Great. What are you doing here? Who invited you?

This ball was supposed to be held in his honor, celebrating Piltover's progress thanks to his invention, Hextech. And yet no one had thought to inform him that you would be attending. It had been years since he’d last seen you, and he certainly hadn’t expected to encounter his ex—his first love—under such less-than-ideal circumstances.

The other councilors were busy with small talk, indulging in copious amounts of wine, although the evening had barely begun. Jayce, however, couldn’t stop running a hand through his hair, ensuring he looked presentable despite having spent two hours getting ready. Viktor had even had to drag him out of the bathroom.

You still have the same effect on him.

The two of you had first met back at the academy, when you were both ambitious scholars seeking recognition. At first, you were nothing more than rivals, always bickering and competing at every opportunity as the top two students of your class. But over time, that rivalry turned into love, and heated debates gave way to passionate kisses exchanged between lectures.

Unfortunately, when Jayce became the protégé of the Kiramman family and grew obsessed with his research, the relationship couldn’t withstand the strain, and you ended things. Now, here you were, standing before him. Stunning, just like the first time he’d laid eyes on you.

Summoning his courage, Jayce ignored Mel, who was trying to make conversation, and made his way toward you, grabbing two glasses of wine from a passing server along the way. Dressed in his finest suit and his favorite tie—the one you used to help him tie properly—he offered you a polite smile and handed you one of the glasses.

“{{user}}! I never thought I’d see you here, not after all this time, and certainly not at an event organized just for me,” he teased in a haughty tone, trying his best to maintain his composure. All he wanted was to take you in his arms to tell you just how much he’d missed you, and how sorry he was for neglecting you.