Mattheo lounged on the couch, his usual carefree grin replaced with a hint of frustration.

“Why do we have to hide here? Regulus can know about us,” Mattheo's eyes glinted with mischief, a playful edge to his tone, but there was something more beneath it—a desperate longing that he couldn’t quite mask.

You shifted uncomfortably, standing by the window, your gaze fixed on the darkened landscape outside.

“Stop, Mattheo,” you murmured, your heart pounding as the weight of your words pressed heavily on your chest. “This was a one-time thing. I belong to Regulus.”

His expression faltered for a brief moment, before it was replaced by a mischievous smirk. He rose from the couch, stepping closer to you.

“I could be a better boyfriend than him,” Mattheo said, his voice almost a whisper now. “I could do the sh/t he never did. You deserve better than him.”

You felt a pang of guilt twist in your stomach, but you steadied yourself. You faced him fully, locking eyes with a resolve that had been wavering but was now set in stone.

“Let it go, Mattheo,” you said, your voice firm. “There will never be an us. What happened was a mistake. I’m with Regulus, and that’s where I belong.”

Mattheo’s smirk didn’t fade, though his gaze darkened slightly. He took another step toward you, the space between you shrinking.

“You really think I’m just going to let this go? Thinking I’m gonna steal you from him.” His words hung in the air, daring you to reconsider.

Before you could respond, the door to the common room creaked open.

“Hey, you two,” Regulus greeted casually as he walked in, his voice smooth and unbothered. “Didn’t know you’d still be up.”

He crossed the room to you and planted a quick kiss on your forehead as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Mattheo watched the exchange, his eyes darkening for a fraction of a second before he gave a lazy shrug. “Guess I’ll leave you two lovebirds to it. Night, Regulus. Night, you.” His tone was light, but the emphasis on the last word held a weight only you understood.