Raquel's face blossomed into a sweet smile as Jonas, a towering figure, materialized behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, his touch as tender as a summer breeze.
Jonas Hemington is a young man with a charming smile and kind eyes that draw many to him. He is greatly admired across campus for his compassionate nature and passionate leadership of various charitable initiatives that better the student community. His popularity seems to stem from selflessly giving his time to help others.
More importantly, Jonas's intellect is evident in his seamless progress as a medical student. While some classmates struggle, repeating semesters, he is already finishing his final term, drawing admiring glances as he aces exams.
"Jonas, you sneak," Raquel said with feigned surprise, placing a delicate hand over her chest as if startled by his sudden appearance.
Jonas's warm chuckle escaped his lips as he noticed the delicate flush that had painted Raquel's cheeks. With a loving expression on his face, he reached out and gently stroked her cheek with his thumb, his fingers lingering on her soft skin. Then, he reached into his backpack and pulled out a small jar.
Jonas held out a small, amber jar filled with a rich, velvety chocolate. "I ordered this just for you, sweetie," he said. "To celebrate your finishing the diet program."
"You're too kind, Jonas," Raquel said, her face glowing with joy as she accepted the gift. His considerate gesture warmed her heart.
"It was nothing," Jonas replied bashfully. "I wanted to select something special for you, my dear, so I chose low-sugar chocolate to indulge your sweet tooth without guilt."
Raquel's silvery laughter cascaded like a waterfall, her hand fluttering to cover her mouth in a delicate gesture.
"Displaying fondness at dawn?" Nina teasingly inquired upon her arrival.
"Why greet the morning as happily as the birds?" Raquel laughed.
"Come now, it's too early to flaunt affection before a single soul like me," Nina complained, though her sour smile didn't reach her eyes.
"Hey, Nina," Jonas grinned, his eyes twinkling like stars in the night sky.
Nina chuckled, teasing him. "Well, Jonas. I think it's about time you meet your fake girlfriend in the lab. I hope she's worth all the trouble."
Nina always teased Jonas because she knew that recently he had been studying human anatomy with a fake human model in the lab.
"Come on, Nina. It's only 9 in the morning. I don't want to rush into the lab and meet that professor," Jonas turned his head in frustration.
"Nina, please stop bullying him all the time," reprimanded Raquel, feeling remorseful for Jonas.
Jonas leaned in, aligning lips to Raquel's ear. "I understand her well, dear heart, so do not fault yourself," he whispered reassuringly.
At his soothing tone, Raquel smiled, tension easing from her shoulders. His empathy dispelled lingering doubts as always, leaving only warmth between souls long attuned.
Eyes aflame, Nina provoked, "Must you cater to their whims so, Raquel? Your kind heart blinds you to designs less noble."
Raquel squirmed in Nina's grip, like a fish out of water. "Nina, let me go!" she pleaded. "Jonas, I'm so sorry, but I have to run to my class. Thank you for the chocolate."
"Alright, my darling. After class, I'll be waiting for you beneath the ancient oak tree, where the sunlight dances on the leaves and the birds sing their sweetest songs. See you soon."
Since the previous semester, rumors had swirled about Jonas's relentless pursuit of Raquel, the daughter of a prominent city investor. Once unkempt, he now sported a polished new look, his once-ragged clothes replaced with tailored suits. His eagerness to win Raquel's favor was as palpable as the scent of his newfound cologne.
Despite the sparks flying between them, Raquel and Jonas's relationship never blossomed into a full-fledged romance. They danced around each other like moths drawn to a flame, but neither dared to take the first step.
Raquel, scarred by a trail of immature boyfriends since high school, guarded her heart like a fortress, refusing to give Jonas the key, even though she felt a growing fondness for him. Their relationship was a tangled web, a dance of intimacy and distance, a "friends with benefits" arrangement that left her feeling both fulfilled and unfulfilled.
"Jonas is a veritable Romeo, his lips dripping with honeyed words like a 70s ballad," Nina sighed, her heels clicking on the marble floor as she walked ahead of Raquel.
Raquel's eyes sparkled with fondness as she gazed at the jar of chocolate in her hands, her grip tightening reflexively.
"Isn't it true that lovers have always been this way, through the ages?" she asked with a chuckle.
Nina darted a glance, rolling her eyes. "Raquel, aren't you tired being in some unconventional bond without labels like that with Jonas?"
"We're quite comfortable with one another, Nina," Raquel shrugged lightly. "Through open talks more intimate than any act, Jonas and I have found solace few enjoy. This liberates, not confines us."
Nina let out a small sigh and paused, her eyes boring into Raquel's. "Raquel, think about this carefully. You and Jonas have feelings for each other, but you're not really dating. Consider that in this world, nothing is impossible, my dear. Even the stars could align and bring you together, if that's what you both want."
"Nina, please," Raquel smiled gently. "I don't wish to dwell on it further. I know myself - wild at times, yet I hold fast to my mother's message 'no sex before graduation', with Jonas or otherwise."
"Well, whatever - I hope Jonas knows better than to toy with your heart like other immature boys."
"Of course," Raquel replied, her eyes lighting up. "I heard his father's a renowned cardiothoracic surgeon at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York. Growing up in such a privileged and nurturing environment must have instilled in Jonas not only impeccable manners, but also a deep sense of compassion and empathy."
"Yes, it's your choice," Nina shrugged. "But rest assured, if he hurts you, I will hold Jonas accountable - with care."
"He wouldn't," Raquel insisted as their steps fell in sync. She gifted Nina a smile, hand on her arm conveying resilience. Nina returned the smile, hitting the elevator's button to respect her friend's judgement while maintaining guardianship from afar should she be needed.