It was almost evening already. The academy's courtyard lights glowed faintly through the library windows, stretching long shadows across the polished floor. The place was quiet, peaceful even... except for the low sound of pages turning somewhere in the corner.
Adrian sat at one of the long tables, a book open in front of him. His finger traced the lines of text slowly, even though he wasn't really reading. He was trying to enjoy the silence, but it didn't work.
Because Lucien was there.
He was somewhere behind him again, pretending to look through a shelf, but Adrian knew. He had known for a while now. Lucien's footsteps never really left his hearing. The faint sound of movement, the quiet shift of weight... it was all there.
Adrian turned a page and exhaled. So much for peace.
He could tell Lucien wasn't following him because he was curious or friendly. Also not because he's his new guide. No. It was because Adrian was his next target.
That knowledge alone should have made him nervous. But it didn't. What bothered him wasn't the threat....it was the constant, heavy presence.
It made him feel like prey.
And yet... not entirely in a bad way.
He closed his book halfway and glanced toward the shelves behind him.
"You can stop pretending you're looking for something," he said quietly.
Lucien's voice came from right behind him.
"What gave me away?"
Adrian didn't answer. He could already feel the heat of Lucien's body near his back. The scent of his cologne. His heartbeat picked up despite himself.
Lucien leaned forward, his breath brushing Adrian's ear.
"What are you reading?"
Adrian stiffened. He didn't turn, but Lucien didn't care. He rested his chin lightly on Adrian's shoulder and leaned more of his weight forward... slow, deliberate.
Adrian could feel everything. The pressure of his chest against his back, the warmth that seeped through their clothes, even the faint brush lower against his hip. His heart thumped hard. He hated this. Hated it... except for this part. The closeness.
Lucien's voice dropped low.
"Do you even understand what you're reading?"
Adrian's hand tightened on the edge of the book. "It's not my first time reading," he muttered.
Lucien chuckled softly near his ear. "You sound defensive."
"Do you have anything better to do?" Adrian asked sharply, still not looking at him.
Lucien's smirk deepened. "You," he said. "You're my priority right now."
Adrian frowned. He tried to focus on the book again, but his eyes kept slipping off the words. His pulse refused to calm.
For a few seconds, the silence stretched between them as it became heavy and uncomfortable. Then Lucien finally moved back, straightening his posture. Adrian could breathe again.
He turned a page, pretending to read, but the letters swam before his eyes.
Then his phone vibrated softly against the table. Once. Twice.
He froze.
He didn't need to check to know who it was. Ethan.
His throat tightened. He couldn't open the messages... not here, not with Lucien watching. No one in school was supposed to know anything about Ethan. Especially not Lucien.
He could use the voice reader function, but that would only make it worse. People would hear.
Lucien noticed his sudden stillness.
"You're not going to check that?"
Adrian forced a small smile. "No need."
"Are you sure?" Lucien hummed as if he didn't believe him. "You seem nervous."
Adrian ignored him and stood suddenly, tucking his phone into his pocket.
"I'm going to the toilet."
Lucien tilted his head. "Now?"
"Is there a problem?"
Lucien smirked and clapped his hands once, softly because of the library's silence. "Perfect. I need to go too."
Before Adrian could say anything, Lucien's fingers wrapped around his hand. "Let's go together."
Adrian frowned. "I don't need a babysitter."
Lucien's grip only tightened slightly, his tone playful. "And I don't need your permission, princess,"
Adrian exhaled through his nose, deciding not to argue. He pulled his hand free when they reached the aisle near the exit, but Lucien didn't seem bothered. He just followed, his steps quiet and lazy.
Then Lucien's phone began to ring.
He stopped, tilting his head to glance at the screen.
"The president again?" Lucien said, frowning slightly.
Adrian looked away. "Answer your call," he said flatly. "I'll be going."
Lucien reached out as if to stop him, but Adrian had already slipped away, disappearing around the corner.
Lucien stared after him, then looked at the glowing screen again. Darius.
He sighed and accepted the call. "President," he said, his tone calm but distant.
