Jace's POV
I stood a few meters away, leaning casually against one of the pillars outside the study corner.
From that distance, I had a perfect view of him.
Same posture. Same concentration. Same ridiculously disciplined way of existing.
Onyx sat alone at the corner table with his laptop open, fingers moving steadily across the keyboard as if the world around him didn't exist. His expression remained calm, composed—completely neutral. Like nothing extraordinary had just happened to him.
Which was... frankly impressive.
Most people would look different after surviving something like that.
Relieved.
Excited.
At the very least, visibly human.
But Onyx?
Nothing.
Just that same composed expression he always wore. If you didn't know him, you'd think today was no different from any other ordinary afternoon.
I smirked and folded my arms across my chest.
You really are something else, Boss. Unfortunately, that particular trait of yours keeps making me do incredibly reckless things on your behalf.
And then—I saw her.
My mood immediately soured.
The annoying fringe girl.
Tch.
Melody walked straight toward him like she owned the entire study corner.
I shifted slightly and stepped behind the pillar, keeping both of them within view.
I wasn't entirely sure why I was still watching.
Maybe curiosity.
Maybe irritation.
Maybe because there was still something that had been bothering me for a while, and I hadn't confirmed it yet.
Were they actually dating already?
The thought had been living in my head ever since that day at the seaside.
The same seaside where I work.
The exact place I deliberately chose because I knew Onyx would never go there.
He doesn't like sweets.
Pa told me that once, casually. So when I chose the frozen ice cream stall for my work, the logic had been simple enough. It was a safe choice. Neutral territory. The kind of place Onyx would probably never visit on his own.
Or at least, that had been the plan.
Apparently, however, the universe has a strange sense of humor when it comes to me.
Because out of all the places he could've been—places he should've been—he still showed up there anyway.
And not alone.
With her.
And of course he saw me.
Tch.
Of course he did.
"Hello, Onyx," Melody said brightly as she approached his table. "So? Any update with the professor?"
Onyx looked up from his laptop.
"You were right, Melody," he said calmly. "He granted reconsideration."
Her entire face lit up.
"I told you so!"
Behind the pillar, I scoffed quietly.
"I told you so," I muttered under my breath, mocking her tone.
As if she had anything to do with it.
As if she were the one who actually fixed the problem.
All she ever did was appear at the worst possible moments and ruin every carefully controlled situation I was trying to manage.
"Did you know I prayed for you that everything would be okay? I even went to the university chapel!" She added happily. "And I'm so glad it worked out!"
Onyx nodded slightly.
"Thank you for thinking about me," he said calmly.
Oh, fantastic. Now she's the superhero because of prayer?
I smirked and slowly shook my head.
This girl really is something.
"Do you want to celebrate then?" Melody continued cheerfully. "I can treat you!"
"Not now. I have classes in the next fifteen minutes," Onyx replied.
"Hm, how about later? Or during your vacant period?" she suggested.
Onyx glanced at her.
"Don't you have other classes as well?" he asked. "Why are you always free whenever I am outside?"
Yes.
Exactly.
That was the same question I wanted to ask.
"Maybe we just have the same vacant period!" she said shyly. "So... maybe after your last class? Would that be better?"
"Probably not," Onyx answered. "I always go straight home to have dinner with my father."
I grinned quietly behind the pillar.
Proud of you, Boss.
Excellent work. Ditch her.
"Hm... then maybe the next vacant after your class?" She insisted.
Onyx paused for a moment before answering.
"Thank you for your offer, and for praying for me," he said calmly. "But I would prefer to focus on my academic requirements for now. I've been distracted recently, and it disrupted my schedule. I want to return to my normal routine. I hope you understand."
Ha!
Right in the face.
Perfect answer, Boss.
Fringe girl pouted slightly. I could clearly see the disappointment creeping onto her face.
Onyx, however, had already returned his attention to his laptop.
Best moment of my day.
"I see. No worries!" she said quickly, forcing a smile. "Maybe some other time when you're free!"
Then she brightened again.
