So we finally made it to the library.
Mark, bless his soul, ended up paying for my drink because Nena dramatically realized—mid-order—that she had left her wallet at home.
"I forgot it," she said casually.
Silence.
Then Liam gasped like she had committed a crime.
"You WHAT?"
Nena blinked. "It's just money."
Jake leaned back. "Walletless Wonder."
Mark pushed his glasses up. "Financially unstable behavior."
Nena groaned. "I hate all of you."
I just sighed. "This is my life."
Since we were in a library—and not a battlefield—they had to behave.
At least… temporarily.
So they moved to a corner table.
Far enough to pretend I had privacy.
Close enough that I could still hear them whispering nonsense like:
"She's definitely going to fall in love with a book character."
"She already did."
"I give it three days before she gets a library boyfriend."
I ignored them.
Mostly.
Nena sat across from me, flipping through a book titled "The Mane of the Mystical Unicorn."
I stared at her.
"…Why that?"
"It has emotional depth," she said seriously.
I nodded slowly. "Sure."
I went back to my book.
The Flute of Lightning.
Red-eyed mysterious boy.
Secret identity.
Danger.
Perfect.
I leaned in, whispering, "And then the hero—"
Nena cut in immediately. "Ayana. Stop narrating your life out loud."
I froze. "I wasn't—"
"You were," she said.
I shut up.
Then I stood up to stretch.
Bad decision.
Because the universe said: plot twist.
I bumped into someone.
Hard.
I stepped back quickly. "Oh my—sorry!"
I looked up.
And paused.
He was… annoyingly perfect.
Brown hair slightly messy. Soft eyes. Calm expression. That kind of smile that looks like it belongs in a movie scene you replay twice.
"Hey," he said gently. "Didn't see you there."
His voice was smooth.
Too smooth.
Like danger disguised as kindness.
"I'm sorry," I said quickly.
He smiled. "No, it's fine."
Then he extended his hand.
"I'm Nathan."
I hesitated. Then shook it.
"Ayana."
The handshake lasted one second too long for my brain to function normally.
Behind me, I felt it.
Eyes.
Nena was watching like a spy.
And then—
chaos arrived.
Liam appeared first.
"WHO is this?"
Ethan followed.
"Unknown male detected."
Mark calmly stepped in. "Hello."
Jake narrowed his eyes. "Explain."
Nathan blinked. "…I just said hi."
Liam crossed his arms. "Suspicious."
Ethan leaned in slightly. "Where do you come from?"
Nathan looked at me. "Is this… normal?"
I sighed. "Unfortunately, yes."
Nena stepped forward suddenly.
"I'm Nena," she said sweetly, shaking his hand.
Then she whispered to me without moving her lips.
"He's cute. Keep him."
I choked. "NO."
Nathan gave a polite smile. "I should go."
Liam waved him off instantly. "Yes, yes, go."
Mark added calmly, "You survived interrogation. Congratulations."
Jake smirked. "Barely."
Ethan just watched him leave.
Quiet.
Sharp.
Unreadable.
When he was gone, I turned to them.
"You guys ruin EVERYTHING."
Mark tilted his head. "We're protecting you."
"From a guy who said hello??"
Liam nodded seriously. "Yes."
Nena leaned in. "Honestly… I could've handled him."
I groaned. "Oh my God."
Mark smirked slightly. "Relax. You'll start another love story anyway."
I froze. "I'm not starting anything."
Nena pointed. "You already did."
I grabbed my head. "I need peace."
Liam gasped. "Peace? In THIS group?"
Ethan added quietly, "Impossible."
Jake shrugged. "She chose chaos."
I pointed at all of them. "YOU are chaos."
And somehow—
we got kicked out.
Again.
Library ban number four.
I walked out slowly.
Defeated.
"This is my villain origin story," I muttered.
Days later.
I was finally free.
Or so I thought.
Then I saw him again.
Nathan.
Outside a bakery.
Nathan's Nice Bakes.
I paused.
"…No way."
He looked up and smiled instantly. "Ayana!"
I walked closer. "You own this?"
He shrugged. "Yeah. Baking is less stressful than library interrogations."
I laughed. "Trauma-based career change?"
"Something like that," he said.
A loud crash came from inside.
He sighed. "That's my apprentice. She's still learning how not to destroy cupcakes."
I smiled. "Relatable."
He leaned slightly on the counter. "Want a free sample?"
I blinked. "Is this a trap?"
He grinned. "No interrogation. I promise."
I laughed. "Fine. One sample."
He handed me a cupcake.
Then added softly, "Just don't let your bodyguards follow you in here."
I froze.
"…You noticed them?"
Nathan smiled lightly. "Hard not to."
A pause.
Then he added, quieter—
"You look like someone who doesn't get quiet moments often."
I looked down at the cupcake.
"…Yeah."
He nodded. "Then take this one. It's yours."
A beat.
Then he smirked slightly.
"And maybe next time… you come alone."
I blinked.
"…That sounded suspicious."
He laughed. "It wasn't meant to."
I took a bite.
And for once—
it was quiet.