bChapter /bb51 /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 bbounced /bin 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 entb, /bthat jawline…

Jose rolled his eyes so hard I thought they might get stuck. “Yeah, yeahb, /bthe 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 ba /bbguy /bI hadn’t noticed before. Tall, lean, with bsun/b–bkissed /bskin and bdark/bb, /bslightly tousled hair that seemed to fall perfectly without effort. His clothes were stylish bbut /bunderstated 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 brogues/b, Mika’s voice suddenly echoed in my mind, sharp and protective.

My stomach tightened.

What? basked /bsilently, my eyes narrowing.

b“/bbI /bknow that scopt. bMasked/bb… /bbfaint/b… bbut /bI’m sure. He’s not what he appears to be”

I nced again, trying to keep my bface /bbneutral/b. He looked up night at that momentb–/bhis dark eyef met mine.

My bheart /bskipped.

Not out bof /battraction

Out of instinct.

His gaze lingered a bit too long. A flicker of something bunreadable /bpassed across his face. It quickly looked down at my notebook, pretending to breread /bba /bsentence. 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. bSo /bclose 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

b1/4 /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 swoonedb. /bb“/bShe’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 faceb./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. bLike /bhe was studying me.

should go.” I said quickly, collecting my things.

Just then, as if summoned by the tension thickening around bus/b, I spotted Audrey bwalking /bacross the courtyard. A wee sight.

“bTime /bbto /bhead 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 bdays /bthat followed only proved Miks right.

Mario was…bpersistent/b.

He started showing up at the blibrary/b, always in the same general area studied, offering smiles and casual bhes/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 binspired /bme.”

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 bn/b.

“I think he likes you,” Ang whispered one afternoon as bMano /bwaved to me across the hallway.

“He’s cute, and honestly, kind of sweet,” Katrina added. “You could give him ba /bchance.”

-didn’t know how to bexin /bthe dread curling in my stomach every time he was near,

“He’s watching you, El. bNot /bjust 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 headb? /b

Especially when he was s

was so.. normal?

Everything changed the bday /bFrancesco came.

it was subtle presence. But to someone like me, it was like a force field had entered the courtyard. The moment bhis /bcar parked at the bedge /bof the university square, the energy bshied/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 bof /bncing bback /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. bNot /beven Audrey, who had brushed him boff /bbas /b“just a student.”

But i’d seen his face when Francesco appeared

bAnd /bFrancesco 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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