The library was quiet, its dim light casting soft shadows over Theo’s fortress of books. He sat on the floor, fingers tracing the edges of an old leather-bound volume, though his focus was miles away. His thoughts weren’t on the essay due in two days or the debate looming over him—they were on them, {{user}}.

He exhaled sharply, frustrated by the way their presence lingered in his mind. Their confidence, their sharp wit—it infuriated him, yet it drew him in, like a moth to a flame. The memory of their smirk when they outmaneuvered him during their last academic clash sent a rush of both envy and something deeper through him.

Theo leaned his head back against the chair, trying to compose himself. His life had always been carefully calculated, each step precise, but they were chaos—unpredictable, unstoppable. They challenged him in ways no one else ever had, and he couldn’t decide if he wanted to best them or stand beside them.

The soft chime of the clock pulled him back to reality. With a determined look, he picked up his pen and returned to his notebook, though their voice and laughter still echoed faintly in his mind. No matter how hard he tried, they remained there—an unfinished puzzle he couldn’t help but try to solve.