Episode3
740 Words
The moment Adrian stepped into the dorm, the atmosphere shifted.
Daniel looked up first.
" You are back."
Adrian gave a small nod, placing his bag down quietly.
But before he could move further_
Leo's voice cut in.
" You sat next to him."
Not a question.
A statement.
Adrian paused then glanced at him.
" .... who?"
Leo let out a short, humorless laugh.
" Don't play dumb. Carlos De Lucas."
The name hung in the air.
Heavy.
Even Noah who rarely react, looked up from his phone.
Adrian lowered his gaze slightly, fingers brushing against the strap of his bag.
" I didn't know it's was a problem."
Daniel exchange a look with Leo.
" It's not a problem," he said carefully.
" It's just not normal."
Leo leaned back, arms crossed."
" No one just walks up and sits next to him just like that."
A pause.
" People don't even try."
Adrian remain quiet.
Listening.
Daniel hesitated, then added in a lower voice,
" His family has a lot of influence here. More than you think."
Leo scoffed lightly.
" Half of the buildings on this campus exit because of them."
" And the other half," Noah muttered.
Leo's lips curved slightly.
" You don't want to know."
Silenced followed.
Adrian's expression didn't change.
But inside_
everything was sharp.
Focused.
" ...And him? Adrian asked softly.
Daniel sighed.
" He doesn't take thing seriously."
Leo smirked.
" That's a nice way to say it."
Then more bluntly_
" He get bored easily. Especial with Omegas."
Noah added quietly.
" He doesn't keep anyone around."
Another pause.
Daniel looked at Adrian.
" If he shows interest... don't read to much into it."
Adrian nodded slowly.
" ... I won't."
But inside.
Perfect.
The next morning _
Adrian stepped out of the dorm_
and stopped.
Carlos was there.
Leaning against the wall like he belong there.
Like he had always been there.
Waiting.
Adrian blinked once, caught off guard_ just to make it believable.
"... You're here."
His gaze settled on Adrian immediately.
' I was," he said simply.
Then he held something out.
A cup.
" Milk tea."
Adrian looked at it and then at him.
"....Why?"
Carlos's lips curved faintly.
" You didn't much yesterday."
That made Adrian pause.
He hadn't expected that.
" ...How did you know?"
Carlos didn't answer directly."
" Let just say i usually become observant when i am interested in something or someone."
The words were casual.
But they lingered.
Adrian hesitate for a moment_
then reached out and took the drink.
"... thank you."
Their fingers brushed briefly.
Carlos didn't pull away immediately.
Adrian did.
By lunch time, the situation had already escalated.
Carlos didn't just find him.
He sat next to him.
Univinted.
Unbothered.
Ordered food.
Placed it in front of him.
Like it was natural.
Like it was expected.
The cafeteria buzzed with whispers.
Eyes followed them everywhere.
Adrian kept his head down, eating quietly.
Careful.
Measured.
But he could feel it_
The attention.
The shift.
Everything was moving exactly as planned.
Later_
Adrian changed seats in class.
Further back.
Away from the window.
From Carlos.
Or at least_
that was the intention.
Because minutes later_
Carlos walked in.
Paused.
Looked around once.
The walked straight toward him.
And sat beside him.
Again.
No hesitation.
No permission.
Adrian didn't react.
But his grip on his pen tightened slightly.
Persistent.
By the time stepped into the restroom, the noise from the hallway had already faded.
Quiet.
Almost too quiet.
He moved toward the sink, turning on the tap briefly, letting the sound of running water fill the silence.
For a moment, everything felt normal.
Controlled.
Then_
Footsteps.
Slow.
Measured.
Behind him.
Adrian's fingers still under the stream of water.
Another step.
Then another.
Nt one person.
More.
He turned slightly.
Just enough to catch the reflection in the mirror.
Three figures.
Standing near the entrance.
Blocking it.
At the center_
one stood slightly ahead of the others.
Still.
Composed.
Watching.
Adrian turned fully this time, shutting off the tap.
Water dripped quietly from his fingers.
"... do you need something?" he asked.
His vioce calm.
But cautious.
No one answered.
Not immediately.
Instead_
one of them stepped forward.
Slowly.
The sound of his shoes against the titled floor echoed in the silence.
Heavy.
Deliberate.
Adrian's gaze flickered briefly to the door.
Blocked.
Then back at them.
Something wasn't right.
- Writer
