<b>Chapter </b><b>51 </b>
It was another ordinary ammoon on campus. The sun Mitered gently through the courtyard frees, their branches dancing in the breed like low wate on a quiet sea. The burr of coversation andughter from students filled the air, blending with the tter of trays in the outdoor cafeteria sabeneath a shaded umbre with Jose, Angels, and Katrina, our tes nearly empty, the table covered with opened books and notes Finals wereing, and even ourzy lunches had be study sessions
“I swear, it Professor Bianchi adds one more reading to the sybus, I’ll just melt into a puddle of exprdue assignments Jose muttered, flipping a page in frustration.
Ang and Katrina weren’t paying attention:
“Oh my God, that’s him That’s hill” Ang squealed, nearly dropping her fork.
Katrina practically <b>bounced </b>in her seat. “He’s even hotter up close!”
Jose and looked up from our textbooks in confusion. “Who?” Lasked.
“That’s Mario.” Katrina whispered with starry eyes. “The new student exchange guy who arrivedst week. From Spain, I think? Or Brasil? Anyway, that ent<b>, </b>that jawline…
Jose rolled his eyes so hard I thought they might get stuck. “Yeah, yeah<b>, </b>the new guy everyone’s obsessed with. It’s like campus has turned into a Mario fan club overnight.”
I followed their gaze. There, just a few tables away, sat <b>a </b><b>guy </b>I hadn’t noticed before. Tall, lean, with <b>sun</b>–<b>kissed </b>skin and <b>dark</b><b>, </b>slightly tousled hair that seemed to fall perfectly without effort. His clothes were stylish <b>but </b>understated he didn’t try too hard. He looked around with a calm ease, his lips tugged into a gentle smile as he nodded at someone who waved at him
He looked normal. Human
But something about him made me pause.
“He smells like <b>rogues</b>, Mika’s voice suddenly echoed in my mind, sharp and protective.
My stomach tightened.
What? <b>asked </b>silently, my eyes narrowing.
<b>“</b><b>I </b>know that scopt. <b>Masked</b><b>… </b><b>faint</b>… <b>but </b>I’m sure. He’s not what he appears to be”
I nced again, trying to keep my <b>face </b><b>neutral</b>. He looked up night at that moment<b>–</b>his dark eyef met mine.
My <b>heart </b>skipped.
Not out <b>of </b>attraction
Out of instinct.
His gaze lingered a bit too long. A flicker of something <b>unreadable </b>passed across his face. It quickly looked down at my notebook, pretending to <b>reread </b><b>a </b>sentence. When I peeked again, he was no longer at his table.
there, a voice came from my left.
I turned and nearly jumped. There he was Standing beside our table. <b>So </b>close I could see the flecks of gold in his brown eyes.
Ang and Katrina frog in ce, their mouths parted in silent glee. Jose sighed under his breath.
“Mario,” he greeted stiffly
<b>1/4 </b>
Mario nodded politely to the group, but his pre fixed on
slike a ma.
“I don’t believe we’ve met,” he said, his voice smooth, linged with a faint European it. “I’m Mario, New here”
Thesitated, unsure. Mika prowled faintly in the back of my mind.
“ine,” I said cautiously
“ine,” he repeated, like he was testing the feel of my name on his tongue. “Beautiful name. Is it Italian?”
Katrina practically swooned<b>. </b><b>“</b>She’s an art student. Super talented.”
“Tfigured,” he said with a smile that didn’t quite rearly his eyes. “There’s something – thoughtful in your face<b>.</b>”
Iblinked, unsure how to respond. His gaze made me ufortable—not in an overtly threatening way, it was too observant. Too focused. Like he wasn’t admiring me. <b>Like </b>he was studying me.
should go.” I said quickly, collecting my things.
Just then, as if summoned by the tension thickening around <b>us</b>, I spotted Audrey <b>walking </b>across the courtyard. A wee sight.
“<b>Time </b><b>to </b>head to the library,” I added, slipping my bag over my shoulder “See you guyster.”
Mario stepped slightly to the side to let me pass, but he didn’t move away. As I brushed past him, I could feel the weight of his eyes following me. I didn’t turn back.
But something told me this wouldn’t be thest time we crossed paths.
The <b>days </b>that followed only proved Miks right.
Mario was…<b>persistent</b>.
He started showing up at the <b>library</b>, always in the same general area studied, offering smiles and casual <b>hes</b>. When I walked to ss, he somehow happened to be heading the same way. One day, I found him waiting outside the studio after my painting workshop, iming he was curious about art and “wanted to see what <b>inspired </b>me.”
He never crossed any obvious lines. Never touched me. Never raised his voice.
But his interest was too sharp. Too curated. Like someone with a <b>n</b>.
“I think he likes you,” Ang whispered one afternoon as <b>Mano </b>waved to me across the hallway.
“He’s cute, and honestly, kind of sweet,” Katrina added. “You could give him <b>a </b>chance.”
-didn’t know how to <b>exin </b>the dread curling in my stomach every time he was near,
“He’s watching you, El. <b>Not </b>just with eyes. With purpose, Mika warned one night.
I trusted her. My instincts had rarely failed me before
But how could I exin to my human friends that charming, well–dressed, apparently human guy was setting off rms in my head<b>? </b>
Especially when he was s
was so.. normal?
Everything changed the <b>day </b>Francesco came.
it was subtle presence. But to someone like me, it was like a force field had entered the courtyard. The moment <b>his </b>car parked at the <b>edge </b>of the university square, the energy <b>shied</b>. Students didn’t know why they suddenly stood straighter or grew quiet. But I knew.
11:08 Mon, 14 Jul
So did Mario
I saw him stiffen just slightly as froncesco stepped out of the ck cas, dressed in casual elegance but AT THE
lound mine.
He didn’t smile. He didn’t need to
Francesco didn’t waste a second walking across the courtyard. He didn’t stop for the curious stres. He moved
queen.
Mario stood horen nearby, books in hand, still pretending to wait near the benches where loften passed.
I felt his gaze burn into the side of my face as Francesco reached me…
“Eine,” Francesco’s voice was low, only for me, “Heady!“”
Inadded
He gently ced his hand on the small of my back and guided me away, without a second nce at Mari
Students watched with wide eyes and whispered questions. They didn’t know who Francesco was They only kne important. Untouchable. The kind of man who changed the atmosphere of a room by simply existing
And he hade for me.
But even as we walked away, I made the mistake <b>of </b>ncing <b>back </b>
Mario was still fore
But he wasn’t watching Francesco.
He was watching me.
And for the first time, the warmth was gone from his eyes.
in its ce was a sharpness. A sh of something now.
Something dangerous
Later that nighty in bed, staring at the calling, trying to piece everything together.
think he’s hore, Mika?” I asked quietly.
“Why do you think he’s
“He’s not a rogue. Not exactly. But he’s connected to them. Hiding in in sight. I think he came here for you!
I swallowed hard.
But why?
What did I have that someone like him wanted?
Whatever it was, Maris had masked himself wish. The campus loved him. He blended into the human world ke he belonged. No one else suspected a thing. <b>Not </b>even Audrey, who had brushed him <b>off </b><b>as </b>“just a student.”
But i’d seen his face when Francesco appeared
<b>And </b>Francesco I wondered if he had sensed it too,
IMONIA
Somehow, I knew this wasn’t over.
Mario wasn’t just some guy with a crush
He was watching
Waiting
And beneath that polished smile and charming voice…
Was a threat no one else could see.
Tel.
?
AD
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