “Then what was it?” Phidel snapped, the empty hall echoing her pained voice. “Did you for once think of how I was hurting?” she inquired as the unshed tears shimmering in her eyes trekked down her face. "I needed you Ethen but what did you do? You chose to believe them.” she flares.
  There was silence between the two as they stared intently into each other's eyes with fire still in Phidel’s eyes as though waiting for a reply. “You know what,” she sighed– calming herself. “Stay out of my sight.” With these words, she trailed off. 
  Ethen on the other hand remained in his steed with his gaze fixed on Phidel, watching from behind as she wiped the tears with her hand while rounding the corner of the hallway. He ruffles his hair out of frustration. This wasn’t how he had wanted things to end.
  All this while, Rowan was watching from afar. “Who is he?” He muttered with a skeptical gaze– watching as Ethen chased after Phidel. 
  Rowan's eyes narrowed as he watched the scene unfold before him. Who was this Ethen, and what was his connection to Phidel? He seemed to know her, and their conversation was intense, to say the least. Rowan's mind raced with questions. What had Phidel meant by "You chose to believe them"? Who were "them"? And what had Ethen done to hurt Phidel so deeply?
  As Ethen chased after Phidel, Rowan decided to follow, curious about the situation. He kept a safe distance, not wanting to be noticed. Phidel's words echoed in his mind: "I am not the person you're looking for." Who was she, really? And what was her relationship with Ethen?
  ____________
  Phidel took a deep breath and entered the gathering hall, where students were mingling and chatting. She tried to blend in, but her mind was still racing from the encounter with Ethen. Rowan and Ethen also joined the crowd, their eyes scanning the room as if searching for someone.
  As the students began to settle in, Phidel found herself sitting at a table with a group of students she didn't know. She tried to focus on their conversations, but her thoughts kept drifting back to Ethen and their complicated past.
  Rowan, meanwhile, was observing Phidel from across the room. He was intrigued by her enigmatic presence and wanted to know more about her. Why was she here? What was she hiding?
  After a few minutes, the gathering was finally dismissed, and the students poured out of the hall like a river overflowing its banks. The sound of chatter and laughter filled the air as they strolled off to their classrooms, their footsteps echoing through the corridors like a symphony of movement. The rustle of backpacks and the creaking of doors added to the cacophony, creating a vibrant atmosphere that pulsed with energy and anticipation.
  As they dispersed, the sea of students fragmented into smaller groups, each one a tiny tributary flowing into the larger stream of learning, their faces a kaleidoscope of emotions, from excitement to boredom, curiosity to concern. The hall, once a hub of activity, slowly emptied, leaving behind a faint echo of the gathering, a reminder of the community that had briefly come together before dispersing into their individual pursuits.
  As the day went on, Rowan found himself glancing over at Phidel, trying to catch her eye. He wanted to talk to her, to ask her about what she had said earlier. Finally, during a break in the afternoon, he decided to approach her.
  "Phidel, can I talk to you for a minute?" Rowan asked, his voice low and curious.
  Phidel looked up, her eyes guarded. "What is it, Rowan?"
  "I want to know what you meant earlier," Rowan said, his eyes locked on hers. "When you said 'I am not the person you're looking for'... what did you mean?"
  Phidel's expression changed, a flicker of fear crossing her face. "I... I didn't mean anything, Rowan. Just forget it, okay?"
  Rowan's eyes narrowed. "No, Phidel. I won't forget it. You're hiding something, and I want to know what it is."
  Phidel's eyes flashed with anger, but Rowan stood his ground, his gaze unwavering. The tension between them was palpable, and the other students began to take notice.
  "Fine," Phidel spat, her voice low. "Meet me in the library after dinner. But come alone, Rowan."
  With that, she turned and walked away, leaving Rowan wondering what he had just gotten himself into.