ELITE ACADEMY: ICE AND GOLD

CHAPTER SEVEN: THE GAME OF ATTRACTION

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CHAPTER 7: UNEXPECTED PARTNERSHIPS

The bell had rung for break, but the hallways of Elites Academy were unusually quiet. Most students had scattered to the courtyard, the cafeteria, or the library. Only a few lingered in the corridors, chatting or scrolling on their phones.

Damian spotted Thiago sitting alone on the edge of the hall bench, scribbling something in his notebook, headphones resting around his neck. His heart pounded in his chest, but he took a deep breath and approached him.

“Thiago,” Damian started softly, careful not to startle him. “Thanks for earlier… giving me your earpod. It really helped me escape the chaos for a while.”

Thiago didn’t look up. His eyes scanned the hallway casually before flicking back to his notebook. He slid the earpod into its case with a sharp click, his movements precise, deliberate.

“That was nothing,” he said flatly, voice calm, detached. “Just don’t mistake it for… anything else.”

Damian swallowed, his persistence fueled by a mix of admiration and hope. “I… I was wondering if maybe we could work on the science project together. It could benefit both of us academically. I don’t have anyone else to team up with.”

Thiago didn’t immediately respond. His posture remained relaxed, but his sharp gaze met Damian’s. “I don’t need anyone’s help,” he said simply, almost dismissively. “The gesture earlier was just temporary. Nothing more. You’re free to think otherwise, but that’s the truth.”

Damian took a cautious step closer, his voice gentle but firm. “I understand, but… we don’t have to be friends. I just need someone competent to work with. That’s all. I promise I won’t bother you.”

Thiago let out a quiet hum of disinterest, eyes narrowing slightly. “Do you think I care about any stupid school project?”

“You’re a student, Thiago. You’re supposed to,” Damian replied, trying to keep his voice steady, hoping not to show how nervous he was.

Thiago finally grabbed a scrap of paper from his notebook, scribbled a number on it with a quick, almost careless motion, and handed it to Damian. “Use this. Consider it a favor. Don’t get used to it.”

Damian’s eyes lit up. He clutched the paper gently, his heart racing with a mix of relief and excitement. “Thank you… really. This means a lot.”

A few students lingering in the hall whispered to one another, their voices low but filled with curiosity. “Did Thiago just… give Damian his number?”

“Are they… partners now?”

“Thiago’s always so cold. I don’t think he even talks to anyone.”

Thiago leaned back against the wall, arms crossed, expression unreadable, exuding that effortless, untouchable aura. Damian, meanwhile, walked away with a small, triumphant smile, knowing he had made a rare connection.

For Thiago, it was nothing extraordinary—just another day. But for Damian, it was the start of something unexpected, fragile, and possibly transformative.

The clink of lockers and distant laughter echoed through the hallway, but in that moment, both boys remained in their separate worlds, connected by the subtle bridge of a shared project—and a delicate, unspoken understanding.

⸻

Meanwhile, Aria stood past the cafeteria with Sienna and Lila. Her eyes landed on Thiago, sitting by the window of the classroom, scrolling through his phone with his headset on. She tilted her head, studying him.

“Why is he always like this?” Aria asked, a hint of curiosity in her tone.

“Like, every time, he’s always with that annoying headset on, as if he just wants to escape from the world,” Lila replied.

“Well,” Sienna said softly, “sometimes the world is so difficult.”

“The world shouldn’t be for someone like Thiago,” Lila whispered, almost to herself. “He’s so hot, cool, muscular, cute—oh my gosh, he’s just like an angel picked from heaven. But he’s always so cold and detached from everyone.”

“Yeah,” Aria said, smirking slightly. “That is what makes him special.”

She paused, eyes narrowing with determination. “Wait and watch.”

Aria walked into the cafeteria and bought a boba, the signature drink everyone loved. With it in hand, she approached Thiago and placed it beside him.

“Mm, a friendly gift,” she said casually.

Thiago didn’t even look at her. He kept scrolling, untouched.

“I don’t give up easily,” she murmured, sliding into the seat near him. She smiled warmly, leaning close.

Thiago finally glanced at her, a mischievous spark in her eyes. Then he shook his head in disbelief and continued scrolling.

“Just listen to me for once,” Aria urged. “I don’t know why people think I’m so bad and awful.”

“Of course you are,” Thiago cut in, his voice flat.

