Because I wanted her here as long as I could keep her.
I kept typing.
Slow, deliberate, like I had all the time in the world. But every few seconds, I felt it, that weight. Her eyes.
I turned my head, and sure enough, she was staring. Not in a creepy way, not in a demanding way. Just… watching me. Wide-eyed. Innocent. Cheeks puffed slightly as she chewed another bite of her burger, lips glistening from the grease.
I tore my eyes away from her and back to the screen. Tried to focus on the question about ‘teamwork dynamics’ or whatever bullshit, because if I looked at that fucking face again, I don’t think I can stay still.
I don’t think I can stay on my side of the couch and keep it holy.God, what the fuck is wrong with me? Keep typing and don’t let that face tempt you, not when her final grades are in your hands.
—
And I thought I was smart, being the top student in my major—economics—but of course, the scholarship girl who made a luxury school bend their rules for her would be… extraordinary.
I was convinced it would take me thirty minutes if I didn’t try, maybe an extra hour if I tried. No, I haven’t even finished yet, but she had to leave for work. It felt like I failed her, and for some reason, I hated that.
I watched as she walked to the front door, putting her shoes on. I leaned against the back of my couch, lips parting to say something, but before I could, she looked up and pulled out something red.
Her wide, doe eyes found mine as she stretched out her hand as if she were offering it to me. Tome.And I didn’t even deserve it; I didn’t even finish the work that I had two hours for.
I pushed off the back of the couch, walking up to her, watching the way her arms slowly tucked back a bit, the way she bit her bottom lip, nervous, but also the way she locked eyes with me the whole time.
Fuck, so captivating.
I reached out, palm open. She looked down, and I dropped the candy into my hand before looking back up at me with that small, polite smile.
Though it wasn’t an unguarded, real smile, it was still beautiful.
The next thing I knew—
The door clicked shut behind her. She had left.
I stood there. Still. Like an idiot. A fucking idiot holding a lollipop.
Herlollipop.
I swallowed hard, walking over to the couch because I might just drop dead right there.
She. Gave. Me. A. Lollipop. And. Smiled. At. Me.
I leaned back, lollipop still in hand like it was fucking gold. It was so ridiculous because it’s just… candy. But it’s hers, which means it’s notjustcandy.
I stared at it for fifteen minutes straight, like it could fix the fucking mess in my chest. I couldn’t stop thinking about her. She was a curse. A fucking curse that wouldn’t go away, the fucking worst case.
But God, so addictive. So beautiful. So fucking beautiful.
With a curse under my breath, I shoved off the couch. I need a damn deep breath. I grabbed a random jacket hanging on the rack and left.
I ended up at the corner store, which isn’t a bad place to be at this time; it wasn’t busy and quiet too, which is great. But wait—
I stopped dead in my tracks. I turned to the side and realised the little aisle I was in. How did I even get here? Colours, colours. Everywhere. The sight of the sugar itself was going to give me a sugar rush, if not make me sick.
Oh, for fuck's sake. I can’t escape her. Ever. I decided to spin on my heel and walk out, already regretting coming out.
The cold air hit me almost right away, but what hit me first was her.Aurora.
Walking out of the same building.Ourbuilding.
