Chapter 2: An Unwanted Meeting
1083 Words
Sabrina regretted volunteering.
It had only been three days since she joined the preparations for the Leadership Summit, and she was already exhausted.
Not because of the work.
Because of Midnight.
The president of the Student Leadership Organization seemed determined to make everyone's lives difficult.
"These reports should have been finished yesterday."
"Check the registrations again."
"That banner is crooked."
Every instruction was delivered with the same cold expression.
No smile.
No encouragement.
Nothing.
Sabrina watched from the back of the room as Midnight reviewed a stack of documents.
"Does he ever relax?" she whispered.
The volunteer beside her laughed quietly.
"Not that I've seen."
"I think smiling would actually hurt him."
The volunteer covered his mouth to stop himself from laughing.
Unfortunately, Midnight looked up.
His sharp eyes landed directly on Sabrina.
She immediately pretended to be busy.
A few seconds later, footsteps approached.
Sabrina slowly lifted her head.
Midnight was standing in front of her.
"Oh."
That was all she managed to say.
"The registration forms."
"What about them?"
"They're incomplete."
Sabrina frowned.
"I finished everything."
"Then check them again."
She grabbed the papers.
After reviewing them, she realized one page was indeed missing.
Still, she wasn't about to admit defeat so easily.
"Fine."
Midnight nodded.
"Good."
Then he walked away.
Sabrina stared at his back.
"So annoying."
That afternoon, the volunteers were assigned different tasks around campus.
Sabrina's job was to distribute promotional flyers.
Simple.
Easy.
At least until she accidentally walked into the wrong room.
The door closed behind her.
She looked around.
The office was empty.
Large bookshelves lined the walls.
Awards and certificates covered a display cabinet.
A massive desk stood near the window.
Everything was perfectly organized.
Sabrina froze.
This wasn't a classroom.
This was Midnight's office.
"Oh no."
She quickly turned around.
Too late.
The door opened.
Midnight entered carrying several folders.
The moment he saw her, he stopped.
Silence filled the room.
Sabrina forced a smile.
"Hi."
Midnight stared.
"What are you doing here?"
"I got lost."
"How?"
"Very easily."
His eyebrow twitched.
For a moment, Sabrina thought he might actually laugh.
Instead, he sighed.
"You have a map."
"I forgot to look at it."
"You volunteered for a leadership event."
"Not everyone is born perfect."
The words escaped before she could stop them.
The room became quiet.
Sabrina mentally screamed.
Why did she always argue with him?
To her surprise, Midnight didn't seem angry.
If anything, he looked amused.
Only slightly.
Only for a second.
But it was there.
Then it disappeared.
"You're in the wrong building."
"I noticed."
He pointed toward the door.
"The auditorium is across campus."
"Thanks."
As she reached the door, Midnight spoke again.
"Sabrina."
She turned around.
"Yes?"
"Don't get lost."
Her lips curved into a smile.
"I'll try, President Grumpy."
Before he could respond, she hurried out.
Midnight stared after her.
President Grumpy?
No one had ever called him that before.
Most students were too intimidated to even look him in the eye.
Yet Sabrina spoke to him as if he were completely normal.
The thought lingered long after she left.
The following week brought even more preparations.
The Leadership Summit was only days away.
Everyone was busy.
Everyone except Sabrina.
At least according to Midnight.
He found her chatting with volunteers.
Helping students.
Giving directions.
Making friends.
Everywhere she went, people seemed happy to see her.
It was strange.
Midnight couldn't understand it.
People respected him.
People admired him.
But they didn't approach him the way they approached Sabrina.
They weren't comfortable around him.
They were comfortable around her.
One afternoon, while carrying supplies across campus, Sabrina noticed Midnight sitting alone beneath a tree.
A laptop rested on his lap.
Several folders surrounded him.
Working.
Of course.
She walked over.
"Taking a break?"
"No."
"You're literally sitting under a tree."
"I'm working."
Sabrina looked at the paperwork.
"Wow."
"What?"
"You really don't know how to relax."
Midnight returned his attention to the laptop.
"And you talk too much."
Sabrina gasped dramatically.
"That was rude."
"You asked."
A laugh escaped her.
To Midnight's surprise, he didn't immediately dislike the sound.
In fact, it was strangely pleasant.
Sabrina sat beside him.
"Can I ask you something?"
"You just did."
She rolled her eyes.
"Why does everyone think you're scary?"
"Because they do."
"That's not an answer."
Midnight closed his laptop.
For a moment, his expression softened.
"It doesn't matter."
Sabrina studied him carefully.
For the first time, she noticed something behind his cold exterior.
Loneliness.
It was only a glimpse.
A brief moment.
But it was there.
Before she could say anything, Midnight stood.
"The meeting starts in ten minutes."
And just like that, the walls returned.
The moment disappeared.
Later that evening, disaster struck.
A major speaker scheduled for the Leadership Summit canceled at the last minute.
The organization office erupted into chaos.
"What do we do?"
"We need a replacement."
"The event is tomorrow!"
Everyone panicked.
Everyone except Midnight.
He remained calm while reviewing alternatives.
"We'll find another speaker."
"But where?"
"We'll contact alumni."
"What if nobody is available?"
Midnight looked around the room.
"We adapt."
His confidence immediately settled everyone.
Sabrina watched from the corner.
For the first time, she understood why he was president.
He wasn't cold because he wanted power.
He carried responsibility.
While everyone else panicked, he stayed strong.
Maybe she had judged him too quickly.
Several hours later, the crisis was resolved.
An alumnus agreed to speak.
The summit was saved.
One by one, students headed home.
Soon, only Midnight and Sabrina remained.
She was gathering leftover materials when she noticed him rubbing his eyes.
"You look tired."
"I'm fine."
"No, you're not."
Midnight continued working.
Sabrina sighed.
A few moments later, she returned holding two cups of coffee.
She placed one beside him.
Midnight looked up.
"I didn't ask for this."
"I know."
"Then why?"
"Because you've been working all day."
He stared at the coffee.
No one had ever done something so simple for him without expecting something in return.
Not in a very long time.
Slowly, he picked up the cup.
"...Thank you."
Sabrina blinked.
Had Midnight just thanked her?
She smiled.
"You're welcome."
For a brief moment, neither of them spoke.
The office felt strangely peaceful.
Comfortable.
Neither understood why.
But something had changed.
The distance between them wasn't quite as large as before.
And somewhere deep inside his guarded heart, a tiny c***k had begun to form.
A c***k Sabrina didn't even know she had created.
- Writer
