Recap:
After the match, Aiden caught Aurora just in time as she stumbled on the stairs. Their moment froze for a beat before Aurora pulled away, teasing him about his ever-present mask. Embarrassed, Aiden didn't have a comeback, but Aurora's teasing helped ease the tension.
As they walked on, neither noticed the figure hidden nearby, watching them with quiet intensity, muttering something before fading into the darkness.
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The next day passed like any other, blending into the usual rhythm of campus life. After class, Aurora stepped out of the room, her thoughts focused on her usual routine. That's when she spotted Amber and Flare standing just outside the classroom. For a moment, Aurora hesitated, her gaze lingering on them. This time, she didn't simply walk away.
Amber took a cautious step forward, her voice tentative but determined. "Can we talk?" she asked, her tone holding a hint of vulnerability.
Aurora's eyes shifted to Flare, who stood silently beside Amber, her head tilted down, avoiding eye contact. The sight made Aurora pause—this wasn't the same confident Flare she was used to seeing.
"Hmm," Aurora murmured, her response measured. Without another word, she turned and started toward the cafeteria, her footsteps steady, leaving Amber and Flare to follow.
They sat in the cafeteria, the weight of unspoken words hanging in the air. The awkward silence stretched on until Amber decided to break it.
"Aiden told us about your conversation yesterday," Amber began cautiously. "Look, Aurora, we both are sorr—"
Aurora raised her hand, cutting Amber off mid-sentence. "It's neither your fault nor hers, so there's no need to apologize," she said firmly. Her gaze shifted to Flare, who sat with her head bowed, avoiding eye contact. "But let's not make this about you, Amber. She was the one who said all that. Why don't you let her explain herself?"
Amber hesitated, glancing at Flare before speaking again. "She's just scared, Aurora. She feels awful about it," Amber said, her voice soft but defensive.
Aurora turned to her, her expression hardening. "Stop it, Amber. How long are you going to defend her mistakes?" she said pointedly. Then, her attention returned to Flare. "So, explain," Aurora said, her tone sharp as her gaze locked onto Flare.
Flare's voice faltered, her stuttering barely audible as she struggled to form a coherent sentence. "I-I—"
Aurora's sharp tone cut through the silence like a blade. "What happened to your confident nature?" she demanded, her eyes locking onto Flare with unwavering intensity. "Look into my eyes when you speak."
Flare hesitated, her gaze flickering nervously toward Aurora before finally meeting her piercing stare. The weight of the moment pressed down on her, forcing words she didn't know how to say to the surface.
"Speak," Amber said sharply, her patience wearing thin.
"I-I really didn't mean to say anything like that," Flare stammered, her voice barely above a whisper. "As Aiden said, I was forced by—" She stopped abruptly, hesitant to continue.
"By who?" Amber and Aurora asked in unison, their voices tense with curiosity.
"By Ethan," Flare admitted, her eyes dropping to the floor again.
"Ethan? Isn't he the student in your class—the dean's son?" Amber asked, her brows furrowing in confusion.
Aurora shook her head, her tone calm but resolute. "No, it's the student from my class in school. Coincidentally, their names are the same." She took a deep breath and continued, her voice steady despite the tension. "But we're far away from that school and even that country now. There's no point in dragging this up again. Still, how did he reach you? And when you said all that, was it because you didn't know I was behind, or did you know?"
Flare shifted uncomfortably, her guilt evident. "I don't know," she began hesitantly. "He caught me during the farewell and dragged me into this mess. He was listening in on our conversations through the call when we were talking with the boys. He messaged me, telling me exactly what to say and when to say it. I—I didn't have a choice."
"Fine," Aurora said, her tone calm but decisive.
"So... I'm forgiven?" Flare asked cautiously, her voice tinged with hope.
Aurora nodded and let out a soft sigh. She decided to change the subject, eager to lighten the mood. "Anyway," she began with a curious glint in her eyes, "what's up with you and Horizon? You're always hanging out with them. Are you, by any chance, dating someone from the group?"
Amber smirked slightly, exchanging a glance with Flare. "Actually, yes," she said, her voice steady. "I'm dating Ace, and Flare here is dating Jace."
"Woah! How did that happen? I mean, you ending up with Horizon?" Aurora asked, her tone a mix of curiosity and disbelief.
Amber chuckled. "Do you remember the first day we met them at the concert in India?"
"Yeah, I do," Aurora said, nodding.
"The very next day, we accidentally bumped into them at a restaurant. That's how it all started," Amber explained with a small smile.
"I see," Aurora replied, a hint of amusement in her tone.
"By the way," Flare interjected, glancing at Aurora, "we wanted to ask you something."
"Go ahead," Aurora said, casually sipping her coffee.
"On the day you left, we went to the airport and found out you didn't take a commercial flight. The attendant said you own a private plane," Flare said, her words making Aurora choke mid-sip.
"Are you alright?" Amber asked, concerned.
Aurora waved a hand, recovering quickly. "Yeah, I'm fine. But are you joking? You know very well my family isn't rich enough to own a private plane."
"We told her that," Amber said, "but she insisted. She said she doesn't know about your family but claimed you could afford one yourself."
Aurora shook her head firmly. "Guys, she must have mistaken me for someone else."
"But that day, the flight to Korea was at 11:00, and you left at 5:00. We didn't see you at the airport," Flare pressed.
Aurora sighed, her gaze shifting momentarily. "I was on the same flight as you. I saw you at the airport, so I hid," she admitted.
"Ohhh," Amber and Flare said in unison.
