The Wrong Fate

TOO FAST

A few weeks later...

Ares strode into the lecture hall, his usual calm and composed self, eyes scanning the room for a place to sit. It was just another day—routine, predictable, and easy to navigate. He had a competition coming up, but outside of volleyball, university was just a means to an end. He didn’t need to be here, not really. But today, something shifted.

As he moved toward his usual spot near the back, a familiar face caught his attention—Luna.

There she was, sitting a few rows ahead, her head slightly bent as she reviewed her notes. Her dark hair framed her face, and she had that same quiet intensity about her that he had noticed when they first met. Ares stopped for a brief moment, watching her from a distance, his mind racing with curiosity and a bit of disbelief.

She’s on the same course?

Ares wasn’t sure how he hadn’t realized it sooner. But then again, he hadn’t been paying attention to anyone in this class until now. The film course had always been something he did because it aligned with his interests in storytelling and visuals—nothing more.

He quickly found a seat a few rows behind Luna, sitting just far enough back to watch her without making it obvious. As the professor started the lecture on film theory, Ares barely registered the words. His mind was elsewhere, trying to piece together how he could use this discovery to his advantage.

Seeing her every day would make things a lot easier, he thought.

He leaned back in his seat, a small smile playing at the corner of his lips. This was a new layer to his plan. Luna was no longer just someone he had to carefully approach outside of class—now she was part of his daily routine. Ares loved the subtle game of control, and this gave him a perfect opportunity to get closer to her, study her, and eventually draw her into his world.

As the lecture continued, Ares shifted his gaze back to Luna, watching the way she interacted with the material. Smart, he mused. Focused. Everything about her aligned with what he needed for his future.

After class ended, Ares took his time gathering his things, watching as Luna packed her bag. As she stood to leave, he made his move, casually walking up beside her as if by coincidence.

"Hey, Luna, right?" he asked, his tone smooth but casual, pretending like he wasn’t sure of her name even though he had been thinking about her non-stop. "We’re in the same course. Film, right?"

Luna turned, her eyes meeting his briefly before she smiled softly. "Yeah, that’s me. Ares, right? Hana's friend."

Ares chuckled. "Yeah, Hana, right." He fell into step beside her as they walked out of the classroom. "I didn’t realize we were in the same course. Small world."

Luna glanced at him, her expression curious. "Yeah, I guess it is. I’m still trying to get used to the whole university thing."

"Same here," Ares lied effortlessly. "It’s a lot to take in. But at least we’ve got a film—it’s pretty interesting stuff."

As they continued walking, Ares kept the conversation light, but in the back of his mind, his plans were already forming. This was just the first step; getting close to her, making her comfortable. He knew he had time—after all, they would be seeing each other almost every day now.

Ares had barely finished his small talk with Luna when she suddenly turned to him, a hint of boldness in her eyes.

"Do you want to have lunch with me?" she asked, her voice calm and confident.

For a moment, Ares was caught off guard. He hadn’t expected her to make the first move, especially so soon. But the surprise quickly turned into something else—satisfaction. He liked how forward she was, even if she didn’t show it often. It wasn’t common for someone to catch him off guard like this, and it made Luna all the more intriguing.

He composed himself, hiding his brief shock behind a casual smirk. "Why not lunch with Hana?" he asked, testing the waters.

Luna shrugged, her gaze steady. "Hana’s not feeling well today. But if you’re not interested, that’s okay."

Her tone was so matter-of-fact, like she hadn’t just thrown him a curveball. Ares couldn’t help but let out a low chuckle. Bold and smart. She definitely wasn’t what she seemed on the surface.

Smiling in that effortless way he always did, Ares looked over at her. "Oh, I’m starving, What’s for lunch today, huh?" as he smiled.

Luna smiled at his playful response, and the two of them fell into step together as they walked across the campus. They looked friendly, almost like old friends, though the tension in the air between them was noticeable. Ares found himself intrigued more than ever, curious about what Luna might be hiding beneath her calm demeanor. There was something about the way she carried herself—confident, yet guarded—that reminded him of himself.

As they walked, Ares felt the gears turning in his mind. He had intended to take his time, to carefully plan his approach, but Luna was already pulling him in. Perhaps this game would move faster than he thought.

Interesting, he thought, glancing at her from the corner of his eye. Very interesting.

Ares and Luna sat across from each other at a small table in the campus café. The soft murmur of other students filled the air, but Ares barely noticed them. His focus was on Luna, watching her closely as she took a bite of her food. He had been waiting for this moment—an uninterrupted conversation, a chance to dig deeper into who she was.

“So,” Ares started, leaning forward a bit, his tone casual but curious, “I’ve known Hana for a while, but I’ve never heard her mention you before. How did you two meet?”

Luna looked up at him, unfazed, and smiled as she set down her fork. “I actually met her online, right before we both started here.”

Ares raised an eyebrow. “Online? Like, social media or something?”

“Yeah, pretty much.” Luna nodded. “There was a group chat that the university set up for incoming students, to help us connect and make new friends before the semester started. Hana and I got to talking there, and we clicked right away.”

Ares smirked, taking in the information. “Interesting. I had no idea Hana was into making friends online.”

Luna shrugged. “Neither did I, honestly. But we got along, and it was nice to know someone before stepping into university life.”

Ares nodded, but he could tell there was more to the story. There was something in Luna’s tone, a bit too casual for such a simple explanation. He waited, giving her space to continue.

And then, without hesitation, Luna dropped the bomb.

“Actually, I asked Hana a date for me and she mention about this volleyball guy.”

Ares blinked, caught off guard for the second time since meeting her. Luna’s bluntness was unexpected, but he quickly recovered, a small smirk curling on his lips.

“Really?” he asked, leaning back in his chair, intrigued. “So that’s why she mentioned me to you.”

Luna nodded, her expression still calm and unbothered by her revelation. “Yeah, she mentioned you almost right away.”

Ares chuckled, playing it cool but curious to see how this would unfold. “She did, huh? What did she say?”

Luna gave him a knowing smile. “Just that you were this athletic guy who was hard to miss, and that we’d probably get along.”

Ares raised an eyebrow, his mind racing with the implications. So, Hana was trying to push her toward me? Or maybe Luna was just trying to get a read on things. Either way, he found the whole situation fascinating.

“Well,” Ares said with a playful smirk, “I guess I owe Hana for setting this up, then.”

Luna laughed softly, her eyes glinting with amusement. “Maybe"

Ares chuckled. He appreciated Luna’s boldness. She wasn’t hiding anything, and in her own way, she was testing the waters with him—being open and honest, but with a sharp edge. It was something Ares found both refreshing and dangerous.

But he liked dangerous.

But then, without warning, Luna threw another curveball.

“So,” she said, her eyes locking onto his with a calm but piercing gaze, “what do you think of me?”