“Oh my gosh, sincerely,” Aria continued, undeterred, “I’m not. I’m so kind. I love humanity. It’s just that some people don’t deserve it. But someone like you, Thiago—you do deserve it from me. It should be a big privilege, really, that I’m talking to you or trying to mingle with you. But why are you so cold and detached from everyone?”

Thiago didn’t respond.

“Hello, I’m talking to you,” Aria said, a little sharper now.

Thiago still ignored her, absorbed in his own world.

“Oh my gosh, you’re so annoying,” Aria sighed. “Okay, let’s start things from a good foot, okay? I’m Aria, and you are?”

“Are you seriously desperate for attention?” Thiago replied, his voice low and cutting.

“I’m not desperate for attention,” Aria said, frustration mixing with amusement. “Whenever I walk anywhere, attention finds me. I’m the center of attention.”

“Now you’re acting so full of yourself,” Thiago said coolly. “And you think I would like to mingle with someone like you?”

Aria leaned back slightly, feigning innocence. “Okay, I’m so sorry. But Thiago, if you mingle with me and become friends with me, oh my gosh, the whole school will bow to you. Boys from this school, everywhere—they’re desperate for my attention. And I’m just giving it to you on a platter of gold. And you’re misusing it.”

“Excuse me,” Thiago said, starting to rise.

As he tried to walk out, Aria quickly followed and stopped in front of him. “Okay, let’s do this—give me your contacts, and I’ll chat you up. From there, we can get to know each other.”

Thiago paused for a moment like he was so disturbed from all Aria talking, then he gave her a last glance before walking out.

Aria’s eyes widened, thrilled. She felt an unusual pull toward him. “There’s something so good about this boy. He keeps pushing me… I think I might be obsessed.”

Sienna and Lila approached, whispering.

“So, how was it?” Sienna asked.

“How was what?” Aria replied playfully.

“You technically told us we should wait and watch,” Lila said. “You’re meeting Thiago. How was your conversation?”

Aria smiled mysteriously. “You guys should just wait and watch. I’m going to get him.”

“Of course you can,” Lila said, trying to comfort her.

Aria turned to them, eyes blazing. “Why do I feel like you guys are just trying to console me, as if I’m in some big depression? Excuse you. Do you know who I am? I’m Aria of Elites. Don’t forget that.”

“Of course I’m not going to forget that,” Lila said.

“You’re our queen,” Sienna added.

“You guys are unbelievable,” Aria said, smirking, and stomped out.

⸻

From the football field, Kayden’s eyes were locked on the classroom window. Every movement, every glance between Aria and Thiago burned into his mind. Rage boiled inside him, a fire he couldn’t contain. He slammed his hand against the railing, making Luca and Sam jump.

“Do you see that?!” Kayden snapped, his voice sharp, trembling with fury. “Aria… with Thiago! Right there, in front of me!”

Sam and Luca, standing just behind him, nodded. They could feel the heat radiating off their friend, his pride bruised.

Luca, standing beside him, noticed the tension immediately. “Dude… you’re scowling like a king who just lost his crown,” Luca said, trying to lighten the mood.

Kayden’s jaw tightened. “Do you see that? That’s Aria… with him. That’s Thiago.” His voice was low, seething.

Sam leaned in, whispering, “Man… just chill. It’s not worth—”

“Are you seeing this?” Kayden muttered under his breath, the words laced with venom. His friends, standing beside him, felt the intensity radiating from him.

“I’m seeing it,” Luca saidtrying to steady the tension. “But chill Kade—”

“Chill?!” Kayden cut him off, his tone cutting like ice. “Nobody, I mean nobody, touches Aria except me. You hear me?”

Sam held up his hands, trying to calm him. “Okay, okay… take a breath, dude. It’s not the end of the world.”

“I’ll show him the consequences of even looking at what’s mine.”Kayden’s lips curled into a dangerous smirk.

Sam swallowed hard, sensing the storm brewing in their usually confident friend. “Alright… alright, man. But just… don’t get reckless over this minor issue.”

Luca muttered under his breath, “Man, he needs to really losing it…”

Kayden spun around, fists clenched. “Losing it? No. I’m claiming it. I will not let her be… anywhere… with anyone else. You two understand?”

Sam and Luca nodded, knowing better than to argue further. The three of them stood on the field, the tension heavy in the air, as Kayden’s storm brewed, eyes never leaving the classroom window.