But Aster…
Rio's voice carried a trace of worry as he looked at his friend. The uneasiness that had settled in Aster's expression since the classroom incident had not disappeared; in fact, it seemed to have deepened, like a shadow slowly spreading across calm water. Rio's instincts told him something wasn't right. He had always been someone who disliked unresolved matters, especially when it involved people he cared about. If something weighed on their minds, he wanted to fix it immediately. That was simply who he was.
He took a small step forward. "Aster, if something is wrong—"
Before he could finish, Aster raised a hand, gently stopping him. His gaze lowered slightly, as though he were searching for words he wasn't used to saying aloud. The silence that fell between them was thick, almost tangible, before Aster finally spoke, his voice quiet and hoarse, burdened with unspoken emotions.
"I think… I really do care about you," he admitted.
Rio blinked, stunned by the confession. Aster's voice grew softer still, almost as if something heavy had been pressing against his chest for a long time.
"That's all it is," Aster continued slowly, his eyes not meeting Rio's. "And I will protect you. Forever. Until the end… yours or mine."
The words hung in the air, heavy and solemn. A strange silence settled between them, and Rio felt his heart tighten. There was a sadness in Aster's voice that he had never heard before—an unfamiliar weight that made him ache in ways he couldn't fully comprehend.
Without thinking, without hesitation, Rio stepped forward and wrapped his arms around Aster. The sudden hug caught him completely off guard. Rio held him tightly, as if he could transfer some of his own strength through the embrace.
"Thank you… thank you, Aster," Rio whispered, his voice soft but genuine. "I may not remember anything about my past," he continued quietly, "sometimes it feels like there was a whole life before this one, but I can't reach it no matter how hard I try."
Aster's body stiffened slightly, caught between surprise and something else, something more vulnerable.
"But even if I can't remember who I used to be," Rio went on, his lips curving into a small smile, "I know one thing for sure. You and my elder sister are the best parts of my life."
For a long, suspended moment, Aster hesitated. Then slowly, deliberately, he raised his arms and gently wrapped them around Rio. The warmth of the embrace settled around them both, and for a brief moment, the outside world seemed to disappear.
Rio kept talking, completely unaware of the storm of emotions his words were stirring inside Aster's heart. "Even if the past is gone, every moment I spend with you feels special," he said, his tone lighter now, almost cheerful. "So honestly, I don't think I'm missing out on anything."
Aster closed his eyes, letting the comfort of Rio's presence wash over him. The warmth of the embrace, the soft rhythm of Rio's breathing near his shoulder, the faint scent of his shampoo—all of it felt like a balm, calming some deep ache Aster hadn't known how to soothe himself.
At that moment, the literal meaning of Rio's words didn't matter to Aster. His presence alone, his voice, his warmth—they were worth more than all the happiness in the world combined.
"Mm."
It was all Aster said, yet it carried a subtle, tender warmth that spoke volumes.
Suddenly, Rio jerked back, releasing him from the embrace. Aster blinked in confusion, still trying to process the intensity of the moment. Rio's eyes were suddenly shining with excitement.
"Aster! You heard what Professor Ryan said about our assignment, right?!"
The abrupt shift in topic made Aster stare at him in disbelief. Rio clapped his hands together energetically.
"Okay, okay! That emotional moment is enough for today!" Rio exclaimed.
Aster frowned, a crease forming between his brows.
"So don't act like the world is ending," Rio continued, pacing slightly now, full of youthful energy. "We have something way more important to deal with!"
"And what would that be?" Aster asked dryly, his voice steady, though his eyes betrayed lingering tension.
Rio raised a finger dramatically. "Our assignment!"
"We only have one week to complete it!" he added, his tone somewhere between urgency and excitement.
Rio began pacing back and forth, thinking aloud. "We should start working on it immediately. If we divide the research properly, we can finish early and still have time to polish everything perfectly. Don't you think?"
Aster let out a quiet sigh. Moments ago, the atmosphere had been heavy, filled with almost unbearable emotions—and now Rio had switched gears entirely. But that was Rio. Simple. Bright. Uncomplicated. And maybe that was exactly why Aster cared so much for him.
Still… Aster couldn't shake the lingering unease inside him. Because something about Professor Ryan—about the man who had just entered their lives—felt deeply wrong.
While the two friends were completely absorbed in their own conversation, neither of them noticed the pair of eyes watching them from the shadows. Not casually, not briefly, but with careful, deliberate attention.
A tall figure stood partially hidden behind the shadows of a nearby building column. His gaze remained fixed on every subtle movement between Rio and Aster. A strange expression flickered across his face—something between curiosity, amusement, and something far darker.
The man slowly pulled out his phone. He dialed a number. The call connected almost immediately.
