"She's my girlfriend."
The declaration fell smoothly.
Too smoothly.
For a fraction of a second, Ethan's expression cracked. It was subtle, but the calm mask shifted. Something hot burned briefly in his chest before he forced it down, his gaze turning distant, unreadable.
Vincent McMillan noticed immediately.
'I hope this is not what I think.'
His eyes sharpened, attention locking onto Ethan's stillness.
'Knowing you… I feel it is.'
A faint, dangerous smile curved on his lips.
'I always trust my gut.'
Stephanie McHenry relaxed slightly, satisfaction flickering in her eyes. The tension she had sensed earlier seemed resolved in her favor.
Around them, reactions spread quickly.
"Whoa…"
"No wonder…"
"They came together earlier…"
"That explains it."
"My apologies," the boy who had asked Aura out said slowly, bowing. He stepped back and returned to his table.
A waiter approached.
"Your lunch."
Apparently, they had ordered earlier.
Plates were placed neatly before them.
Francis sat back down casually.
Aura's cheeks flushed. "You could have just let me say no," she murmured, lowering her voice. "Everyone is staring."
She wanted to disappear into the table.
"It's only your first day," Francis replied, sulking slightly. "It's bad enough they're checking you out. Now he's asking you out?"
Aura blinked.
Then laughed softly.
He was cute.
Warm.
Effortlessly sincere.
Her gaze drifted unconsciously… toward Ethan.
He was calm again. Too calm.
Across the cafeteria, Avery Blake watched silently.
Her posture remained relaxed, arms loosely folded, expression cool. But her fingers tightened slightly against her sleeve.
'Warm.'
That word surfaced in her mind.
A memory followed.
It had been during a winter charity event two years ago. Avery had stood near the balcony, avoiding the crowd. Cameras followed her constantly, conversations were shallow, and she had little patience for either.
Her drink had slipped slightly from her hand when someone bumped into her.
Before it fell, another hand caught it.
"Careful," Francis had said with a grin.
She had looked up, mildly annoyed. Their family had been friends for ages and they were both on each other's toes.
"You looked like you wanted to throw that at someone."
"I might," she replied coolly.
He laughed.
Not politely. Not cautiously. Just genuinely amused.
"Then I should probably keep holding it."
She had taken the glass back slowly.
"You don't seem bothered I might just throw it at you instead."
"I'm not," he shrugged. "You're just… you."
No expectations.
No celebrity treatment.
No careful distance.
Just warmth, one that he had given her...
He had talked to her for ten minutes straight, casually, effortlessly. By the end, she realized she had responded more than she usually did with him, her heart was racing, it wasn't the first time it did with him but she couldn't deny it anymore.
When he left, the balcony felt colder.
Since then she'd pay more attention to him in school, Maybe....
Back in the present, Avery's eyes softened briefly, then hardened again. If we have to do this the hard way we will.
Francis laughed again beside Aura.
'Still warm.'
Her expression cooled immediately.
She looked away.
Meanwhile, Vincent stood.
'Well… if he doesn't like her, I can still make it look like he does.'
He adjusted his blazer and walked out of the cafeteria.
Ethan remained quiet, his gaze distant.
Aura felt the tension without understanding it. She finished her meal slowly, then stood.
"I'll be back."
She walked toward the restroom.
Behind her, the atmosphere settled… but not completely.
Inside, Aura leaned lightly against the counter, staring at her reflection. Her expression was calm, but her thoughts weren't.
'Francis is warm.'
Comfortable.
Familiar.
'Ethan…'
She exhaled slowly.
'No. It means nothing.'
Just first-day tension.
She straightened.
Then paused.
Voices drifted in from outside.
"...you saw his face, right?"
Vincent?
Another voice chuckled.
"If there's nothing, we can create something."
Vincent's tone turned amused.
"A prince interested in his best friend's girlfriend… imagine the chaos. Separating them alone would be enough for Hasen." He replied " And enough for me..."
Aura froze.
Footsteps faded.
Silence returned.
Her reflection stared back at her.
This time, her calm felt thinner.
'Something just started.'
And she had just stepped into it.
' no way he likes me. They read wrong,... But those eyes ' she quickly snapped out of it
The beginning of an unknown territory...