"How about this Saturday? Do you want to go with me again?"
Onyx sighed softly and closed his laptop.
Apparently, he had finished submitting whatever he was working on.
He packed his things, stood up, and faced her.
"I went with you last Saturday because you said you wanted to eat at the seaside restaurant and didn't have anyone to join you," Onyx began calmly.
I tilted my head slightly, suddenly curious.
Melody listened quietly.
"I also went to help you celebrate finishing your examinations last week," he continued.
She nodded slowly.
I blinked.
"I only did it once to help you," Onyx said. "To do you a favor. I never actually wanted to go out in the first place. But you insisted, and since I consider you a friend, I agreed."
He paused briefly.
"But going out that day caused the worst distraction I've experienced recently. It nearly delayed my graduation."
Her expression froze.
"I will decline your offer," Onyx continued calmly. "Not just this time, but future ones as well. I have more important things to focus on. I apologize if this sounds harsh, but I do not want you to misunderstand the kindness I show you, Melody."
Silence hung in the air between them.
Behind the pillar, my brain took a full three seconds to process what I had just heard.
Wait.
So...
They're not dating?
I misunderstood the entire situation?
Onyx doesn't even like the annoying fringe girl—and he only went out with her because she practically forced him?
I slowly narrowed my eyes and dragged a hand down my face.
"Well," I murmured quietly to myself. "Now I feel worse."
I exhaled.
"I was the villain after all... not the superhero."
But at least now I knew.
And honestly?
I had to admit—
Finding out like this was still worth it.
Heh.
"Melody, you are a good friend," Onyx said at last.
His voice was calm. Steady. The way it always was whenever he had already made a decision and simply needed to deliver the conclusion like a professor announcing the final answer to a problem.
"Thank you," he continued, "but please... I do not want any more misunderstandings between us. It has become too much for me."
He spoke gently, but every word landed with surgical precision.
"I also do not want you to believe that I feel anything romantic for you. I want to make things clear between us."
He paused briefly, as if giving the statement the dignity of space.
"I do not want to hurt your feelings. However, I believe setting things straight is the best course of action."
I leaned slightly against the pillar, watching the scene unfold with mild interest. From where I stood, it looked exactly like the kind of setup you'd see in a drama—awkward confrontation, tense silence, the inevitable emotional fallout waiting just around the corner.
So naturally, I prepared for the usual outcome.
Was this the part where the fringe girl started crying?
That was usually how these things went. She'd cry. Maybe tremble a little. Then she'd ask for another chance while some painfully dramatic background music played to make the moment feel heavier than it actually was.
Except that wasn't what happened.
Instead, she let out a quiet sigh.
It was a long one, the kind that slipped out slowly as if she had already accepted the outcome before the conversation even started. Then she lifted her head again and smiled.
Bright.
Cheerful.
Completely composed.
The kind of smile that would probably convince most people nothing was wrong.
But I could tell.
Trust me.
That smile had cracks in it.
"It's fine, Onyx!" she said enthusiastically. "You don't have to worry about me. I'll still be here for you as your good friend!"
Onyx nodded once.
"Thank you, Melody," he said. "I need to go to my next class now. See you around."
"Bye!" she replied brightly.
He left.
Just like that.
No drama.
No emotional collapse.
Just Onyx walking away with his bag slung over his shoulder like he had merely finished discussing homework.
As his figure disappeared down the hallway, fringe girl remained standing there.
For a moment, she didn't move at all. Then her shoulders slowly sank, the quiet weight of the conversation settling over her. A deep sigh escaped her as she lowered her gaze to the table, staring at it like it might somehow offer a better outcome than the one she had just received.
Of course it didn't.
Rejection tended to have that effect on people.
Now, if you're wondering whether I felt bad for her—
Not really.
Not even a little.
If anything, the feeling sitting in my chest right now was closer to relief. A very specific kind of relief that made my shoulders loosen slightly as the realization settled into place.
Because now I knew.
The Boss didn't like her.
And that—
Well.
That changed things.
