"You two still seem intense," Theodore commented, nudging Conrad's arm as he came down the porch steps.
Both of them spotted Selena already standing outside, leaning lightly against Theodore's car. Conrad halted at the second-to-last step, which made Theodore pause mid-stride, puzzled.
"What is it?" Theodore asked, turning to his younger brother.
Conrad's gaze was locked on Selena. Something unreadable flickered across his face. "It's…" he began, but then shook his head. "Nothing. Forget it."
Theodore frowned, watching as Conrad brushed past him without another word. Usually, Conrad rode in the back while Theodore took the front seat next to Norman, their driver. But this time, Conrad opened the front passenger door and slid in silently.
Theodore blinked. "Well, thanks for the demotion," he muttered under his breath and climbed into the back.
"If it weren't for that dumb bet last night, I'd never sit back here," he added with a groan.
Selena, already in the backseat, glanced at him and offered a small, polite smile.
"Morning, Sel," Theodore greeted with an exaggerated cheeriness.
He was clearly trying to cut the tension, but it hung in the air like fog. Both him and Conrad knew there was no bet from last night. But no one spoke the whole ride. Selena buried herself in her textbook. Conrad was glued to his phone. Norman focused on the road, though he occasionally glanced at them through the rearview mirror.
By the time they pulled up to campus, the silence felt suffocating. Theodore and Selena reached for their doors at the same time, but Conrad spoke up.
"Sel, can I talk to you for a second?"
Selena paused, glanced at Theodore, who gave a subtle nod, then followed Conrad a few steps away from the car.
"I'm sorry about yesterday, okay?" Conrad said, voice low. "I didn't mean for it to go like that."
Selena didn't reply. Her eyes were fixed on the navy-blue sweater he wore, one she'd picked out for him a few months ago.
"Sel?" he pressed gently.
She finally looked up, meeting his eyes. "What do you want me to say, young master?"
His expression shifted. "Really? I'm apologizing, and you're pulling the 'young master' card?"
"Aren't you my young master?" she said, her voice soft but sharp.
Color rushed to his cheeks. "Come on, Sel. I'm serious. I'm trying to make this right."
Selena gave a tired smile, one that didn't reach her eyes. "Alright then, let me ask you something. Are you still going through with that little plan of yours?"
Conrad sighed and closed his eyes. "Look, I just want things to go back to normal between us, okay? Whatever you're planning, I won't interfere. And I'd appreciate it if you stayed out of mine too."
She let out a humorless laugh. "So that's what we are now? You go your way, I go mine?"
"...Yes?"
"Well, that's not a relationship to me, Conrad." She took a step back, voice steady. "If that's how it's going to be, I respect it. But let's just end this, okay?"
His breath caught. "What?"
"Let's break up," she said, firmer this time. "I won't interfere with your business anymore. You're a free bird now."
Conrad stood frozen, eyes wide, mouth slightly open like he'd misheard her. But she wasn't joking.
"No, wait, Sel!" he called out, taking a step toward her, but his feet felt glued to the pavement. His chest tightened, painfully so, and he could feel the tears gathering as the wind picked up around them.
He watched her walk away, never once looking back.