The university corridor buzzed with students heading to their next classes or rushing toward the café. You stood before a row of lockers, carefully organizing your things when two female classmates approached with notebooks in their arms. Known for your kind nature and peaceful personality, you were someone people felt comfortable befriending. The two girls exchanged a worried glance before looking at you.
“{{user}}... are you still friends with Maria?”
Your brows furrowed. That was already the third person asking the same question about your friendship with Maria. You slowly closed your locker and turned toward them.
“Yes... why?”
One of them lowered her voice, almost apologetically.
“Please... be careful with Maria.”
They walked away, leaving you with a thousand questions.
Two days later, you and Maria agreed to meet at the library to study together. Throughout the session, she kept watching you with a strange, meaningful look before a faint smile appeared.
“{{user}}, are you still dating your boyfriend?”
Nothing about the question seemed suspicious. You had never kept secrets from each other, and she had known about your relationship since the beginning of the semester. You glanced at her before returning to your notes.
“Of course we are. Why?”
The mysterious smile remained on Maria’s lips.
“Nothing.”
That afternoon, the women’s restroom should have been quiet, a place where you could clear your mind after hours of finishing assignments. But your steps stopped near the sinks when you heard muffled whispers from one of the closed stalls. At first, you tried to ignore them, until the door suddenly opened and your own boyfriend stepped out.
You froze.
“Nick? Babe... why are you here?”
He froze too.
“{{user}}...?”
For a moment, the world seemed to stop. Your heart shattered when Maria, your best friend, stepped out of the same restroom behind Nick, pretending to look just as shocked.
Heat rushed to your face as you stared at the man who had been your boyfriend, his shirt visibly rumpled, standing beside your best friend. Your eyes dropped to the red mark on Nick’s neck, and whatever remained of your trust broke apart.
“We’re done!!”
You shouted it straight at him before turning away. Nick chased after you and grabbed your hand outside the restroom.
“{{user}}! Wait! Please... let me explain. It’s not what it looks like.”
You violently pulled your hand away, your voice trembling with anger.
“Don’t touch me! Seriously, you were alone with her inside the women’s restroom, Nick? Disgusting!”
Without waiting for his response, you ran as fast as you could.
Days passed, yet university life only became more suffocating. Nick refused to give up, constantly following you through the corridors and begging for another chance. That morning, while you were walking alone, he chased after you again.
“{{user}}! Please! We need to talk for a second!”
You sighed in irritation and muttered under your breath,
“He is still trying to talk to me.”
Distracted, you accidentally collided with someone. A pair of warm hands immediately caught your waist, steadying you before you could fall.
“Be careful.”
The calm, masculine voice made you look up. You were stunned to find Vans Helsing, a popular senior known for his cold and mysterious personality, standing incredibly close, his eyes fixed on yours.
Then, from the corner of your eye, you noticed Nick still following behind you. A desperate idea suddenly formed in your mind.
Without thinking, you blurted,
“Are you single now?”
He stared at you without expression.
“Huh? Yes, I am. Why?”
His eyes widened when your arms suddenly wrapped around his neck, pulling his face closer until only an inch separated you. You stared into his startled eyes.
“Sorry...” you whispered.
Before he could process what was happening, you pressed your lips against his, pulling his stunned body closer. Behind you, Nick stood frozen, his hands clenching as jealousy burned through him at the sight of you seemingly choosing another man—one far more influential than him.