The Mozart of The School

The atmosphere fell quiet again.

Luhan was absorbed in his phone. Lien was sorting through her reporters’ interview notes. Meanwhile, Sava focused on refining her design sketches.

Until someone appeared from a distance.

A tall, handsome boy approached them.

Aldio Rasya—or simply, Dio.

Sava’s partner in the art club, and one of the school’s flower boys alongside Luhan.

If Luhan was known for his looks and achievements in the football club, Dio was known for his music. A reigning national piano competition champion—so talented that people often called him “the Mozart of the school.”

A genius in music. Especially the piano.

“Sava,” Dio called.

Sava looked up. “Ah, Dio? What’s wrong? You don’t usually come over like this.”

Luhan and Lien only watched from a distance.

“There’s an issue at the art club. Can you come with me for a moment?” Dio asked.

“Oh… alright.” Sava nodded, then turned to Luhan and Lien.

“You two go home first. I might be late. Don’t fight, okay? And text me when you get home.”

“Uh… yeah,” Lien and Luhan replied almost at the same time, slightly awkward.

Then Sava left with Dio toward the art club basecamp.

“Who’s that?” Luhan asked after they were gone.

Lien glanced at him, unimpressed.

“Are you seriously that clueless or just pretending? He’s in our grade. Dio from XI Scient-1. Our neighboring class.”

Luhan shrugged.

“He’s the Mozart of the school,” Lien continued. “They say when he plays the piano, people just freeze and forget to blink.”

“Exaggerated,” Luhan muttered.

“What part is exaggerated? You’re just the one who doesn’t pay attention,” Lien shot back.

“Then why is he taking Sava away so casually?” Luhan frowned. “He didn’t even ask for my permission.”

THUNK.

Lien immediately knocked his head.

“HEY!”

“Ow! Idiot!”

“You’re the idiot!” Lien pointed at him. “They’re club partners. Of course they go together!”

Luhan clicked his tongue. “Still, he’s too casual about it.”

Lien narrowed her eyes. “Your name might be Excel, but sometimes your brain runs like an error file. Your math grades are always red anyway.”

“I’m not that stupid.”

“High IQ test score, failing math. That’s called theory without practice.”

Luhan exhaled sharply—then, without warning, covered Lien’s mouth.

“MMMPH!! I’M GOING TO DIE—CAN’T BREATHE!”

“If you could stay quiet for one second, I might become a patient person,” Luhan said flatly.

“LUHAN, YOU’RE CRAZY!!”

“Too loud,” he muttered, still holding her.

Lien struggled, but Luhan casually reached out and fixed her messy hair.

“Alright. Let’s go home.”

---

From behind a nearby window…

A pair of eyes watched them.

A faint smile formed—difficult to interpret.

Calm… but not entirely light.

As if something was being carefully held back.

“They look really happy…” Sava murmured softly.

“Seems like it,” Dio replied beside her.

Sava flinched slightly. “Huh?”

“You’ve known each other for a long time?”

“Mm… since elementary school,” Sava answered briefly.

“Impressive,” Dio said gently. “To stay together for that long.”

Sava only offered a small smile.

“It’s fine, right?” Dio asked suddenly.

“Hm?”

“It’s fine… right?” he repeated softly, then smiled faintly.

“Let’s go home. You look tired. I’ll drive you.”

“Home? But we haven’t finished the club schedule…”

“I’ll handle it later. The weather report said it might rain.”

After a moment of hesitation, Sava nodded.

“Alright… sorry for troubling you.”

“You say that too often,” Dio replied lightly.

“In my opinion, you’ve done your best, Va.”

Sava smiled faintly in response.

The car ride was quiet.

Sava drifted into her thoughts.

Dio focused on driving, though his eyes occasionally shifted toward her.

She looked tired… even though she kept trying to smile.

Dio knew it.

That smile wasn’t truly light.

“She always smiles… but it never really reaches her eyes.”

His grip tightened slightly on the steering wheel.

If only I could lessen that burden…

If only I could be someone she could lean on…

If only I could become someone important in her life…

The role she would choose without hesitation.

Soon, they arrived in front of Sava’s house.

Dio didn’t come in—he only said goodbye before leaving.

Sava stepped inside slowly.

Today had been exhausting.

And in the car slowly driving away…

Dio was still thinking the same thing.

What role could he play in Sava’s life?

And someday…

could he truly become the one she chooses?