"Lucien," Darius's steady voice came through as it sounded controlled as always. "Where are you right now?"
"The library," Lucien answered.
There was a brief pause, then Darius said,
"Come to the student council office immediately."
Before Lucien could respond, the call disconnected.
He stared at the phone for a second, his expression unreadable. Then he scoffed softly and slipped it back into his pocket.
"'Come immediately,' huh?" he muttered. "Always ordering people around..."
He leaned against a shelf, running a hand through his hair. The thought passed through his mind like a quiet whisper.
'Should I just kill him and become the next president myself?'
A smirk curved his lips. Then he shook his head. "Nah! That's too much work," he murmured.
He sighed once more, disappointed that he hadn't followed Adrian, then finally turned toward the exit.
.
.
In the restroom, Adrian locked himself inside one of the stalls and leaned against the door, exhaling heavily. He took his phone out and unlocked the screen.
Three unread messages. All from Ethan.
Ethan: I'm almost at the academy.
Ethan: You should be outside to greet me.
Ethan: What's your room number? Do you have a roommate?
Adrian's fingers hovered over the keyboard. He hesitated for a few seconds before typing back.
Adrian: Don't. Act. Like. You. Know. Me.
Adrian: I have a different personality here. Don't ruin it for me.
Adrian: And no, I'm not telling you my room number.
Adrian: Don't text me again until it's late.
He stared at the words for a moment, then hit send.
A short silence. Then another message arrived almost immediately.
Ethan: I wish we could stay together... Just like the old times.
Adrian's chest tightened slightly. He didn't reply.
He locked his phone, slipping it back into his pocket, and rubbed his face with both hands.
He didn't want to think about Ethan... not now. Not after that crazy situation.
He shook his head, trying to clear it.
"Not now," he muttered to himself.
He adjusted his mask and straightened his hoodie before stepping out of the stall. The sound of running water filled the quiet room as he washed his hands. His reflection in the mirror looked calm, but his eyes gave him away... tired, uneasy.
He turned off the tap and left the restroom.
.
.
Meanwhile, Lucien stood outside the student council office door.
He stared at it for a few seconds, his usual smirk gone, replaced by mild irritation.
"I wonder if he caught me," he murmured.
He shrugged. "Well, it doesn't matter."
He was sure the cameras had been off. He was sure of that.
He knocked once and entered without waiting for permission.
Inside, the office was busy as always... members typing, talking, reviewing files. But Lucien's eyes immediately went to the large monitor on the front wall.
It was playing a video.
A familiar one.
Ricky. The locker room. The punch.
Lucien's pulse quickened, though his expression didn't change.
He stepped further in, his gaze fixed on the screen. The moment where Ricky hit him... the moment where Lucien fell... and then, the flicker. The cut.
He stared, silent.
'What the hell is that doing here? Was that camera working? If it caught everything... Does that mean someone got rid of the original footage?'
Then his attention shifted.
Darius stood near the desk, buttoning the cuffs of his black suit jacket... the special uniform only he wore. His movements were calm.
Lucien's jaw tightened slightly.
"Oh, you're here, Lucien," Darius said without looking up. His tone was perfectly normal, unreadable.
Lucien's eyes narrowed. "President."
Darius finally looked at him, his expression composed. "You took your time."
Lucien's lips twitched upward in a faint smirk.
"I had to make sure I looked good before coming."
Darius didn't respond. He finished adjusting his tie and walked toward him.
Lucien stood still, hands in his pockets, pretending to be relaxed. But his heart had started to beat faster again... not from fear, but from instinct. Something about Darius's calm made people uneasy.
When Darius stopped in front of him, their eyes met.
"Lucien," Darius said quietly.
Lucien raised an eyebrow. "Yes, President?"
Darius's expression didn't change. But his next words carried a weight that filled the entire room.
"You're in big trouble."
Lucien's smirk faltered for half a second... then returned, faint but sharp.
He didn't answer.
The monitor behind them flickered once again, freezing on the image of Lucien standing up from the floor.
The room felt colder.
'What the fuck does he mean by that?' Lucien's thoughts screamed in his head.