Unexpected Distractions
1274 Words
CHAPTER 12
The Moonlight Festival officially destroyed everyone’s sleep schedule.
That was the first thing Leanne realized the next morning.
Or technically—
Later that morning.
Because after Chris carried her halfway across campus like some overly confident golden retriever, everyone finally returned to the dorms around sunrise.
Which meant Leanne only slept for barely three hours.
Tragic.
Absolutely tragic.
Leanne groaned dramatically into her pillow.
“Why am I alive…”
Her phone buzzed loudly beside her.
Mika:
> ARE YOU DEAD???
Mika:
> You disappeared all night with four rich boys.
Mika:
> I need details immediately.
Leanne closed her eyes.
Peace was never an option.
---
About an hour later, Leanne slowly dragged herself across campus toward the literature club building with a coffee in hand.
The academy looked calmer during the morning.
Quiet hallways.
Soft sunlight.
Students moving sleepily between classes.
Honestly?
It almost felt normal.
Almost.
Then Leanne remembered she literally slept on Chris’s shoulder last night.
And got carried on his back afterward.
Her soul immediately tried leaving her body again.
“NOPE,” she whispered to herself.
Too embarrassing.
Way too embarrassing.
How was she supposed to look him in the eye today?!
As Leanne continued walking, she noticed the literature clubroom door slightly open already.
Someone was inside.
She blinked.
Who would even be awake this early after yesterday?
Chris was probably still unconscious somewhere.
Kai likely forced himself awake through pure anger.
Ren probably never slept to begin with.
And Carl—
Leanne paused.
Actually… Carl might genuinely wake up early voluntarily.
Which sounded terrifying.
Curious, she carefully pushed the door open.
“…Hello?”
No answer.
But she heard movement from the smaller training room connected beside the clubroom.
Training room?
Leanne blinked.
She didn’t even know the club had one.
Quietly, she stepped closer.
And immediately froze.
Carl Reyes stood inside the room wearing black sweatpants and absolutely nothing else.
Leanne’s brain stopped functioning instantly.
Oh.
Oh no.
Carl was currently wrapping hand tape around one hand while sweat glistened across his skin slightly from working out.
And unfortunately—
Leanne suddenly realized something very important.
Carl was built.
Not just “kind of athletic.”
No.
This man looked like he personally carried mountains for fun.
Broad shoulders.
Defined arms.
Visible abs.
Very visible abs.
Leanne’s soul ascended.
Why does he even HAVE abs like that?!
Carl suddenly glanced toward the doorway.
Their eyes met.
Silence.
Leanne stopped breathing.
Carl blinked once.
Then immediately grabbed a nearby towel and threw it over his shoulder casually.
“…Good morning.”
WHY WAS HE SO CALM?!
Leanne immediately turned around.
“I DIDN’T SEE ANYTHING.”
“…You walked directly into the room.”
“That sounds fake.”
Carl stared at her quietly for a second.
Then unexpectedly—
He laughed softly.
Leanne froze.
Because Carl rarely laughed openly.
And somehow his laugh was unfairly attractive too.
This family was dangerous.
“You can turn around,” Carl said calmly. “I’m not shirtless anymore.”
Leanne hesitated.
“…Promise?”
“Yes.”
Very slowly, she turned back.
Carl now wore a loose black training shirt while wiping sweat from his neck with a towel.
Still attractive.
Unfortunately.
Leanne looked away immediately.
Why am I embarrassed?!
Carl noticed her avoiding eye contact and smiled slightly.
“You look traumatized.”
“You ambushed me emotionally.”
“I was here first.”
“…Good point.”
Carl chuckled quietly before grabbing a water bottle nearby.
Leanne carefully stepped further into the room now, trying very hard not to think about what she accidentally saw earlier.
Which was impossible.
Absolutely impossible.
Carl leaned casually against the training equipment.
“You’re awake early.”
“That’s ironic coming from you.”
“I always wake up early.”
“That sounds unhealthy.”
Carl smiled slightly.
“So does sleeping three hours after a festival.”
Leanne sighed dramatically.
“Chris is a bad influence.”
“That’s true.”
For a moment—
The atmosphere became comfortably quiet.
Honestly?
Leanne realized she didn’t spend much time alone with Carl compared to the others.
Chris usually stole everyone’s attention naturally.
Kai and Ren were easier to tease.
But Carl…
Carl was calmer.
Steadier.
The type of person who naturally took care of everyone else before himself.
And somehow—
That made him feel harder to read.
Then Leanne noticed bruises along his knuckles.
Her expression softened slightly.
“…You train a lot?”
Carl glanced down at his hands briefly.
“Mostly stress relief.”
“Boxing?”
“Mhm.”
Leanne tilted her head curiously.
“You seem too nice to punch people.”
Carl laughed quietly again.
“I don’t punch people randomly.”
“That sounded suspiciously specific.”
“Chris once climbed onto a moving golf cart.”
Leanne blinked.
“…What?”
“I had to stop him somehow.”
Leanne burst into laughter.
“Why is he like that?”
“We ask ourselves that every day.”
Carl’s expression softened immediately at the mention of Chris.
There it is again.
That look.
Leanne noticed it often now.
Carl adored Chris.
Completely.
Even while constantly acting exhausted because of him.
“You really love your brother, huh?” she asked softly.
Carl looked slightly surprised.
Then his expression became gentler.
“…Yeah.”
The answer came immediately.
No hesitation.
“He’s annoying,” Carl continued calmly. “Loud. Reckless. Dramatic.”
“All accurate.”
“But he makes things brighter.”
Leanne quietly listened.
Carl looked down briefly before smiling faintly.
“When Chris was younger, he used to follow me everywhere,” he admitted. “Even when people ignored him, he still smiled anyway.”
Something about the way Carl said that made Leanne pause slightly.
Ignored him?
Before she could ask more—
Carl suddenly noticed her expression.
Then smiled lightly again like nothing happened.
“He still follows me everywhere sometimes.”
“That sounds terrifying.”
“It is.”
Leanne laughed softly again.
Then suddenly—
Carl stepped closer toward her.
Not too close.
But enough for Leanne to notice how tall he actually was.
Very tall.
Dangerously tall.
Carl reached toward her face quietly.
Leanne froze instantly.
“Huh—?”
Then Carl gently brushed something from her hair.
“A leaf,” he explained calmly.
Oh.
Leanne’s heartbeat still betrayed her anyway.
Carl blinked after noticing her suddenly quiet expression.
“…Did I make you uncomfortable?”
“No!”
Too fast.
Way too fast.
Carl looked amused now.
“You’re easy to fluster.”
“I am not.”
“You walked into a room, saw abs, and nearly died.”
Leanne covered her face immediately.
“Please stop speaking.”
Carl laughed softly again.
And honestly?
The sound made her chest feel warm.
Dangerous.
Very dangerous.
Then suddenly—
The clubroom door slammed open loudly.
“CARL I’M STARVING.”
Chris stumbled into the room dramatically with messy hair and half-asleep eyes.
He froze after spotting Leanne.
“…Lea?”
Then his eyes slowly shifted between her and Carl.
Silence.
Chris narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
“…Why does this feel illegal?”
Leanne immediately pointed at Carl.
“HE traumatized me.”
Carl looked deeply unbothered.
“You walked into my training room.”
Chris gasped dramatically before looking at Carl.
“…Were you shirtless?”
Silence.
Then Chris turned toward Leanne slowly.
“…Oh my gosh.”
“STOP MAKING THAT FACE.”
Chris immediately burst into laughter.
Leanne wanted the ground to consume her permanently.
- Writer
