Chapter 6: Behind the Cold Mask
1024 Words
Monday morning arrived with its usual rush.
Students filled the hallways of Westbridge University, laughing with friends as they made their way to class. The memories of the community outreach were still fresh, and many volunteers talked about how rewarding the experience had been.
Sabrina smiled as she listened to them.
"It was worth waking up early," one volunteer said.
"The kids were so adorable!" another added.
Sabrina laughed. "I already miss them."
As she reached her classroom, Chloe hurried over with a playful grin.
"So..."
Sabrina narrowed her eyes.
"So what?"
"You fell asleep on someone's shoulder."
Sabrina froze.
"...What?"
"You seriously don't remember?"
"I was that tired!"
Chloe crossed her arms, trying not to laugh.
"It was Midnight's shoulder."
Sabrina's eyes widened.
"No way."
"Oh, yes way."
"My goodness..."
"He didn't even wake you up."
Sabrina covered her face with both hands.
"I am never showing my face again."
Chloe laughed.
"I don't think he minded."
"I minded!"
Little did Sabrina know, someone walking past the classroom had overheard the conversation.
Midnight.
He paused for only a second before continuing down the hallway.
But despite himself...
A faint smile almost appeared.
Later that afternoon, the Student Leadership Organization held its weekly meeting.
The members were discussing plans for an upcoming inter-university leadership conference.
Midnight stood at the front of the room.
"We'll be hosting delegates from five universities."
One member raised a hand.
"We'll need committee leaders."
"I'll assign them this afternoon."
Everyone nodded.
After the meeting ended, the faculty adviser approached Midnight.
"I have another task for you."
"What is it?"
"We're starting a peer tutoring program."
Midnight waited quietly.
"I'd like you to mentor a student."
"I don't tutor."
"You do now."
Before Midnight could object, the adviser handed him a folder.
He looked at the name printed on the cover.
Sabrina Reyes.
He blinked.
"...Why her?"
"She needs guidance in economics, and you're our best student."
Midnight sighed.
"This won't end well."
The professor smiled knowingly.
"I think it will."
When Sabrina received the email assigning her a tutor, she smiled.
"Finally!"
Economics had always been her weakest subject.
Maybe this semester would be different.
She hurried to the library for the first tutoring session.
As she entered the study room, she stopped in her tracks.
"No."
Sitting across the table was Midnight.
He looked up from his notes.
"You're late."
"It's only been one minute."
"Still late."
Sabrina groaned dramatically.
"Why are you my tutor?"
"You should ask the professor."
"I think he secretly dislikes me."
Midnight almost rolled his eyes.
"Sit down."
She obeyed, still muttering under her breath.
"This is going to be a disaster."
The lesson began.
Midnight explained graphs, formulas, and market theories with perfect clarity.
Unfortunately...
He explained everything much too quickly.
"...Do you understand?" he asked.
Sabrina stared blankly at the notebook.
"...No."
"What part?"
"Everything after 'Good afternoon.'"
He pinched the bridge of his nose.
"You weren't listening."
"I was!"
"Then explain supply elasticity."
She smiled awkwardly.
"I like your handwriting."
Midnight closed his eyes for a brief moment.
He had never met someone so hopeless at economics.
An hour later...
Sabrina let out a frustrated sigh.
"I'll never understand this."
"You will."
"You sound confident."
"You aren't incapable."
She looked at him in surprise.
"...You really think that?"
Midnight nodded.
"You just learn differently."
For a moment, Sabrina didn't know what to say.
Most tutors became impatient with her.
Midnight hadn't.
Strict?
Definitely.
Demanding?
Absolutely.
But beneath all of that...
He hadn't once called her stupid.
Instead, he quietly explained the lesson again.
And again.
Until she finally understood.
"Oh!"
Her eyes lit up.
"I get it now!"
Midnight gave a small nod.
"I knew you would."
Sabrina smiled so brightly that he found himself looking away.
For reasons he couldn't explain...
Her smile affected him.
As they packed their books, Sabrina noticed a worn leather notebook sticking out of Midnight's bag.
The cover looked old.
Its corners were frayed.
Curious, she asked, "What's that?"
Midnight immediately slipped it back into his bag.
"Nothing important."
His voice became colder than usual.
Sabrina noticed the sudden change.
"I'm sorry."
"...It's fine."
But it clearly wasn't.
The conversation ended there.
That evening, Sabrina accidentally left one of her notebooks behind.
Realizing it halfway across campus, she hurried back to the library.
The study room was empty.
Except for Midnight.
He was standing near the window.
He hadn't noticed her.
His attention was fixed on the old leather notebook.
Slowly, he opened it.
Inside were photographs.
One showed a younger Midnight smiling beside a woman with kind eyes.
Another showed the same woman lying in a hospital bed.
His fingers gently traced the edge of the picture.
"I miss you..."
His voice was barely above a whisper.
Sabrina froze.
She had never seen him like this.
Not cold.
Not emotionless.
Just...
Heartbroken.
Before she could step away quietly, the floor creaked beneath her shoe.
Midnight turned instantly.
His expression hardened.
"You saw that?"
Sabrina looked down.
"I... I'm sorry."
Silence filled the room.
"I came back for my notebook."
Midnight quickly closed the leather journal.
"You weren't supposed to see this."
"I know."
She hesitated before speaking softly.
"You don't have to explain."
He looked at her, surprised.
"Everyone has something painful they don't want to talk about."
For a long moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Sabrina offered him a gentle smile.
"I won't tell anyone."
Midnight searched her face, trying to find even the smallest hint of curiosity or pity.
There was none.
Only kindness.
For the first time in years...
He trusted someone with a piece of his past.
Not because he had chosen to reveal it.
But because Sabrina had chosen to respect it.
As she quietly picked up her notebook and walked toward the door, Midnight spoke.
"...Thank you."
She turned and smiled.
"Good night, Midnight."
It was the first time she had called him by his name instead of "President Grumpy."
Somehow...
Hearing his name from her lips felt different.
Warmer.
And as the library lights dimmed, the walls around Midnight's heart weakened just a little more.
- Writer