"By the way, why don't you join us for lunch today?" Amber asked, her tone warm and inviting.
Aurora shook her head with a small smile. "No thanks. Aiden won't be able to eat with his mask on."
"Yeah, he and his mask," Amber said with a light laugh. Just then, her phone buzzed loudly, cutting the moment short. "Sorry, we need to go—they're calling us for lunch," she added, glancing at Flare.
Aurora nodded and watched them leave. Finishing her coffee, she decided to head toward the library to spend some time with her thoughts.
Aurora was heading toward the library when something made her pause mid-step. She furrowed her brows, her mind catching on a detail she hadn't fully registered until now. As she retraced her steps, she found herself standing in front of the slightly open door to Horizon's reserved room.
She hesitated for a moment before her gaze flickered inside. At the table, surrounded by Ace, Jace, Amber, and Flare, sat someone she hadn't expected to see. Her heart skipped a beat as she took in the sight—his laughter blending effortlessly with the group, their casual demeanor as if they'd always belonged there.
Aurora felt her stomach tighten. Questions swirled through her mind, each one more urgent than the last. She blinked, taking a shaky breath, and forced herself to turn away. Walking briskly, she made her way to the library, but her thoughts refused to settle. The unexpected figure, his presence in that room—it didn't make sense.
She tried to lose herself in the familiar comfort of the library's quiet walls, but the image stayed with her, persistent and unrelenting, as if demanding answers she wasn't ready to find.
After some time, Aurora was walking toward the exit, her mind still preoccupied, when she suddenly bumped into someone.
"Be careful," the familiar voice said.
Aurora muttered a quick "sorry" without even glancing at the person and continued walking.
"Hey, Aurora! Wait," the voice called out again. She stopped mid-step and turned, finally noticing the speaker.
"Oh, it's you, Ace. Sorry, I didn't notice," she said, a small, apologetic smile forming on her lips.
Ace studied her for a moment, his brows knitting in concern. "What's wrong? You look like something's on your mind."
Aurora hesitated, as though weighing her response. Finally, she shook her head lightly, offering a faint smile. "It's nothing, really. Thanks for asking," she replied, her tone polite but distant.
"By the way, want to join us for dinner tonight?" Ace asked, his tone shifting to something more casual.
She was about to refuse, her instinct to retreat kicking in, but a sudden thought crossed her mind. "Sure, I'll be there," she said, surprising even herself.
Ace's face lit up. "Great! I'll ask Amber to send you the address."
"Wait," Aurora interrupted, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Let's make it a surprise. Don't tell them I'm coming."
Ace chuckled. "Alright. Give me your number—I'll send you the details."
Aurora tilted her head playfully. "Come on, Ace. You're the leader of Horizon. People like you don't just hand out their numbers. What if I leaked it?"
Ace laughed, shaking his head. "I trust you. After all, you're my girlfriend's best friend." Just then, his phone buzzed in his pocket. He glanced at the screen and sighed.
"Sorry, I need to take this. I'll see you tonight at the dinner place," he said, flashing her a quick smile before walking away.
Aurora waved him off before continuing on her way, her thoughts more focused now but no less curious about the evening ahead.
It was already time for dinner when Aurora stood in front of Horizon's villa. The grand structure glowed softly under the evening lights, its elegance captivating her as she took a moment to admire it.
"It's really beautiful," she thought before stepping forward and ringing the doorbell.
Within seconds, the door opened, and two maids greeted her with warm, polite smiles. They stepped aside and gestured for her to come in, escorting her through the spacious halls. The interior was stunning, with high ceilings, polished floors, and tasteful decor that exuded sophistication. Aurora followed quietly, her eyes taking in the surroundings as she wondered what awaited her that evening.
The maid politely gestured for Aurora to sit on the plush couch, promising that the others would join her shortly. Aurora took a seat, her posture relaxed but her mind already buzzing with curiosity about the evening.
Minutes passed before she heard footsteps descending the staircase. A boy came into view, talking animatedly on his phone, completely oblivious to her presence. Aurora's eyes narrowed slightly as recognition dawned, and a devilish smile began to curve on her lips.
She waited, watching him carefully. He hung up his call, his focus entirely on heading toward the dining room. Before he could disappear, Aurora's voice rang out, clear and deliberate.
"Hi, Aiden."
He froze mid-step, his body stiffening as he turned around to face her. Shock flashed across his face as he realized—he wasn't wearing his mask. For the first time, Aurora saw him as he truly was, his expression unguarded and vulnerable.
Aurora stood there, smirking at him, her arms loosely crossed as she leaned slightly forward. The amusement in her eyes was impossible to miss.
"Looks like you forgot your mask, Aiden. Or should I say—" she trailed off, her smirk deepening as she let the weight of her words hang in the air.
Preview of Next Chapter:
Aurora's smirk lingered as the name left her lips, cutting through the quiet with undeniable clarity. Aiden's reaction was immediate—his eyes widened in shock, and for a moment, he seemed frozen in place. Before either of them could say another word, the sound of approaching footsteps filled the air.
Aurora stiffened as the others entered the room, their cheerful voices breaking the tension. Quickly masking her emotions, she stepped back, offering a polite smile as if nothing had happened. Aiden, however, remained visibly unsettled, his composure just slightly off.
The next day, Aurora couldn't help but feel a simmering annoyance toward him. Every time she saw him, the events of the previous evening replayed in her mind. Despite her best efforts, her frustration slipped through in her glares and curt responses. Aiden noticed, of course, but he didn't dare address it—not yet.
Unresolved, the tension between them only grew as the day went on.