Chapter 1

My love for him was like a dandelion. A single breath and it scattered, filling the whole of summer—Luciana Spencer.

…

In the late summer of September, on the campus of Jorendale University, torrential rain had just passed, but the sun was already peeking back out from behind the clouds.

The still-wet ground began to steam under its glare, sending waves of heat shimmering into the air. Even the breeze, when brushed against the skin, carried the weight of the lingering heat. The sun burned overhead, and cicadas chirped in the trees.

Luciana Spencer sat at the art club's recruitment booth, the scorching sun beating down on her in a haze of heat and fatigue. She squinted, trying to block out the blinding light, but the sun still managed to pierce through her closed eyelids, stinging her eyes with its brightness.

After pulling an all-nighter to finish a design project for her part-time gig, she spent the morning helping at the administrative office without so much as a bite to eat. Now, her eyelids were waging war against each other, heavy and uncooperative. She was exhausted, hungry, drained, and barely hanging on.

The art club's booth was quiet.

With her head down, Luciana quietly unlocked her phone and opened her private album, tapping on the photo she had looked at a thousand times if not more. It was taken in the height of summer. Sunlight spilled through a classroom window, and dandelion seeds floated in the air.

A boy in a crisp school uniform shirt slept with his head on the desk, his features sharp and striking. There was something effortlessly bold about him, something unforgettable and bewitching.

Time flew, and three years had passed. Whenever things got hard or Luciana felt like she couldn't go on, she would look at this photo. Somehow, a simple glance was enough to give her a reason to keep going. This had helped her for the last three years.

She set her phone down with a quiet sigh. Under the shimmer of pure white sunlight, she squinted for a fleeting moment. She thought she saw that familiar silhouette, the one she had been dreaming of for over a thousand nights and days now.

A young man alighted from a Rolls-Royce and reached out to her. Even his hands were beautiful—clean and slender with sharp, defined knuckles.

Luciana could still remember exactly where the veins rose on the back of his hand, as if the image had been etched into her memory.

He looked at her, a faint smile creeping onto his usually impassive face. Even his eyes seemed to sparkle with a quiet warmth, and he radiated with a gentle light.

Blood rushed to Luciana's cheeks as she confessed, "I'm into you, Thiago."

"What a coincidence. So am I, babe."

…

Suddenly, a cool touch brushed Luciana's cheek, snapping her out of her daydream.

Nigel Carrington held out a cup of iced coffee, gently tapping the hand she had been resting her face on. "Did you not sleep well last night? Why are you nodding off at this hour?"

She took the coffee, feeling somewhat awkward after being caught. Great, another daydream. It had been three years. When would this endless cycle finally end?

"Hey, Nigel. I've been busy with my part-time gigs lately."

"Take a break if you're busy. Money's not going anywhere."

"Okay." Luciana laughed, ending the conversation there.

Nigel was the boyfriend of her best friend, Vivian Taylor, from the biomedical science department. He was a senior in his fourth year and the student council president. He was quite considerate toward Luciana, mostly because of his relationship with Vivian.

After circling the art club's booth, Nigel asked, "A bit quiet over here, isn't it?"

Luciana puffed out her cheeks and took a sip of the iced coffee. "The entry requirements for the art club are way too high, and our beautiful Vivian, the crowd magnet, is out for a competition today. So, it's less packed today."

"Aren't you a crowd magnet as well?" Nigel chuckled, then suggested, "Why don't you do something in this free period and sketch me for practice?"

"Sure."

Luciana pulled out a sheet of paper and set it on the easel. Using the black hair tie around her wrist, she gathered her wavy, long hair into a high ponytail. The hem of her T-shirt rode up slightly as she raised her arms, revealing a strip of smooth skin at her waist. It looked dazzlingly pale under the sunlight.

She was undeniably beautiful, like the sweet heroine straight out of a novel, and she was quite popular at Jorendale University.

However, only she remembered being an outcast in high school. Back then, she wore glasses, sported thick bangs, and still held on to a bit of baby fat.

Silverlake High School was an elite aristocratic academy in Jaxwell, and she had been a special admit student who had only earned her place among those privileged sons and daughters through a scholarship.

Luciana raised her sketching pencil, and in the sunlight, her soft, glowing face seemed almost translucent—so much so that even the fine fuzz on the tip of her nose was visible.

The pencil scratched softly across the paper, quickly tracing out a sharp, defined silhouette. She smilingly asked Nigel, "Do you want to look cool or charming in my sketch?"

He casually answered, "I'm fine with either. I've always found your work better than Vivian's anyway."

Luciana was naturally shy, so the compliment made her ears flush with a rosy tint. "No way. Vivian and I excel at different things."

"I've also heard her complimenting your work many times."

They were chatting casually when she suddenly caught a flash of orange out of the corner of her eye, like the blazing sun had fallen from the sky in the sweltering late summer heat. Then, with a loud bang, chaos erupted.

Before Luciana could react, her easel was knocked over, splintering into pieces on the ground.

A basketball rolled slowly across the floor.

She and Nigel stood up at the same time, exchanging a shocked glance before turning toward where the ball had come from.

Not far away, a tall, slender figure approached. The man wore a simple white T-shirt layered under a light blue button-up. His skin was pale and flawless, and he had broad shoulders and long legs. His sharp, refined features glinted under the late summer sunlight, giving him an almost otherworldly presence.

