A long day had passed, yet the lingering echoes of that moment still clung to Serena's heart. She couldn't even remember how she had returned to the dormitory.
Her whole body ached, but the deepest wound wasn't the physical pain—it was the indifferent gaze of Christopher. In his eyes, she sensed something intangible—familiar yet distant, warm yet dangerous.
That night, Serena couldn't sleep. Every time she closed her eyes, she recalled his deep voice, the way he handed her the towel, and most of all, the last words he had said—
"You're really good at enduring. Impressive..."
Was that a compliment or sarcasm? Sympathy or mockery? She couldn't tell. But one thing was certain—the presence of Christopher had left a mark on her heart, no matter how much she refused to admit it.
What am I even thinking? She shook her head, trying to dismiss the tangled thoughts invading her mind.
In the days that followed, Serena kept running into Christopher in unexpected situations—the school hallways, the café near the dorm, the library. Every time she caught sight of those deep, dark eyes, her heart would skip a beat.
He never actively started a conversation, but neither did he avoid her. The way he watched her, calm yet full of unspoken meaning, made it impossible for her to ignore him. This feeling… was strange. She didn't know whether she wanted to run away or was simply being drawn in.
One time, while she was choosing a book in the library, a hand suddenly reached over her shoulder, pulling a book from the top shelf. A familiar masculine scent filled the air around her.
Serena stiffened, turning around, only to be met with Christopher's flawless face. The distance between them was so close that she could see each of his eyelashes clearly.
"You like reading these?" he asked, his deep voice carrying a hint of curiosity.
Blinking in surprise, Serena glanced at the book in his hand—a psychological novel. She didn't know how to respond and simply remained silent. But Christopher merely let out a soft chuckle, his gaze thoughtful.
"You don't seem like the type who enjoys these. But I suppose… people always have sides to them even they don't fully understand."
His words made her freeze. She wanted to refute him, but for some reason, she couldn't find the words. By the time she regained her composure, Christopher was already gone, leaving behind a lingering, indescribable feeling in the air.
Just what kind of person is he?
Before leaving the library, her fingers unconsciously brushed against the spine of the book he had touched. The small action startled her, making her realize the faint sense of attachment stirring within her.
No… I can't let myself get caught up in his eyes. She shook her head firmly, trying to push away the strange thoughts.
A sudden downpour came just as Serena stepped out of the lecture hall. The trees along the sidewalk rustled violently, their leaves crashing against each other under the force of the wind. She pulled up her sleeve, shielding her fingers from the icy raindrops trickling down.
With a sigh, she rummaged through her bag for an umbrella—only to remember that she had forgotten to bring one. Left with no choice, she lifted her bag over her head and hurried toward the nearest bus stop. The rain seeped into her clothes, sending a chill through her body. Sitting on the long bench beneath the shelter, her damp black hair cascaded over her slender shoulders.
Suddenly, a familiar silhouette appeared beside her. Christopher.
He stood in the rain for a moment before approaching, his deep eyes carrying the weight of an oncoming storm.
"Forgot your umbrella?" His voice was calm.
Serena gave a small nod, unsure how to react.
Without another word, Christopher opened his umbrella, shielding both of them from the rain.
He tilted the umbrella slightly towards her, letting himself get wet instead. It was an unconscious action, yet it perfectly reflected his inner contradiction—wanting to keep his distance, yet unable to completely walk away.
"The bus won't be here for a while. If you don't mind, I'll keep you company." His voice remained indifferent.
Serena hesitated for a moment before nodding. After all, it was still raining, and having someone to wait with wasn't so bad.
Standing together beneath the small umbrella, neither too far nor too close, an inexplicable feeling settled between them. Serena wasn't sure if it was because of the rain, but for a fleeting moment, her heart trembled slightly.
Returning home, Serena stepped into the vast mansion. She changed clothes, dried her hair, then went downstairs to have dinner with her mother.
"How's school going? Any difficulties?" her mother asked gently.
Serena twirled her chopsticks in her bowl of rice before replying,
"It's alright, Mom. The workload is a bit heavy, but I'm keeping up. I got a 9 on my Music Theory test last week. And my vocal instructor said I've improved."
Her mother nodded approvingly, though her gaze turned a little stern.
"Even if you're in the music department, you must still focus on foundational knowledge. Literature, especially—you need to cultivate emotions to express them through music."
Serena smiled softly. "I understand, Mom. I'll do my best."
Satisfied, her mother continued, "What about friends? Anyone new? Are you still close with Gabriel Athelstan and Olivia Esperanza?"
Serena paused briefly before nodding.
"Yes, we're still close. Oh, and there's a new transfer student in our class. He's… quite different. Unlike everyone else, he carries this quiet, composed demeanor, but his eyes… they're incredibly sharp, as if he can see through everything without needing to ask."
At first, she hadn't paid much attention to him. But little by little, his subtle gestures caught her eye—the way he flipped through pages, the unhurried manner in which he sipped his coffee, even the way he occasionally gazed out the window when it rained.
Everything about him exuded an air of mystery that made it impossible to decipher what truly lay beneath.
Every time their eyes met, Serena felt as if she were being pulled into another world, where time slowed, leaving only his presence.
But she would always shake her head, reminding herself not to overthink it. He was just another student—nothing special.
Her mother studied her daughter for a moment before speaking in a gentle yet firm tone.
"No matter what happens, you must always put your studies first. No one can help you succeed if you don't work hard for yourself."
Serena nodded, though a faint unease stirred within her. She knew her mother only wanted the best for her, but there were things she herself had yet to fully understand.
And among those uncertainties… was a person named Christopher.
Her mother smiled in satisfaction. But as she reached out to place food on Serena's plate, her hand suddenly froze.
The chopsticks in her grasp halted midair.
"Your hand… why are there bruises?" Her voice dropped, laced with concern and suspicion.
Serena flinched, quickly pulling down her sleeve.
"It's nothing, Mom. I just accidentally hit the edge of a table."
Her mother didn't believe her. Setting down her chopsticks, she grasped Serena's wrist, pulling up her sleeve.
Bruises, dark and scattered, ran from her wrist to her upper arm. Her mother's expression darkened.
"Serena, tell me the truth. What happened?"