That night, I slept peacefully-for the first time since I came here.
"Ugh, I hate these assignments. I mean, we've barely set foot in university... at least spare the newbies."
Mark's voice cut through the morning noise as we sat together in the canteen after our respective first lectures.
I let out a light giggle at his exaggerated complaint.
"I can help you, Mark. It's psychology, right? I had it in high school," I offered with a small smile, the words slipping out naturally.
For a moment, I didn't even think about it.
About the café job.
About the tutoring listing I stil had to look into.
Jessie opened her mouth, as if about to stop me-but Mark beat her to it.
"Really? What are you, a goddess?" he said dramatically.
I laughed softly, a little embarrassed.
Jessie muttered something under her breath, but I barely caught it.
Because just then-
it hit me.
The café job.
The other one too.
For a second, my smile faltered.
But I pushed the thought aside just as quickly.
I'll manage somehow.
I always did.Even back in my world
"...Nothing's really changed," I murmured to myself, a faint smile returning.
And then-suddenly-
I turned my head.
A strange feeling crept over me.
Like someone was watching.
I scanned the area, but nothing stood out.
"Is something wrong?" Jessie asked, her brows knitting with concern.
I shook my head lightly, offering her a reassuring smile.
"Nothing."
At least-that's what I told her.
Later that day-
just as I stepped out of my lecture-
someone suddenly pulled me aside into a quieter corner.
"What the-"
I barely had time to react before I recognized him.
Samuel.
He leaned casually against the wall, a smirk playing on his lips.
"Hey," he said, tilting his head slightly. "Weren't you flirting with me that day?
"Passing me that note and all that"...My brows furrowed-not so much at what he said, but at the fact that he was even talking to me.
"And now you're with him?" he added, his tone laced with amusement.
I stared at him, confused.
"Why do you keep noticing me...?" I muttered under my breath before I could stop myself. "You're not supposed to. I'm just an-"
I stopped mid-sentence.
Because suddenly-he reached out-and grabbed my face.
My breath hitched.
"How could I not notice a face like yours?" he said lightly.
For a moment, everything froze.
The situation-
It felt familiar.
Like one of those scenes from the novel.
Where the female lead gets cornered and the problematic person gets the sh*t bitten out of them by the male lead.
But-
why was it happening to me?
I wasn't supposed to matter.
His words didn't make sense either.
"W-What...?" I stammered, instinctively grabbing his wrist, trying to pull his hand away from my face.
If we had met in my world, He would have never said something like this- rather would have looked other way or turned a blind eye ...
But this didn't mean I felt faltered
Because I had already decided-
to stay out of the story.
To stay away from them.
And yet-
here I was.
Then-
suddenly-
another presence entered the scene.
Lily, She stood a few steps away, unnoticed by both of us until that moment.
Her gaze was fixed on us.
On Samuel's hand-still on my cheek.
On mine-holding his wrist.
Her eyes burned.
With something sharp.
Not just anger.
Something closer to-
jealousy.