Chapter 5: A new encounter
882 Words
The days after lunch changed something.
Not dramatically.
Not loudly.
But enough for people to notice.
Max had a way of appearing—by the studio, outside lecture halls, even at the dorm entrance like it was the most normal thing in the world.
And somehow, James kept ending up with him.
Talking.
Walking.
Laughing.
“Okay, I’m officially concerned,” Camilla said one afternoon, arms crossed as she watched James scroll through his phone with a small, unconscious smile.
“What?” James asked, not looking up.
“You’re smiling at your phone.”
“I do that.”
“No, you don’t,” she said flatly. “Not like that.”
Aston leaned back in his chair. “Let me guess… Max?”
James immediately locked his phone. “Can you both relax?”
“That’s a yes,” Aston smirked.
Before James could respond, a voice cut in—
“James.”
They all turned.
A girl stood there—tall, confident, and effortlessly elegant. Her presence alone made a few nearby students glance over.
She smiled softly.
“I’ve been looking for you.”
James blinked. “Do I know you?”
She laughed lightly. “Not yet. I’m Elena.”
She extended her hand.
“I’m in the business faculty. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
Camilla’s eyes narrowed slightly.
Too interested, she thought.
James shook Elena’s hand politely. “Nice to meet you.”
“I was wondering,” Elena continued, “if you’d like to join me for dinner sometime. It would be nice to get to know each other.”
Aston nearly choked.
Camilla leaned closer to him. “This is bad.”
James hesitated.
“I—”
“Sorry.”
The word came from behind him.
Low, Calm but firm.
“I already have plans with him,” Max said, stepping forward.
James turned, surprised. “We do?”
Max didn’t even look at him.
“Yes,” he said simply.
Elena’s smile didn’t fade, but her eyes sharpened.
“And you are?” she asked.
“Like you don’t know”
“That doesn’t answer much.”
“It’s enough.”
Elena studied James for a moment longer.
Then she smiled again—but this time, it didn’t quite reach her eyes.
“I see,” she said. “Well… I hope those plans are worth it.”
Her gaze shifted briefly to Max.
Something unreadable passed between them.
Then she turned and walked away.
James exhaled. “What was that?”
Max shrugged slightly. “Someone interested in you.”
“I could tell,” James said. “You didn’t have to jump in like that.”
Max finally looked at him properly.
“I did.”
“Why?”
“I don’t like people trying to take what I’m interested in,” he said quietly.
James’s heart skipped.
“I’m not something to ‘take,’” he replied.
“I know,” Max said. “That’s why I’m not taking you.”
He took another step closer
“Am choosing you”
“…You’re doing that thing again,” James muttered.
“What thing?”
“Saying things like it’s normal,” he said, looking away. “It’s not normal.”
Max tilted his head.
“It can be.”
Aston suddenly stood up. “Okay! I’m leaving before this gets more intense.”
Camilla grabbed her bag. “Same. Text me everything later.”
“Hey—don’t just leave—” James started.
Too late.
They were already gone.
Across campus, Elena stopped walking.
Her expression dropped.
“Max…” she muttered under her breath.
“So that’s who you’re interested in.”
Her eyes darkened slightly.
“This might be more interesting than I thought.”
Back with James—
He still didn’t fully understand what he was feeling.
But one thing was becoming clear.
He was falling for him and he knew it.
Elena stood by the glass windows of the business faculty building, her reflection staring back at her.
Composed.
Elegant.
Unbothered.
At least—that’s how she looked on the outside.
So,” her friend said beside her, “that’s the guy?”
Elena didn’t answer immediately.
Her eyes were fixed on the scene across campus—
Max.
And James.
Talking again.
Laughing.
Close.
Elena approach’s James
“You should be careful,” she said.
James frowned. “About what?”
“Max.”
That immediately put him on edge.
“What about him?”
Elena crossed her arms lightly.
“You don’t know who he really is.”
James felt something tighten in his chest.
“What does that mean?”
“It means,” she said calmly, “people like him don’t approach others without a reason.”
James’s brows furrowed. “You’re speaking like you know him.”
“I do.”
“Our families are connected,” she continued. “We’ve known each other for a while.”
James’s expression shifted slightly.
“Oh.”
“…So what are you trying to say?” he asked quietly.
Elena stepped a little closer.
“I’m saying you should stay away from my man.”
Before James could respond—
A voice cut in.
“Elena.”
It was max
- Writer
