Location: Rooftop terrace, evening — golden hour lighting, wind blowing
Characters: Ardreic and Lerris — standing face-to-face, tension dripping from every word
Ardreic leaned against the rooftop railing, sleeves rolled up, fingers playing with a cigarette he never lit. His sharp eyes tracked Eve below as she left the library — soft pink cardigan, braid bouncing.
Behind him, footsteps.
Lerris Kaelthorn.
Hands in pockets. Calm as ever. That same smirk.
"Still watching Skirt Girl?"
"What happened to not caring?"
Ardreic didn't move, but his voice came out sharp.
"You flirt with every idiot who wears perfume and a ribbon."
Lerris laughed low, tilting his head.
"Oh, don't you start talking about dating."
"How many girls cried after you ghosted them for breathing wrong?"
Ardreic turned now. Slowly.
"Talking to a skirt dumb today, huh?"
"Oh no... don't tell me — you love."
(His voice dripped sarcasm like poison.)
Lerris smirked, raised a brow.
"Look who's talking like a jealous schoolgirl."
Silence.
Wind blew across the rooftop.
Ardreic's lips curled into something dangerous.
"Let's do something fun."
"If she starts falling for you — you win.
If she starts falling for me — I win."
Lerris raised both brows now, eyes gleaming.
"And what exactly are you gonna do if she does fall for you?"
Ardreic laughed. Loud. Mocking.
"Break her."
"Make her cry so hard she never wears those stupid skirts again."
Lerris leaned forward slightly, voice low, mocking.
"Same."
(He smirked.)
"Every idiot deserves it."
The air between them crackled.
Two devils shaking hands over a soul that didn't even know she was a bet.
Far below…
Eve smiled at the librarian who helped her find a book.
Completely unaware of the war already brewing around her name.
THE NEXT DAY
Location: College — Courtyard, Hallway, Lecture Room
Time: Next morning, 8:47 AM
Vibe: Calm on the surface. Chaos underneath.
Eve walked through the main gates holding her art folder in one hand and a vanilla milkshake in the other. A tiny bandage on her finger. Her braid was tied up with a little bow. She waved at the librarian who passed by and smiled at the janitor cleaning near the stairwell.
The world seemed normal to her.
But up on the second-floor balcony…
Two boys watched. Separately. Quietly.
🚩Lerris (leaning against a pillar, sipping black coffee)
He spotted her first.
She's early. Smiling again. Of course.
He clicked his tongue.
Then pushed off the wall and walked down — right into her path.
Eve almost bumped into him.
"Oh! Lerris—hi—sorry!"
Lerris tilted his head. Voice flat but teasing.
"You always this clumsy or is that milkshake distracting your brain cells?"
Eve blinked, then giggled. "No, I just didn't sleep well."
He gave her a look.
"Nightmares or guilty conscience?"
(His smirk tugged slightly.)
She didn't catch the tone.
"I was watching cartoons all night. No guilt, just regret."
Lerris paused, then scoffed softly.
"Unreal."
And walked off.
Behind her, she didn't see his smirk widen. She had no clue how unintentionally charming she was.
Then ....
🚩Ardreic (standing by the locker corner, watching everything)
He saw it all.
The smile she gave Lerris.
The relaxed shoulders. The tiny giggle.
His jaw tightened.
Time to enter.
Eve was walking past the lockers when Ardreic appeared beside her — silent and sudden.
She flinched.
"Oh—uh…"
He stared at her. Cold, unreadable.
"Still wearing skirts, huh?"
She frowned. "Excuse me?"
"I figured you'd want to change your personality after yesterday. Thought girls like you get embarrassed."
Eve stepped back slightly. "Why are you talking to me?"
He leaned in, eyes narrowing.
"You tell me. You the one bandaging strangers in the dark like a romcom nurse."
Her eyes widened. She stayed silent.
He knows.
He gave her a twisted smile.
"Don't look so shocked. You're not exactly stealthy, Eve."
She swallowed. "I didn't do it for you."
He shrugged.
"Didn't ask for it either."
Then whispered lower:
"Just don't get too used to my face. You'll be crying over it soon enough."
And he walked away like nothing happened.
From the stairwell… Ella watched.
Hands clenched into fists.
Eyes full of fire.
"You want her now?"
Her voice was barely a whisper. But her plans?
Louder than ever.
Time: Afternoon
Location: Outside the lecture hall — everyone's watching
The bell rang. Students poured out of class, chattering, laughing, phones in hand.
Eve stepped out with her folder clutched to her chest. She looked calm — until she saw him.
Ardreic.
Leaning by the door. Waiting.
She paused.
So did he.
He stepped closer, voice low and venomous — but loud enough for nearby students to hear.
"So how many boys are you planning to nurse this week?"
"Or was the bandage thing just your way of flirting? Classic skirt strategy."
Eve's lips parted. Shocked.
"Excuse me?"
Ardreic smirked, tilting his head.
"You look sweet, Evelyn. But I've seen girls like you. Always helping… always hoping someone will stay after."
Her eyes flickered with hurt — but she held her ground.
"You really think breaking others makes you stronger?"
He leaned in, whispering with ice:
"I don't think. I know."
"And trust me, by the time I'm done, you'll—"
BAM.
A punch landed square on his jaw.
Hard.
The crowd gasped.
A thud echoed as Ardreic stumbled back, hand flying to his face.
Lerris.
Standing there. Eyes blank. Fist still clenched.
"That's enough."
"You don't get to drag her like that."
Ardreic licked the blood from the corner of his lip, eyes dark.
"Oh? Defending her now?"
Lerris didn't flinch.
"No. Just sick of your voice."
Ardreic laughed — low, dangerous.
"You hit me over a girl who smiled at you once? Cute."
Lerris stepped closer.
"You think this is about her? No, Ardreic."
"This is about you being a pathetic coward who bullies what he's scared of."
A deadly silence fell.
Eve stood frozen between them. Shocked. Eyes wide.
Ardreic stared at Lerris.
Then turned — and walked off.
But not without whispering toward Eve as he passed:
"Let's see how long your smile lasts now."