The weekend slipped away so fast it barely felt real. One blink and Monday arrived, dragging noise, gossip, and the usual chaos with it. But this morning was worse than usual.
Because a new star had walked into Aster Academy.
Ethan Marlowe.
Everyone already knew the name. The youngest award-winning art model. The face that sold out magazines overnight. The pretty boy with millions of followers and talent, ridiculous enough to make other students insecure just by standing next to him.
And now, he was here.
Students crowded the hallway from end to end, screaming like he was some celebrity on a red carpet. Every two steps someone shoved a notebook or a sketchpad or a dirty piece of paper in front of him, begging for his autograph. Someone asked to touch his hair. Someone asked for a hug. Another begged him to stand still and let her "breathe the same air for inspiration."
Ethan handled it calmly, politely even... but he was clearly tired. His smile was getting weaker by the second, his voice softer, and his pace slower... because the swarm kept blocking him from entering his classroom.
He needed help from someone. Anywhere.
Lucien and Adrian were already walking toward the same entrance. Well... technically Lucien was walking. Adrian was trailing slightly behind him, pretending he couldn't see the scene even though he clearly could.
Behind his thick black glasses, Adrian's eyes narrowed in annoyance the moment Ethan came into view.
His lower lip caught between his teeth.
Lucien noticed immediately and took a few steps back to stand close to him.
"You like him?" Lucien asked, voice casual.
Adrian jolted. "W... What? Like who? I can't even see anything in front of me,"
Lucien raised an eyebrow. "Ah right. I was suspicious since you kept staring at him."
"I'm... not. My head is just... up," Adrian muttered, turning his head away even though the redness on his cheeks said otherwise.
Lucien smirked. "Sure."
Ahead, Ethan tried to squeeze through the students to reach the classroom entrance, but the group wouldn't budge. It looked like he was being swallowed by human piranhas.
Lucien sighed. "I'll go clear the students out after I lead you inside."
Adrian grabbed Lucien's sleeve instantly. "No. I can handle it."
Lucien blinked. "You? Handle what?"
Adrian avoided his gaze, pushing his glasses higher. "You don't need to lead me in. I can find my way inside myself."
Lucien stared at him for a second. He didn't understand why Adrian was acting like he was running from something... or someone. But he didn't push.
"Fine," he said.
Adrian didn't wait. He rushed toward the classroom door like someone running from a crime scene. His shoulders were stiff, his head low, and he vanished into the room so fast he nearly tripped on the step.
Lucien watched him go, lips curling.
"What the hell are you up to, princess?" he muttered.
Then he rolled his shoulders, cracked his neck, and walked toward Ethan.
The crowd parted the moment he stepped forward. Aster Academy's golden boy still carried authority even if he'd been hiding his murderous hobbies behind perfect smiles and good grades.
Lucien put on his most polite expression... the one that fooled everyone but Adrian.
"Excuse me," he said kindly, tapping a few shoulders. "Let him through. He needs to get to class."
The students listened immediately, stepping aside like obedient puppies.
Ethan let out a relieved breath. "Thanks..." he said softly.
Lucien smiled like a saint. "Darius asked me to look after you for the week. I'll walk you."
Ethan blinked, then nodded gratefully. "I really appreciate it. People here are... energetic."
"Energetic is a nice way to say annoying," Lucien whispered as they entered the classroom building.
Ethan chuckled at that.
Lucien helped him find his seat inside the classroom and turned to leave, but Ethan reached out.
"You're not sitting here?" he asked.
"Huh?" Lucien tilted his head. "Why would I?"
Ethan laughed lightly. "I thought you wouldn't hear since we're friends."
"Friends?" Lucien almost burst into laughter but he stopped himself.
"Oh! Aren't we friends?"
Lucien didn't even pretend. He answered as honestly as he could. "No."
Ethan blinked. "That's harsh."
"I already have someone to sit with," Lucien said, eyes turning dangerously soft. "My clueless roommate."
Before Ethan could ask more, Lucien left.
Ethan watched him go, confused but amused. He wanted to see who this clueless roommate was until a group of classmates surrounded him again, blocking his view.
Lucien didn't care. He'd done his job. And now he had someone better to annoy.
He walked to the backseat and found the seat next to Adrian.
The moment he sat, Adrian stiffened. "W-Who is that?"
Lucien leaned forward until his lips brushed Adrian's ear. "It's me."
Adrian flinched so hard his glasses nearly fell off. Lucien saw a tiny glimpse of Adrian's bare, unfiltered eyes. His eyes were too beautiful to belong to someone pretending to be blind.
Lucien's pulse quickened.
Adrian hurriedly fixed the glasses and hissed, "Don't whisper in my ear. Ever."
Lucien grinned. "Why? Did it feel too good?"
Adrian elbowed him without hesitation. Lucien laughed.
Class started. Everyone turned their attention to the lecturer... everyone except Lucien.
Lucien stared at Adrian the entire time, chin resting on his hand. Watching the way Adrian listened carefully to the lecture without taking notes. He watched how he recorded everything on his phone. Watching how his body stayed tense, like he was hiding, even the way he breathed.
Lucien's mind wasn't in the lesson.
It was somewhere darker.
'I have to kill him,' Lucien thought, tapping his thumb lightly on the desk. 'He's next on my list... but if I kill him, what am I supposed to do for fun?'
Adrian was... entertaining. Not just that, every one of his actions was cute, and he gets easily terrified but still tries to act brave.
He wanted to touch him. the bare skin that he saw a few days ago. He wanted to see how far he could push him. Break him slowly, piece by piece.
'Sport day is in two days,' Lucien thought. 'I guess it'll be a perfect chance.'
He smirked to himself.
When the class ended, something happened. Students didn't rush to Lucien like they usually did. Instead, they rushed to Ethan.
Ethan, the cute new star, was the new centre of attention.
Lucien watched the crowd swarm to Ethan instead of him and sighed in relief.
'Finally. Peace.'
He didn't care about losing attention. Popularity was only useful when he needed to hide things. But now? He wanted a quiet life... so he could focus on Adrian.
The next class hadn't started yet, so people were pulling out magazines... nude magazines.
Specifically, magazines that included Ethan's art and Ethan's models.
Lucien leaned back lazily as the guys and girls excitedly asked Ethan for signatures on naked sketches and half-nude poses.
Adrian saw the cover from where he sat.
His reaction was instant... he lowered his head sharply and tugged his hood down. Even though no one knew it was him, panic flickered across his face. His fingers tightened on the edge of the table.
Lucien noticed.
Of course he did.
But for once, he didn't tease him. He simply watched.
'You're hiding something, princess... and I will find it.'
The lecturer entered and everyone rushed back to their seats. But the rest of the lesson didn't matter much. Adrian remained quiet, head low.
Then the second class ended again, and the hallway filled with noise again.
Lucien leaned back in his chair, eyes fixed on Adrian.
He caught a tremor in Adrian's hands. Something was bothering him. Something more than the magazines.
Lucien's smirk widened slowly.
'I'll prove it. You're not blind. I know you're not.'
He even had a plan forming in his head. A terrifying one.