CHAPTER 29: THE CAFETERIA CHAOS

The cafeteria was loud enough to drown out thoughts trays clattering, chairs scraping, someone laughing too loudly across the room. Cassian tried to focus on balancing his tray, pretending everything was normal.

Leonel was walking a few steps ahead, holding his food, quiet as usual. Aiden walked beside Cassian, chatting about a class assignment neither of them cared much about. It was supposed to be an ordinary lunch.

Until Cassian looked up.

Through the glass window, sunlight slanted across the courtyard and Lucian stood right there, hands in his pockets, eyes locked on him.

For a second, Cassian froze mid-step. His breath hitched, and his tray tilted dangerously before he caught it.

Aiden frowned. "Cass? You okay?"

Cassian blinked, forcing a small laugh. "Y-yeah. Just... almost dropped this."

But his eyes betrayed him. They flicked back to the window. Lucian was still there. Still smiling. Then he lifted a hand a lazy, knowing wave that made Cassian’s stomach twist.

Aiden followed his gaze, and his expression darkened instantly. "You’ve got to be kidding me."

Leonel didn’t notice. He was already heading toward an empty bench near the back corner, away from most of the noise. Cassian quickly looked away from the window, trying to act normal as they followed him.

They sat down. The three of them.

Leonel unwrapped his sandwich, silent.

Aiden stabbed at his food, silent for a different reason.

Cassian tried to eat, but the moment he picked up his fork, he felt it that prickling weight of eyes watching from somewhere behind him.

He didn’t have to turn to know who it was.

Aiden finally broke the silence, muttering low so only Cassian could hear. "You didn’t tell him he’s been showing up, right?"

Cassian’s fingers tightened around his fork. "No. I thought maybe if I ignored it -"

"He’s not the type you can ignore," Aiden said under his breath.

Leonel glanced between them, brow faintly furrowed. "What’s going on?"

Cassian froze, meeting Aiden’s eyes.

Before either of them could say anything, the cafeteria door opened.

And Lucian walked in.

He didn’t hesitate. Didn’t even pretend to look around. He walked straight toward them like he’d already rehearsed this moment.

Cassian’s heart sank. No, no, no -

"Hey, bunny," Lucian greeted, his tone light, like they were old friends catching up. "Didn’t expect to see you again so soon."

Cassian’s breath caught. "Lucian -"

Leonel looked up, the sound of that name snapping him out of his calm. His chair scraped slightly as he straightened, eyes sharp. "What the hell are you doing here?"

Lucian shrugged, that familiar half-smile tugging at his mouth. "Can’t I come say hi? You make it sound like I’m trespassing."

"You are," Leonel said flatly.

"Relax," Lucian said, hands lifting in mock surrender. "I’m just being friendly. Don’t tell me you’re the jealous type."

Cassian almost choked on air. "Lucian, stop -"

But Lucian wasn’t even looking at him now. His eyes were on Leonel, his smirk deepening with every second of silence.

Aiden sighed, setting his fork down. "If you came here to start something, just leave. Nobody wants a scene."

Lucian turned his gaze to him, assessing, amused. "Ah, the peacemaker. There’s always one in every group." His voice softened, but the edge in it was sharp. "You don’t have to play hero, you know. I’m not here to pick a fight."

Leonel stood up slowly, the movement deliberate, measured. The air between them shifted — heavier, tenser.

"You don’t show up here for no reason," Leonel said.

Lucian smiled wider. "You sound like you know me too well."

Leonel’s jaw flexed. "Unfortunately, I do."

For a moment, no one spoke. The noise of the cafeteria faded into background static. Cassian could feel his heartbeat in his throat, each pulse loud enough to drown everything else.

Lucian finally broke the silence, leaning a little closer toward Cassian’s side of the table. "You look better than yesterday," he said softly. "Guess that walk home did you good."

Cassian’s hand tightened on his tray. He didn’t miss the way Leonel’s expression darkened.

"Lucian," Cassian said quietly, "please just stop."

Lucian’s gaze flicked to him and for a split second, it softened, like a ghost of something real. But then he smiled again, as if catching himself. "What? I’m just talking."

Leonel’s voice dropped, low and dangerous. "Talk to me then. Leave him out of it."

Lucian’s smirk didn’t fade. "But he’s more fun."

"Lucian."

