Chapter 2

Before she could even respond, her feet came to a halt as Sophia stopped walking and motioned ahead.

"There," Sophia whispered.

Vincent stood at the center of attention, as if the world naturally orbited around him. His tall frame leaned casually against a pillar, surrounded by the most popular girls on campus. Their voices bubbled with fake laughs and desperate flirtation.

Then his gaze found Lyra.

He smirked.

A moment later, he winked.

Lyra's breath caught in her throat, and her cheeks turned a shade of red that no lipstick could ever match.

Sophia burst out laughing beside her. "Oh my god, girl, you're blushing like a middle-schooler!"

From across the hall, the popular girls were spiraling into chaos.

"He just winked at me!" one shrieked.

"No, he winked at me! You wish!"

As their voices rose in pitch, Vincent's friend, Austin, rolled his eyes and leaned toward him.

"They're getting unbearable," he muttered.

Vincent didn't even look at them. His voice was calm, cutting, and utterly cold. "Get lost, desperate trash. You're all giving me a headache."

The hallway went quiet.

The girls froze, their painted smiles dropping like shattered glass. One by one, they backed off, their pride wounded more than their feelings.

Vincent didn't care. His eyes were already back on Lyra.

His eyes lingered on Lyra a moment longer, his gaze unreadable. Then, without a word, he turned and strode off toward their next class, Austin casually falling into step beside him.

Austin glanced at Vincent, raising a brow. "Okay... what's up with that girl?"

Vincent didn't even bother to glance back. "Which girl?" he asked, his tone low, indifferent, like he genuinely didn't care, which only made it more suspicious.

Austin scoffed. "Don't play dumb, man. The one you winked at like you were in some damn romance movie."

Vincent's lip quirked slightly. "You're imagining things, shortie."

"Shortie?!" Austin shot back, rolling his eyes. "Bro, I'm literally one centimeter shorter than you. One. Centimeter. We're practically eye level."

Vincent didn't reply, but Austin wasn't letting it go.

"You know what? If you won't tell me, I'll just assume you've got a thing for her. Poor girl. Sucks to be stuck with a foul-mouthed heartbreaker like you."

That made Vincent stop. He turned his head slightly, sharp eyes locking on Austin. "Let me tell you something," he said, leaning in just enough for his voice to drop into something darker.

"Shut that mouth of yours. You talk too damn much."

Austin blinked. "Sheesh. Fine. But you're totally into her."

.

.

By the time they reached the classroom, everything had settled into that weird buzz of first-day energy. Students shuffled in, claiming desks, catching up, and preparing for a fresh wave of assignments.

Lyra sat beside Sophia, her mind still swirling. She rested her chin on her hand and stared blankly ahead.

"Is this all a nightmare?" she mumbled.

Sophia cackled and reached over, pinching Lyra's cheek, not hard enough to bruise, but definitely enough to make her flinch.

"Ow!" Lyra winced, rubbing her cheek. "You didn't have to go that hard..."

Sophia grinned. "Just reminding you that this is real life, my poor, confused bestie."

Before Lyra could argue, a shadow fell across their desk.

Vincent.

He leaned down and whispered something into Sophia's ear. Whatever he said made her eyes go wide with mischief.

Without hesitation, Sophia stood up, giving Lyra a wicked smirk. Oh no. I know that look. That look means danger. Betrayal. Absolute chaos.

Vincent slid into the now-empty seat beside Lyra like he belonged there.

And without warning, he leaned in and brushed a quick kiss against her cheek.

Lyra's heart skipped.

His breath was warm on her skin as he whispered in a velvet-smooth voice, "Let me pursue you, sweetie. I don't chase often... but you might be worth the exception."

Lyra felt her cheeks warm, the blush threatening to expose just how flustered she really was. Still, she straightened her posture and lifted her chin, determined not to let him see the effect he had on her.

"Pursue me?" she echoed, arching a brow with mock curiosity. "Well... good luck with that."

She delivered the words with as much poise as she could muster, but even she could hear the slight tremor of nerves behind her confidence.

Vincent chuckled, low and smooth, the sound like velvet being dragged over gravel. "You're cute when you try to act tough, you know that?" His dark eyes sparkled with mischief as he leaned in, just enough for his lips to hover by her ear.

"Stop pretending you're not tempted, sweetie. We both know you've been thinking about kissing me again."

His words sent a shiver down her spine, his voice playful but full of certainty. She could feel his breath against her skin, and it made it impossible to think clearly for a second.

Oh my god. Is it hot in here, or is it just him? Focus, Lyra. Don't let him get in your head.

She turned her face slightly to meet his gaze, doing her best to keep her tone steady. "Stop calling me sweetie. We're not dating."

Vincent's smirk deepened, completely unfazed. "Maybe not yet," he murmured. "But that doesn't mean we won't be. Try getting used to it... before you officially become mine."

As he spoke, he reached up and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. His fingers brushed her cheek for barely a second, but it was enough to send her thoughts into chaos.

Okay, what the hell? Why does that tiny gesture feel like a scene straight out of a movie? I need to reboot my entire nervous system.

Sophia, you will pay for this!

Before she could craft a decent comeback or even roll her eyes, the classroom door opened and the professor walked in, commanding silence without saying a word. Students straightened in their seats instantly, and even Vincent leaned back into his chair with a look of amused indifference.

Lyra released a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. Thank god. Saved by academia. She reached for her notebook, trying to focus on the lecture, hoping the sudden storm in her chest would settle.

But just as she was beginning to relax, a folded note slid into her space.

She stared at it for a second, suspicious. Please don't be something stupid. Or cheesy. Or sexy. Actually, no, especially not sexy.

With hesitant fingers, she opened the paper and read:

"You owe me one, remember?

So here's the deal:

For the next seven days, whenever I hold out my hand,

you'll take it. No questions, no excuses.

Wherever.

Whenever."

She blinked at the words.

What?! Excuse me? This isn't a romance novel, this is my actual life.

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