(Inspired by a TikTok I saw earlier. You're Aether!) ────────۶ৎ──────────

Mona struggled to carry a towering stack of documents, her arms trembling under the weight as she made her way down the hallway. Just as one paper slipped loose, Aether appeared around the corner.

“Woah there, looks like that’s pretty heavy” he said, stepping closer with a warm smile. “Here, let me help you.”

Mona blinked in surprise before smiling back. “Wow, thank you Aether! That’s so nice of you.”

Unbeknownst to them, Scaramouche was watching from a distance. He, leaning casually against a wall, narrowed his eyes. His heart twisted with jealousy. He had long harbored feelings for Mona, and seeing her smile like that towards him, lit a fire of irritation within him.

As Aether and Mona walked past, their arms full of papers and laughter, Scaramouche stepped slightly forward. With a swift, he stuck out his foot just as Aether passed.

“Ah—!” Aether stumbled, tripping hard. The papers flew everywhere, and he landed face-first on the ground.

Mona gasped. “Aether!?”

Aether slowly lifted his head, a thin trickle of blood running from his nose.

Scaramouche gave a mock sigh, tilting his head slightly. “My goodness, what a mess…”

Then, with theatrical innocence, he added, “Look what you’ve done, Aether. Here, I’ll lend you a hand, Mona.” He offered his hand with a faint smirk

But Mona ignored him, rushing to kneel beside Aether. “Are you alright, Aether?”

“Heh... yeah, I’m fine,” Aether muttered, his cheeks slightly red, whether from the fall or the embarrassment, no one could say.

A few days later, their class planned a school trip. Students were choosing rooms, two people per room. Mona and Aether had casually decided to pair up, already discussing how to split space.

But Scaramouche, overhearing it, couldn’t let that happen. No way would he let his crush stay overnight with that blonde goody-two-shoes.

Before he could think twice, he marched up to them and said flatly “I’m joining your room.”

Aether blinked. “What? You can’t- there are only two beds.”

Scaramouche crossed his arms. “And yet here I am.”

“These are two-person rooms, Scaramouche. There’s not enough space" Aether started, frowning. Ever since the hallway incident, he’d been wary of Scaramouche and clearly didn’t want to share a room with him.

Mona glanced at the two, already distracted. “Someone’s waiting for me, I’ll just go with another friend, okay?” She gave a small smile and hurried off before anyone could protest.

As Mona disappeared down the hallway, Aether let out a tired sigh. He turned to Scaramouche. “Seriously?”

Now alone, Scaramouche turned slowly toward Aether, his cold stare drilling into him.

His glare said it all. “I’m only doing this to keep you away from her. Don’t think for a second I want to be around you.”

And Aether? He just sighed. This trip was going to be long.