"I'm sorry," he said gently.
The anger inside me melted instantly, not because of the apology, but because of the face in front of me.
He was… breathtaking.
For a moment, I was completely lost. My brain stopped working. My tongue refused to cooperate.
He lightly touched my shoulder. "Are you okay?"
"I… I am… fine," I finally managed to stammer.
"That's good," he said with a small smile before turning to leave.
I stood there like a statue, watching him walk away, still trapped in my own fantasy.
But after a few steps, he stopped and came back.
"Do you know where the administrative block is?" he asked.
"Huh?"
He chuckled softly. "I'm a transfer student. I'm kind of lost."
My heart skipped.
A handsome transfer student… asking me for help?
I quickly offered to take him there instead of just giving directions.
"Oh, you can just direct me. I don't want to waste your time," he said politely.
"It's fine," I insisted. "I'm not busy."
That was a lie. But at that moment, nothing in the world was more important.
We walked toward the administrative block together. I tried to start a conversation, and to my surprise, he responded warmly. A few times, I caught him smiling at something I said.
Each smile felt like a personal victory.
Soon, we arrived.
"Thank you," he said. "I'm Dave. I'm majoring in Chemistry."
"I'm Clover," I replied. "Fine Arts."
I waited.
I waited for the laugh. For the smirk. For the usual reaction to my name.
But it never came.
Instead, he simply nodded. "Nice to meet you, Clover."
My heart fluttered wildly.
We said goodbye, and he walked into the building.
I suddenly remembered I was supposed to meet Jane at the pavilion.
When I arrived, she was already annoyed.
But the moment I told her about Dave, her mood brightened instantly.
We laughed, teased, and gisted like crazy until her boyfriend, John, showed up. After saying goodbye, I headed home.
That evening, everyone noticed how unusually happy I was.
After dinner, I rushed to my room and threw myself onto the bed, smiling like an idiot.
I couldn't sleep.
Dave's face kept replaying in my mind.
After what felt like forever, exhaustion finally claimed me.
And then—
The dream returned.
The red-haired woman stood tall, radiant and powerful. Her body glowed with blinding light, her presence commanding and terrifying at the same time.
Before her knelt another woman.
"Lylithrix," the red-haired woman called, her voice echoing like thunder. "You have committed countless crimes. You have slaughtered innocent souls. You have sown evil upon the earth."
The air trembled.
"With these charges, you are found guilty. Today, you shall reap what you have sown."
She raised her hand.
Dark chains wrapped around Lylithrix, dragging her into endless slumber.
The scream that followed pierced through my soul.
I woke up gasping.
My heart pounded violently.
I thought this nightmare had ended. Why now?
And something felt different this time.
Unsettling.
It felt as though I wasn't just having the dream.
It felt like I was the one.
"I don't have energy for this stupid dream," I muttered, forcing myself out of bed.
Then I remembered Dave.
A smile spread across my face as I walked into the bathroom.
I went downstairs for breakfast as usual.
At breakfast, I grabbed bread and egg, stuffing some into my bag before kissing my parents goodbye. Helen and I left together.
It was awkward walking beside her.
"So… how's class?" I asked, trying to sound casual.
She looked surprised that I initiated conversation but answered anyway.
"It's okay."
"You can go ahead," I said. "I'll follow."
She nodded and walked ahead.
As I watched her leave, I sighed.
Helen isn't bad.
I just don't understand why jealousy always finds its way into my heart whenever I look at her.
Later that afternoon, I was strolling absentmindedly along the walkway, still thinking about the dream.
"Clover!"
I turned.
It was Dave.
My heart leaped.
"I wasn't expecting to see you here," I lied smoothly.
"I was actually waiting for him" .
"Me too," he replied with a grin.
"So… what are you doing here?" he asked.
"Huh?"
I mentally slapped myself.
"I mean — just taking a stroll," I corrected.
"People do that here?" he teased.
"Of course," I said quickly. "I love strolling."
He laughed softly.
"I just finished my lectures. I was heading home, but we can chat for a while."
My heart practically exploded.
"You're really funny to be around," he added.
Before I could respond—
"Isn't that Mr. Grump?" a student whispered loudly to her friend while pointing at me.
"That's her. What's that handsome guy doing with her?"
" He probably doesn't know she is Mr Grump" the other said.
Their laughter faded as they walked away.
My stomach dropped.
I lowered my head, wishing the ground would open and swallow me whole.
Dave looked at me.
"Is that also your name?" he asked gently.
Shame burned through me.
Without thinking, I cursed under my breath and ran.
Leaving him standing there… confused.