After drawing the curtains, Cameron quietly retrieved a light nket from her bedroom and draped it over Elijah.


    She left the TV on. Elijah was ustomed to its volume, and switching it off might wake him.


    Cameron lingered in the living room, studying Elijah''s features. His sharp jawline, refined bone structure, and wlessplexion justified his reputation as the campus heartthrob.


    Yet there was an untouchable air about him, like some distant alpine flower- admired from afar but never approached.


    Returning to her bedroom, Cameron prepared for a nap. As usual, she checked her phone and found a WhatsApp message from Amelia.


    Amelia: [Cameron, I truly regret how I hurt you before. Time heals all wounds. I believe we can have a fresh start.]


    Cameron thought, ''A fresh start? What did that even mean? Could it be what I think it is? Amelia is starting to have feelings for me?


    ''Bradley rejected her, and now she''s transferring those feelings to me just because I helped her? If that''s the case, I need to make things clear.


    ''I''m a girl. But Amelia develops feelings for me... Uh, it''s so weird. It''s best to nip this in the bud now.''


    Cameron replied: [A fresh start? Amelia, there''s no future between us. Remember what I told you? I don''t like girls.]


    Amelia had been anxiously awaiting a reply, but this wasn''t what she expected.


    Cameron had said that before, back when Amelia helped her with Skyler''s incident. Cameron had treated her to lunch in the cafeteria, but Amelia left early. Cameron followed her out and said those exact words.


    Amelia wondered, ''But wasn''t that just an excuse? If Cameron doesn''t like girls, does that mean... No! He does have delicate features, but he can''t possibly be gay. Still, why did he send me this?''


    Before Amelia could respond, another message arrived.


    Cameron: [Let''s leave it here. We''re better off as strangers. I''m deleting your contact.]


    Amelia''s eyes widened. [Wait!] She typed frantically and replied, but, it failed. She was no longer in Cameron''s contact.


    Amelia stared at the screen, confused. She thought, ''What does this mean? Did Cameron really not like me? But he looked at me with such admiration


    earlier.''


    Cameron had blocked her. Amelia wanted reasons, but there was no way to reach out anymore.


    Cameron blocked Amelia. She thought her attitude was clear enough. She wouldn''t let Amelia continue developing feelings for her.


    Cameron set her phone aside and closed her eyes for a nap.


    When Elijah woke up again, his sleep-heavy eyes blinked open to a dimly lit room. The only light came from the softly glowing TV.


    Blinking away sleep, he sat up, and the nket that had been covering him slipped to the floor.


    He picked it up, holding it for a moment as awareness slowly returned. He thought, ''I fell asleep at Cameron''s house. Did hee back? Was this nket... something he put on me?''


    Hugging the nket to his chest, Elijah couldn''t suppress his smile. He was happy, thinking, ''He cares about me. Even if it''s just friendly concern, it''s enough.''


    For a while, he simply sat there, cradling the nket while absently watching TV


    Cameron emerged from her nap an hourter. Noticing the darkened living room, she assumed Elijah was still asleep. But soon, she spotted him wide


    awake on the sofa.


    "You''re up," she said, reaching for the remote. The smart curtains opened.


    "Hmm, when did you get back?" Elijah nodded, his gaze lingering on Cameron''s sleep- mussed hair. Though still in her usual tee-and-jeansbo, the wayward strands made her look unexpectedly soft and adorable.


    "About an hour ago." Cameron sat down on the couch be?ide Elijah.


    "Did things go well with Amelia?" Elijah asked lightly.


    "It was fine." Cameron shrugged, leaving it at that. Even if Amelia had developed feelings for her, it wasn''t something Cameron would ever share with others lightly. That was just tacky.


    Turning her head, she noticed Elijah was still clutching the nket. "You cold? I can adjust the AC."


    Following her gaze, Elijah realized he was still clutching the nket. “No, I''m fine.” He hastily folded the nket into a neat square before setting it aside.


    Elijah nced at Cameron again. She seemed rxed. Pulling out his phone, he asked casually, "Wanna y a game together?"


    "Hmm?" Cameron nodded. "Sure."


    After retrieving her phone from the bedroom, she tossed it onto the couch. "Wait up. I''m going to wash some fruit."