A thought slid into my head so suddenly that I almost laughed under my breath. Apparently, I had some catching up to do.
But before I dealt with that little realization...
There was something else I wanted to do first.
I pushed myself off the pillar and started walking toward her, taking my time with it. No rush. Just a slow, casual stride across the hallway.
Because naturally—I was about to mess with someone.
Like someone taking a peaceful stroll through a park instead of approaching the aftermath of a romantic rejection.
I reached the bench across from her and dropped into the seat, spreading my arms across the table as if the entire place belonged to me.
"You look sad," I said, tilting my head slightly while a smirk curled at the corner of my mouth. "I wonder why."
She looked up.
For a brief moment, annoyance flashed across her face.
Then she smiled.
"Oh?" she said. "Are you here to mess with me?"
"Probably," I shrugged.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"You heard everything, didn't you?"
I leaned back in my seat.
"Let's say," I replied lazily, "I was just passing by... and happened to overhear the two of you talking."
She studied me carefully.
Then her expression shifted.
Serious this time.
"I know you like Onyx, Jace," she said. "I know you do."
Oh?
I raised an eyebrow.
"Can you feel what I'm feeling right now?" I asked mockingly. "Are you a mind reader?"
But she didn't flinch.
"Don't think I'll back down just because Onyx rejected the idea of being romantically involved," she continued firmly. "If I have to fight for him, I will do it my way."
Her gaze sharpened.
"Even if the person I'm fighting is you."
I chuckled softly.
"Well," I said with a smirk, lifting both eyebrows slightly, "I'm an opponent you shouldn't underestimate."
She narrowed her eyes at me.
"I can't believe I'm saying this," she muttered, shaking her head slowly. "But I never imagined I'd be competing with another guy for the man I love."
She sighed.
"And honestly, fighting against you will probably be difficult and incredibly annoying."
I grinned.
"But I'll still do my best to win Onyx."
"That's the spirit," I said teasingly.
For a moment, she just stared at me.
Then she sighed again.
"You know," Melody said slowly, "I just realized something."
"Oh?" I replied.
"You're the friend he was talking about."
My eyes narrowed slightly.
"Friend?" I repeated.
She waved her hand dismissively.
"Nothing," she said quickly. "As I was saying... I'm ready. I'll bring it on."
She smirked.
Interesting.
I looked down at her—not in any emotional sense, just physically. The height difference made it unavoidable. She had to tilt her head slightly just to meet my gaze.
I leaned down just enough for the moment to feel deliberate.
"Then pray harder," I said quietly. "That's what you're good at."
Her eyes narrowed again, but instead of saying anything else, she lifted her chin with quiet pride. Then she turned and walked away without another word.
Well.
I guess we had just declared war.
Not that I planned on backing down.
Especially when the person we were apparently competing over was Onyx.
And let's be honest—winning over the Boss was not exactly a straightforward task. Onyx had the most complicated and bizarre thought process I had ever encountered in a human being. Half the time I wasn't even sure whether I was dealing with a person or a robot with a highly advanced algorithm.
So no.
I wouldn't claim I had the upper hand here.
But at least now the situation was clear.
And that meant it was time for me to do what I did best.
Annoy the Boss again.
Because apparently I had spent the last few days overthinking like an idiot. I convinced myself they were dating, assumed she mattered more to him than I did, and decided the smartest move was to keep my distance.
Ridiculous.
I pulled my phone from my pocket and opened our chat thread. The screen lit up with the familiar conversation history, and for a second I just stared at it, considering my options.
If I was going to restart this, I wasn't going to do it with some dramatic entrance or a sudden confrontation.
No.
I'd ease back into the scene like nothing had happened.
Slow.
Composed.
Strategic.
My thumbs moved over the keyboard as I started typing a message.
Me:
...
Sent: 11:38 a.m.
Perfect.
I smirked as I locked my phone and slipped it back into my pocket.
"Yeah," I muttered to myself as I started walking down the hallway.
"This is a good start."
Now all that remained was to see what the Boss would do next.
End of Chapter 41