Something in Leonel’s tone made even the nearby tables go quiet. It wasn’t loud, but it carried. Controlled fury, sharp enough to slice through the air.

Lucian just chuckled. "Still trying to control everything, huh, Leo? You never learned to share."

Aiden pushed his chair back slightly, standing before it could go any further. "Alright, that’s it. Let’s all calm down -"

Lucian waved a hand dismissively. "You calm down. I’m perfectly relaxed."

But he wasn’t. Cassian could see it that flicker in his expression, that quiet satisfaction in pushing Leonel’s buttons. It wasn’t about Cassian. It was about power. About getting to Leonel.

And it was working.

Leonel took a small step forward. "You have three seconds to walk out of here."

Lucian smiled, slow and unbothered. "You really think you can order me around? You’re not sixteen anymore, Leo."

Cassian’s stomach twisted. He stood up, voice shaking. "Please. Both of you. Just stop."

For a brief moment, silence.

Then Lucian’s eyes flicked toward Leonel again. He leaned close enough for Cassian to barely catch the words, voice a soft taunt.

"You think he’ll only look at you?" he murmured. "He likes me better."

Leonel didn’t react right away no outburst, no punch, nothing. Just a stillness so cold it made Cassian’s heart race faster.

Lucian straightened, flashed one last lazy grin, and turned toward the door.

"See you around, bunny."

And he walked out like nothing happened.

The silence that followed was unbearable.

Aiden exhaled slowly, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "That guy’s unbelievable."

Cassian sat down again, barely tasting the food he forced himself to chew. His hands were trembling under the table. He could still feel the weight of Lucian’s words hanging in the air.

Leonel didn’t sit back down. He stood there for another long minute before muttering, "I’m heading out," and walking toward the exit.

"Leonel -" Cassian started, but Leonel didn’t stop.

He went away without looking back didn’t say anything no explanation

Aiden sighed. "He just needs to cool off."

Cassian stared at his tray. "He didn’t even look at me."

"Give him time," Aiden said gently. "Lucian knows exactly how to get under his skin."

Cassian nodded, but his chest felt tight. He could still hear Lucian’s whisper echoing in his mind.

He likes me better.

He didn’t even know why it stung so much.

Later that night, the dorm was quiet.

Aiden was finishing an assignment, typing softly. Leonel hadn’t come back yet. it was getting darker and almost like it was going to rain Aiden looked worried while typing looking at the door and the clock and then his assignment. he was also glancing towards casian time to time

Cassian sat by the window, knees pulled close, staring out at the streetlights.

He replayed everything Lucian’s smirk, Leonel’s eyes, the tension that made it hard to breathe.

He didn’t understand why it mattered so much. Why Leonel’s silence hurt more than Lucian’s teasing.

Maybe because Leonel never said what he felt.

He just showed it in how he looked away when Cassian smiled, how he hovered near without realizing it, how protective he got when Lucian was around.

And Cassian didn’t know what to do with that.

A soft buzz broke the quiet. His phone screen lit up.

Unknown number.

He frowned and picked it up and his breath hitched when he saw the message.

Lucian: Did you tell him that I kissed your hand?

Cassian’s heart stopped.

His fingers trembled slightly as he stared at the words.

For a moment, he couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t even think.

Then another message came through -

Lucian: Don’t worry, bunny. He’ll find out eventually.

Cassian’s grip on the phone tightened until his knuckles turned white. His stomach twisted in dread.

Outside, thunder rumbled softly in the distance the kind that warned of rain long before it began to fall.

And Cassian knew one thing for sure -

Lucian He didnt like him one bit even worse then when he watched him in the drama

Cassian quickly locked his phone, pulse still racing as Lucian’s message burned in his mind. He glanced up the quiet sound of Keyboard keys tapping filled the living room. Aiden was hunched over his laptop, doing an assignment, glasses slipping slightly down his nose.

Across the room, Aiden’s typing stopped. "You’ve been staring at that phone for a while," he said, voice calm but edged. "You waiting for it to explode or something?"

Cassian jumped a little. "What? No, I was just... thinking."

Aiden arched a brow without looking up. "You always ’think’ like the world’s ending."

Cassian tried to smile. "It’s nothing serious."

"Cass," Aiden said, finally glancing over, "with you, ’nothing serious’ usually means very serious."

Cassian’s throat went dry.