    "I''ll help." Elijah stood immediately.


    Together, they headed to the fridge.


    "I''ve got it," Cameron said, reaching for the fruit.


    "It''s no trouble-" Elijah insisted as Cameron bent down to grab a fruit from the fridge.


    Suddenly, Cameron straightened up just as Elijah leaned down. Her forehead collided sharply with his chin. She jumped back, looking up at him in concern. "You okay?"


    Rubbing his jaw, Elijah smiled inexplicably, "I''m fine."


    Seeing his smile, Cameron thought, ''Why''s he smiling?''


    She wondered briefly before shrugging it off. After slicing a watermelon and washing some cherries Elijah had bought, she ced them on the table and picked up her phone.


    "You''re surprisingly domestic," Elijah remarked, watching her deft movements.


    He had never done housework. In Room 316, besides Cameron, everyone else was the same. With servants at home, they never even had the chance to develop household skills.


    Cameron just smirked, picking a watermelon wedge while scrolling through her phone with the other. "What role are you picking?"


    "Anyone is fine," Elijah replied. This mobile game wasn''tplicated. He had mastered it in two rounds.


    "Alright," Cameron said. "We''ll go with whoever has the best team setup."


    Three matchester, a WhatsApp message interrupted their fourth game.


    10.33


    Austin: [Cam, good morning.]


    Seeing this message, Cameron thought, ''Morning? It''s already afternoon now."


    She almost forgot that Austin was still overseas. Due to the time zones, it was morning in Yazven,


    "Hold on," Cameron told Elijah, pausing the game.


    "Hmm." Elijah nced curiously at her but didn''t start the game. Instead, he picked up a slice of watermelon, took a bite, and observed her as she typed.


    Cameron replied: [Afternoon here.]


    Austin: [Forgot we''re continents apart. What''re you doing, Cam?]


    In Yazven, Austin lounged in an antique chair, his custom-tailored white shirt stark against the wood. Four maids stood at attention behind him as he sipped coffee, his mixed-race features softening with a smile.


    These days in Yazven, he had experienced unprecedented privilege. But somehow, he always thought it would be great if Cameron were here. Whatev it was, he wanted to share with her.


    Cameron was the only person Austin truly missed in Zelpah. If she came to Yazven, he wouldn''t have to go back.


    Everyone else in Zelpah, especially those bastards from the Fraser family, was people Austin couldn''t stand at all. Once he returned, he would settle scores with


    them and take revenge for his mother.


    Cameron: [ying games with Elijah.]


    Austin: [You''re with Eli now?]


    The moment Austin saw the message, he couldn''t help but frown slightly. He thought, ''Cam is with Eli now? At Noble Vista? They were desk mates and roommates. Isn''t that enough? Now they''re hanging out after graduation too?''


    Cameron: [Yeah.]


    Austin: [At Noble Vista?]


    Cameron: [Yeah. Aus, Elijah''s waiting for me to start another round. Let''s talkter if there''s nothing important.]


    Austin''s grip tightened on his phone. He thought, ''Nothing important? What does


    this mean? Since when does Elijah take priority? What changed in the few days


    I''ve been gone? No! I have to go back immediately.''


    Austin: [Sure, Cam. y then. I''ming back soon.]


    Cameron: [See you.]


    Austin: [Bye.]


    As Austin looked through these messages, his smile gradually faded away. He


    nced over his shoulder slightly. "Vincent!"


    "Sir." Vincent immediately entered the room.


    Austin ordered, “Buy me an apartment at Noble Vista. I''ll move in once I return to


    Zelpah."


    Vincent hesitated for a second. "Noble Vista? The residence area in Viremont?"


    Austin nodded. "Exactly. Hurry up."


    "Yes, sir." Bowing respectfully, Vincent retreated.


    Only then did Austin''s expression soften. He thought with a faint smile, I''ll be


    Cam''s neighbor too.


    Austin remembered how hard Samuel had hit him just to try to get into Noble Vista before. He would settle scores with Samuel when he returned.


    His fingers drummed against his knee. Austin murmured, "I really miss you, Cam."


    They would see each other again soon. But this time, he wasn''t the timid, obedient Austin anymore.