She didn't look back.
She couldn't.
Her steps came out faster than she expected… uneven… almost like she was running from something she couldn't name.
The air felt different now.
Cooler,Heavier.
By the time she reached the bus stop, she stopped suddenly.
Her chest rose and fell too quickly.
"…wait…"
She pressed her fingers lightly against her collarbone, as if trying to calm the way her heartbeat was climbing up into her throat.
Breathe in…
Slowly…
Again…
The world around her felt too loud.
Distant voices.
Passing vehicles.
The faint screech of brakes somewhere far away.
She turned her head slightly.
Just a little.
Not fully.
Not enough to make it obvious.
…Is he here?
Her eyes searched carefully behind her.
Empty road.
No black car.
No familiar figure.
A strange feeling slipped into her chest.
Not relief.
Not disappointment.
Something in between.
Before she could grasp what was happening,
she heard it...footsteps, steady and nearing.
The sound of shoes against the pavement.
Her fingers tightened slightly against the fabric of her dress.
She turned.
And froze.
"…Theo."
He stood there like he belonged to a different world than hers.
Tall.
Careless posture.
That same amused smile… the kind that never reached his eyes.
His gaze moved over her slowly.
Not in admiration.
Not even curiosity.
Like he was looking at something he didn't want to touch.
"It's too bad," he said, tilting his head slightly.
"My eyes are really unlucky today… seeing you here."
Each word landed lightly.
But not gently.
Lily didn't react.
Not outside.
Her face stayed still.
Her lips didn't move.
She simply… looked past him.
Like he wasn't there.
Like she had learned, a long time ago, that silence hurts less than replying.
Her feet moved again.
One step.
Then another.
Toward the bus stop.
Away from him.
But he didn't follow.
Didn't need to.
Because voices came instead.
Louder and Closer.
His friends.
"Bro… don't tell me that's your ex or something?"
A laugh.
Sharp. Careless.
"Look at her… she's so ugly."
The word didn't hit her the way it used to.
Not directly.
Not anymore.
But,
It opened something.
A memory.
A voice from the past.
Laughter that sounded the same.
Words that felt the same.
Her steps slowed.
Just slightly.
"…At least she wears something nice. Maybe she's rich. That's why you liked her, huh?"
More laughter.
It echoed.
Too familiar.
Too close.
Her fingers curled slowly at her sides.
Not because she was weak.
Because she was holding something in.
Her throat tightened.
Not from their words.
From what they reminded her of.
For a second… just a second…
Her vision blurred.
Then—
She swallowed it.
All of it.
She turned her head just enough.
Her voice came out quiet.
Steady.
But it carried something underneath.
"…At least I'm richer than you."
A small pause.
Their laughter stopped.
"And… he's not even worth that."
Her gaze shifted to Theo.
Just for a second.
"He's my brother."
Silence.
Real silence this time.
Then she turned again.
And walked.
No hesitation now.
No stopping.
Back toward the campus road.
Back toward somewhere,Anywhere,
That wasn't there.
She didn't know how far she walked.
Didn't notice when the campus gate came back into view.
Her thoughts were scattered.
Her chest still felt tight.
Her eyes stung—but she didn't let anything fall.
Not here.
Not again.
She lowered her gaze.
Focused on the ground.
Step by step...
A car stopped in front of her.
Suddenly.
Close enough to make her pause.
Her breath caught slightly.
She looked up.
And everything else… faded.
Aiden.
The door opened.
He stepped out quickly, faster than she had ever seen him move.
His usual calm… wasn't there.
Not fully.
He walked straight toward her.
No pause.
No distance.
And before she could think,His hands were on her face.
Both of them.
Warm.
Firm.
Gentle.
His fingers rested along her cheeks, just below her ears… careful, but close enough that she could feel the heat of his skin.
"Lily—"
His voice wasn't calm.
Not the way it usually was.
There was something in it.
Something tight.
"…what's wrong?"
His eyes searched her face.
Not casually.
Not lightly.
Like he was trying to read every small change… every hidden feeling.
"You don't look well… are you—"
Her breath stumbled.
Her hands lifted slowly, instinctively, touching his wrists, not pushing… just… grounding herself.
"I'm fine—"
The words came out too fast.
Too weak.
She stopped.
Looked at him.
Really looked.
His eyes didn't move.
Didn't soften.
Didn't accept that answer.
He knew.
Of course he knew.
A small, broken laugh slipped out of her.
"…yeah…"
Her voice dropped.
Softer.
Honest.
"I'm not fine."
The words hung there.
Between them.
For a moment, neither of them moved.
Then—
His hands slipped away from her face.
But only to move down.
To her hand.
He held it.
Not tightly.
Not loosely.
Just enough that she couldn't ignore it.
"Come," he said quietly.
No questions.
No pressure.
"I know a place."
He didn't ask if she wanted to go.
He didn't ask what happened.
He just… moved.
And gently—
He pulled her with him.
Her fingers stayed in his.
She looked down at their hands.
His thumb rested lightly against the side of her hand.
Not moving.
Not squeezing.
Just… there.
Warm.
Steady.
…why isn't he asking anything… she thought.
Her steps followed his without resistance.
…why does he just…
Her chest loosened.
Just a little.
…stay?
He opened the car door for her.
Like always.
But this time… slower.
Careful.
Like she might break if he rushed.
She sat inside.
He leaned in—
Close.
Closer than before.
The faint scent of his clothes clean, soft, something warm...filled the small space between them.
His hand reached across her.
Pulling the seatbelt.
The fabric brushed lightly across her shoulder… then clicked into place.
His fingers lingered for a second near her collarbone.
Not touching.
But close enough that she felt it.
Then—
She looked up.
And their eyes met.
No hesitation.
No shyness.
No panic.
Just—
Stillness.
His gray eyes looked different like this.
Softer.
Deeper.
Like the calm surface of water… hiding something underneath.
She didn't look away.
Didn't want to.
For once—
Her heartbeat wasn't running away.
It was… steady.
Slow.
Focused on him.
A second passed.
Maybe two.
Then—
He looked away first.
A small smile touched his lips.
Almost quiet.
Almost private.
And just like that—
Her awareness came rushing back.
Oh my god…
Her face warmed instantly.
Her fingers tightened against her dress.
What did I just do…
She turned her head quickly toward the window.
Hiding.
Again.
He closed the door gently.
Walked around.
Got into the driver's seat.
The engine started.
The soft hum filled the silence between them.
"…where are we going?" she asked quietly, still not looking at him.
"You'll see."
Simple.
Calm.
Like always.
The car began to move.
Streetlights passed one by one.
Golden light slipping across the window… across her face.
She took a slow breath.
And without meaning to,
Her eyes shifted toward him.
Just slightly.
The way his hands rested on the steering wheel.
Relaxed.
Controlled.
The way his gaze stayed on the road.
Focused.
Unshaken.
…Aiden is such a good person…
The thought came gently.
…how lucky is the person who gets loved by him…
Her chest tightened again.
But this time,
It didn't hurt the same way.
She looked back out the window.
The night stretched quietly beside her.
And for now—
Just sitting next to him…
Felt enough.
End of chapter 33