"The first target is done, Jane," he said calmly. His voice carried an eerie composure. "Now we just need to monitor Rio's movements."
Class ended shortly afterward, and students began leaving the building in clusters, chatting and laughing as they walked across the university campus.
Rio and Aster stepped out together. The late afternoon sunlight stretched across the courtyard, casting long shadows on the pavement.
"So," Rio said, stretching his arms lazily, "should we go to the library later? Or do you want to work on the assignment at your place?"
"We'll figure it out," Aster replied, his voice low, distracted.
They continued walking toward the university gate. But just as they approached the exit—
"Mr. Rio."
The voice came from behind them. Rio turned around. Standing a short distance away was their new professor.
"Good afternoon, Professor Ryan," Rio greeted politely.
The man walked toward them with slow, deliberate steps. "Mr. Rio de Orlando," Ryan said with a faint, almost imperceptible smile. Up close, his presence felt even more imposing than before. Tall, broad-shouldered, sharp-featured, and with cold, calculating eyes, he exuded an intimidating aura far removed from the image of a typical university professor.
Ryan held out a small wooden box. "Please keep this with you."
Rio accepted it automatically. The box was medium-sized, carefully carved from light-colored wood, with intricate patterns along its surface. He looked at it curiously as Ryan explained calmly, "Inside are several sample illustrations created by a famous painter. They might help inspire ideas for your assignment."
Rio immediately bowed politely. "Thank you for your concern, sir. I will do my best."
Ryan's lips curved into a faint smile, though it didn't reach his eyes. "Of course," he said quietly, then turned and walked away.
Rio stood there for a moment, staring at the box. Beside him, Aster's fists had clenched tightly.
"Oh… this bastard again," he muttered under his breath.
Rio tilted his head, puzzled. "Did you say something?"
"Nothing," Aster replied quickly, forcing a casual smile. "Let's go. I already informed Uncle Richard that I'll drop you home today."
Rio rolled his eyes. "Great. At least there won't be ten bodyguards following me like I'm some kind of celebrity."
Aster laughed softly. "Your father trusts me more than those guards."
Rio snorted. "Yeah, clearly he trusts you more than his own son."
They reached the parking area, and Aster unlocked his car. Once inside, the engine roared to life, and they began driving away from the university.
Meanwhile—
Professor Ryan stood on the upper balcony of the administration building. From there, he watched Aster's car disappear beyond the campus gates. His expression remained unreadable. Slowly, he pulled out his phone again and dialed the same number. Jane answered immediately.
"So," he said, playfully, "how was the first day of Professor Ryan Cassano?"
Arthur's voice was calm, almost unnervingly so. "Everything went exactly as planned."
Jane chuckled lightly. "And the next step?"
Arthur leaned slightly against the balcony railing. "I've already given him the box."
Jane's tone turned cautious. "The tracker?"
Arthur nodded. "Yes. A GPS tracker is hidden inside. From now on, I want his exact location monitored at all times."
He paused thoughtfully. "I still don't understand why this brat reminds me so much of my candy. If he really is the one I'm looking for… then that would be… bingo. But even if he isn't, he's still an important pawn for the next stage of our plan."
Jane sighed on the other end. "Arthur, I have something important to tell you."
Arthur's tone sharpened. "What is it?"
"I looked into the boy's background," Jane said. "There's something strange about him."
Arthur's interest was immediately piqued.
Jane continued, "I hacked into the citizenship database of the entire city."
"And?" Arthur prompted.
"There's no information about Rio's birthplace," Jane said.
Arthur's eyes narrowed. "None?"
"None," Jane confirmed. "The name 'Rio de Orlando' was officially registered in this city fourteen years ago."
Arthur straightened. "Fourteen years?"
"As the son of Richard Orlando," Jane continued.
Arthur frowned. "That doesn't sound unusual."
Jane's voice turned serious. "The unusual part is this: Richard Orlando is officially registered as a single man. And yet, fourteen years ago, he suddenly appeared in this city… with a child."
Arthur's eyes darkened. "And before that?"
"No records. No previous residence. No school records. No hospital birth registration. Nothing."
Arthur's heartbeat quickened. A slow, triumphant smile spread across his face. "Jane… are you telling me this is really true?"
"Yes," Jane confirmed.
Arthur ran a hand through his hair, laughing quietly to himself. "Fourteen years… if what I'm thinking is correct… then this Rio… isn't really Rio."
He paused for a moment, letting the thought settle. "And that strange behavior we saw in the CCTV footage suddenly makes perfect sense."
Jane sighed again. "Don't get ahead of yourself, Arthur. There's still no proof."
Arthur looked toward the distant road where Aster's car had disappeared, his eyes gleaming with dangerous excitement. "Oh… but there will be."