Chapter 6: A Peaceful School Life… Was Never an Option
Cleo stood in front of the mirror.
Wearing a perfectly tailored uniform.
Looking like a rich, elegant, untouchable young master.
"…I look like a problem," he muttered.
Because he was a problem.
More specifically—
A walking death flag.
Today was his first day at university.
With Adrian.
With Aria.
With an unknown number of future disasters waiting to happen.
Cleo adjusted his collar.
"…Stay calm."
He pointed at his reflection.
"You are just a normal student."
He paused.
"…A normal student who might get killed."
He sighed.
"…Close enough."
"Big brother!"
Lina's voice came from outside.
"Hurry up! You'll be late!"
Cleo opened the door.
Lina immediately froze.
"Wow…"
Cleo blinked. "…What?"
"You look cool."
Cleo stared at her.
"…Don't say things like that."
"Why?"
"Because it feels like a death flag."
Lina tilted her head.
"…What?"
"…Nothing."
Outside, the car was already waiting.
Victor stood nearby.
Adrian was already there.
Standing quietly.
As always.
Cleo walked over.
"…Good morning."
Adrian gave a small nod.
"Morning."
Awkward.
Very awkward.
Cleo looked around.
"…Where's Aria?"
Silence.
Then—
"I'm here."
Cleo froze.
Slowly—
Slowly—
He turned around.
Aria stood right behind him.
Cleo jumped.
"Since when were you there?!"
"Just now."
"…That's worse."
The car ride was even more uncomfortable than yesterday.
Cleo sat in the middle.
Of course.
On his right: Aria.
On his left: Adrian.
Cleo looked straight ahead.
This is my life now.
The university gates were massive.
Students moved in groups.
Laughing.
Talking.
Living normal lives.
Cleo stared at them.
"…I miss being normal."
Aria grabbed his arm.
"You are normal."
Cleo looked at her.
"…You are the reason I'm not."
Aria blinked.
"…What?"
"…Nothing."
The moment they stepped inside—
Everything changed.
People noticed.
Of course they did.
Cleo Vale.
Famous.
Rich.
Handsome.
Untouchable.
And next to him—
Aria Laurent.
Equally famous.
Equally untouchable.
And behind them—
Adrian.
Unknown.
But standing close enough to attract attention.
Whispers spread.
"Isn't that Cleo?"
"That's Aria!"
"Who's the other guy?"
"No idea…"
Cleo felt it immediately.
Attention.
Too much attention.
This is bad.
"Cleo!"
A cheerful voice called out.
Cleo turned.
A group of students approached.
Clearly familiar with him.
"Long time no see!"
"Where have you been?"
"You disappeared!"
Cleo smiled politely.
"…Busy."
"Busy doing what?"
"…Living?"
They laughed.
Cleo didn't.
Then—
One of them looked at Adrian.
"…Who's that?"
Silence.
Cleo froze.
Careful.
This was important.
Very important.
This was one of those moments.
Where one wrong answer could change everything.
He took a breath.
"This is Adrian."
A pause.
"My brother."
Silence.
The group blinked.
"…Brother?"
"Since when?"
Cleo smiled.
"Since always."
Adrian looked at him.
Surprised.
In Adrian's mind—
Something shifted again.
He acknowledged me.
Publicly.
Without hesitation.
Why?
But before anyone could ask more—
Aria stepped forward.
And stood even closer to Cleo.
Too close.
Way too close.
"…Class is starting."
Her tone was calm.
But her eyes—
Were not.
The group immediately backed off.
"Ah… right…"
"See you later!"
They left quickly.
Cleo watched them go.
"…That was terrifying."
Inside the classroom—
Things got worse.
Much worse.
Because—
There were no assigned seats.
Cleo paused at the door.
Think carefully.
Where should I sit?
If he sat next to Aria—
Adrian would be isolated.
If he sat next to Adrian—
Aria would get angry.
If he sat alone—
Both would be a problem.
There is no safe option.
"…Sit."
Aria pulled him toward a seat.
Right by the window.
She sat down.
And left the seat next to her—
For him.
Cleo: "..."
Of course.
Before he could sit—
Adrian walked past him.
And took the seat on Cleo's other side.
Now—
Cleo was in the middle.
Again.
Cleo looked at the ceiling.
Why is my life like this?
The class started.
The professor began explaining.
No one listened.
Because—
Everyone was watching them.
Cleo could feel it.
The whispers.
The stares.
The curiosity.
He lowered his head slightly.
Ignore it.
Just survive the class.
"…Cleo."
Aria's voice was soft.
Too soft.
Dangerously soft.
"Yes?"
"…Who is she?"
Cleo froze.
"…Who?"
Aria's gaze shifted slightly.
Toward the front.
Cleo followed it.
And saw—
A girl.
Talking to another student.
Laughing.
Completely normal.
Cleo blinked.
"…I don't know her."
Aria stared at him.
"…She looked at you."
Cleo: "..."
People have eyes. They look at things.
But he couldn't say that.
"…Maybe she was looking at someone else?"
Aria didn't respond.
Which was worse.
On the other side—
Adrian was listening.
Quietly.
Observing everything.
This relationship…
It's not normal.
Not at all.
Halfway through the class—
The professor suddenly spoke.
"You two."
Cleo looked up.
"…Me?"
"And you."
The professor pointed at Adrian.
"Answer this question."
Cleo: "..."
Why me?!
Adrian answered first.
Calm.
Accurate.
Perfect.
The professor nodded.
"Good."
Then looked at Cleo.
"And you?"
Cleo smiled.
"…I agree with him."
Silence.
The class stared.
The professor blinked.
"…That's not an answer."
Cleo nodded seriously.
"It's the best answer."
A few students laughed.
Adrian looked at him again.
Confused.
Again?
He's not opposing me.
The professor sighed.
"…Sit down."
Cleo sat.
Victorious.
Another survival success.
After class—
Things didn't calm down.
They got worse.
Because the moment Cleo stepped outside—
That same girl from earlier approached.
"Um… excuse me."
Cleo froze.
No.
No new characters.
"I just wanted to say—"
Before she could finish—
Aria stepped in front of Cleo.
Blocking him completely.
"…What do you want?"
The girl froze.
"I—I just—"
"She's busy," Aria said calmly.
Cleo: "I'm not—"
Aria stepped on his foot.
Cleo: "..."
"…I'm busy."
The girl quickly left.
Cleo looked at Aria.
"…You scared her."
Aria looked back.
"…She was bothering you."
"She was talking."
"…That's the same thing."
Cleo: "..."
Adrian watched everything.
And for the first time—
He frowned slightly.
This isn't right.
Cleo sighed.
"…I'm tired."
He looked at both of them.
Aria.
Adrian.
Then at the sky.
"…It's only the first day."
In his mind—
A single thought repeated.
This school life…
Is more dangerous than the original plot.
Adrian, walking beside him, thought—
Cleo Vale…
I don't understand you.
Aria, holding his sleeve slightly tighter, thought—
Something is changing.
And I won't let it.
Cleo—
Just wanted to survive.