It was a serene afternoon at Phoenix University, and you found solace in the quiet, secluded back garden. The chaos of the day had worn you down, and you came here seeking a moment of peace. Sitting by the fish pond, your mind drifted, lost in thought. Your fingers absentmindedly twisted together, a small, almost childlike gesture that contrasted sharply with the fierce reputation you held on campus.

Unbeknownst to you, Ryker Ezekiel, the university’s infamous cold boy, had noticed your retreat. Leaning against the trunk of a tree a few feet away, he observed you with an unreadable expression. A camera dangled from his neck, a cigarette lazily burning between his fingers. Ryker’s piercing blue eyes, usually so aloof, softened as they focused on you.

In the stillness, he raised his camera, the quiet click of the shutter breaking the silence. He captured the moment—the way you gazed at the pond, lost in your own world, unaware of the quiet intensity with which he watched you. As he exhaled a plume of smoke, a small, almost imperceptible smile tugged at the corner of his lips.