She had done her best to lighten the mood.
Francis was leaning back in his chair, pretending nothing bothered him, but Aura could tell. The way he tapped his pen against the desk. The way his smile came half a second too late. The misunderstanding with Avery had clearly gotten to him, even if he refused to admit it.
"You're overthinking again Francis." Aura said softly, resting her chin on her palm. "Back to earth okay? And for all we know she might have been angry. You might have as well. People say things when they're angry."
"I'm not overthinking," Francis replied, though he sounded exactly like someone overthinking. "I'm just… giving her space."
Aura smiled faintly. "You call that space? You are expecting her to call? You've checked your phone five times in the last minute."
He froze, then scoffed. "That's because I'm expecting a message, and booking the bar we are heading to today."
"Of course you are. By looking at your phone too frequently, Duke Francis." She said teasingly.
He looked at her, then finally laughed, the tension easing slightly. "You're average at cheering people up."
"And yet you're smiling."
"That's because you're trying too hard."
Aura shook her head lightly. "You're impossible."
Before he could reply, someone approached their desk.
It was a girl Aura had noticed often around Stephanie. Always beside her. Always whispering with her. She carried herself with confidence, but her eyes flicked briefly toward Francis before settling on Aura.
"Aura, right?" she said.
Aura nodded politely. "Yes. What do you need?"
"The librarian asked me to get you," she said casually. "She said something about your transfer documents. Apparently there's a file missing and she needs confirmation."
Aura blinked slightly. "Now?"
"Yes. She said it's urgent."
Francis frowned. "They couldn't come get her themselves?"
' this sounds off' he thought with a frown.
The girl shrugged. "I'm already going that way."
Aura hesitated, then stood. "It's fine. I'll go check."
Francis waved lightly. "Hey I'm not sure about this, don't go if you can't handle yourself. She looks like... Oh and Don't get lost. The library maze is dangerous."
"I'll survive." She replied laughing at his words. He was nice, but she still preferred Ethan.
She followed the girl out of the classroom, her steps calm, measured.
The hallway was quieter now, most students still inside their classes. The girl walked slightly ahead, not speaking much, and Aura didn't mind. Silence didn't bother her.
To reach the library, they had to pass the student council wing.
Aura rarely came this way. The atmosphere here always felt different. More controlled. More formal. The doors were polished, the walls lined with framed achievements and photographs.
As they approached the corridor leading to the student council hall, Aura heard something.
Soft at first.
Then clearer.
Voices.
Low. Close. Intimate.
Like a conversation.
She slowed unconsciously.
The girl ahead of her stopped too, glancing toward the closed doors. "Did you hear that?"
Aura nodded faintly. "We should keep going."
But the girl leaned slightly toward the hallway. "It sounds like it's coming from inside."
"It's not our business," Aura replied quietly.
Still, the girl stepped closer. "Come on, I'm curious." She said a villainous glint in her eyes.
Aura didn't move at first. She disliked situations like this. Intruding. Watching. It felt wrong. But the girl had already taken a few steps forward, and leaving her alone felt awkward.
Reluctantly, Aura followed.
They moved quietly toward the student council hall. One of the inner doors was slightly open. Just enough.
The sounds were clearer now.
A muffled laugh.
A voice barely above a whisper.
The rustle of fabric.
Aura felt a strange unease settle in her chest. It was like everything in her was screaming that she'd regret it. She did.
The girl beside her leaned forward and pushed the door slightly wider.
Aura's gaze followed.
And then she saw them.
Ethan.
And Stephanie.
They were close. Too close.
Stephanie's hand rested against his chest, her body pressed toward him. His back was near the desk, surprise still faintly visible in his posture.
Then Stephanie leaned in.
And kissed him.
Aura's breath stopped.
The world seemed to fall silent, the sound around her fading into something distant and hollow. Her fingers tightened slightly at her side, though she didn't realize it.
' no he'd push her away. I know they dated before but he won't do this.' Aura thought.
Ethan didn't move at first.
But he didn't push her away either. He knew she was part of his plan so he froze. Not accepting, not denying, it needed to be a bit real. For her, for them.
But for Aura outside...
That was enough.
The girl beside Aura inhaled softly,
' mission accomplished ' she thought.
Feigning shock
" Can't believe they are back together. Was Ethan feigning disinterest all this while for the girls for her?" She asked a mischievous glint in her eyes.
But Aura couldn't hear her properly. Her ears rang faintly, her thoughts scattering.
She had come to terms with things. With the arranged marriage. With the distance she was trying to create. She had even told Francis she liked someone. She had planned to speak. Slowly. Carefully.
And now…
Her chest tightened painfully. Her heart broke, they weren't that dep but it hurt.
Without a word, she stepped back.
The girl turned toward her, but Aura had already turned away. Her expression was calm, composed, almost unchanged, but her steps were slightly faster than usual.
' does she even care?' Sofia thought with a scoff.
" Oh well, now I can get her of my back." She said to herself with a sigh of relief.
Aura walked past the hallway.
Past the student council wing.
Past everything. She needed to be far from them to think clearly.
Behind her, the door inside the office closed softly.
Stephanie pulled back first, watching Ethan's expression carefully. "You didn't stop me."
Ethan frowned slightly. "That wasn't part of the plan. Heck the plan hadn't even begun yet—"
She smiled faintly. "Relax. It was just a moment."
But her eyes flicked briefly toward the door.
She had noticed.
The presence.
The pause.
And she knew.
A small, satisfied smile touched her lips.
If Aura had feelings, she had seen enough.
And if Ethan still reacted…
Then there was still something worth testing.