When Luciana caught a clear look at his stunningly perfect face, she gasped sharply, her mind momentarily blank. What was happening? Was this another daydream?

The man stood with his hands in his pockets, tilting his head. A confident, almost arrogant smile played on his lips.

Then, he turned to another equally handsome man beside him and teased, "Hey, Hugo. Did your dad's company go bankrupt? How else do you explain buying such a cheap, low-quality basketball with zero friction? It flew right out of your hands like that!"

Hugo Barron was speechless, silently complaining, "Really, dude? You're going to blame it on my ball and pretend you didn't just toss it away on purpose?"

Hearing that rich, deep voice again after three years made Luciana's fingers tremble, almost paralyzing her. Had Thiago Langston returned from Ubrurg?

With a devil-may-care glance at the two before him, Thiago settled his gaze on Luciana.

"Well, if it isn't Luciana," he said with a smirk.

Luciana's breath hitched, and in an instant, memories from her senior year of high school crashed over her like a tidal wave.

Back then, she had been naive enough to think that the only son of the wealthiest family in Jaxwell was just like her—a special admit student attending Silverlake High School on a scholarship.

"Pull yourself together, Luciana," she quietly reminded herself. "You can't let him know your feelings again!"

She had already embarrassed herself once, so she wasn't going to make the same mistake again. She had to preserve some dignity for herself, right?

Standing nearby and seemingly enjoying stirring the pot, Hugo glanced at Thiago with a smirk and chimed in, "Look at you—I didn't know you could flirt. Also, I bet a cute girl like her has a boyfriend already."

A soft flush of pink crept up Luciana's cheeks, her glowing complexion making her look delicate and quiet.

"Ignore him, Luciana. His flirt mode turns on and off like bad Wi-Fi." Hugo then asked, "You do have a boyfriend, right?"

At that moment, all she could think about was hiding her feelings. She bit her lower lip gently, leaving behind a faint mark, and nodded.

"Yeah… I do have a boyfriend," Luciana said meekly.

Her response caught Thiago's attention. With an ambiguous smirk, he cast her a sidelong glance and asked, "What was that? A what now?"

Chapter 2

Luciana stared at Thiago with wide, unblinking eyes like a frightened fawn cornered in the woods. She was suddenly struck with fear but had said too much to back down now.

Swallowing her nerves, she bit down on her lower lip again and repeated in a soft, trembling voice, "A b-boyfriend…"

Thiago looked down at her, his gaze lazy and amused. A ghost of a smirk played on his thin lips. "Say that again. I didn't quite catch that."

Off to the side, Hugo ran a hand through his hair, clearly annoyed but unable to resist stirring the pot. "She said she has a boyfriend, someone she's seeing romantically—"

"You've got great hearing, haven't you? Didn't realize you've been wearing a hearing aid." Thiago shot him a sideway glare.

Hugo fell silent.

Meanwhile, Nigel, who had been silent this whole time, finally recognized Thiago. He quickly cut in, "Wait, you're Thiago Langston, right? I'm Nigel Carrington, a senior in biomedical science. It's nice to meet someone from the master's program."

At that, Luciana snapped her head over.

Master's program? Weren't she and Thiago in the same year? Had he already graduated from Crestwood University?

Instead of answering Nigel, Thiago wore his usual indifferent smile. He pointed at Luciana and asked, "Does she really have a boyfriend?"

Nigel, always quick to read the room, glanced subtly at Luciana, silently asking if she wanted him to step in. She quickly nodded in agreement.

Unfortunately, their silent exchange didn't escape Thiago's attentiveness. He let out a quiet, mocking laugh.

"Oh, Luciana. I guess it's really been a while. I didn't think you'd get so good at making up things out of thin air. And you even found yourself a partner in crime to back you up."

Luciana felt her cheeks burn fiercely, completely out of her control. Instinctively, she lowered her lashes and pressed her head down even more.

This was it—she would pack up her belongings and move to another planet.

Nigel picked up the basketball at his feet and returned it to Thiago, quickly seizing the rare opportunity. "I've been really interested in your company's latest patent on tumor immunotherapy. I'm wondering if you're open to having a chat about it."

Thiago leaned back lazily, a playful smirk curling at the corners of his mouth.

Just as Nigel braced himself for a rejection, Thiago smiled and said, "Sure, why not? Let's do it now. Consider the meal on me—for the sake of the fallen easel."

A momentary awkward silence lingered in the air.

Hugo looked at Thiago in disbelief. A meal with a stranger? Initiated by Thiago himself?

Luciana quickly crouched down to gather the fallen easel, not daring to meet eyes with Thiago again. At this point, she was just trying her best to make herself as small and invisible as possible.

Then, without warning, a vast shadow swept over her like a looming storm cloud, ruthlessly blotting out the summer sun. The familiar pine scent filled her nose. When she finally braced herself to look up, she saw Thiago with his hands resting on his slightly bent knees as he leaned over to look down at her.

Their noses were barely inches apart as he uttered, "Why don't you join us, Luciana?"

What?

Not long after, Thiago and Hugo walked ahead with Luciana and Nigel following behind. The four headed toward the campus exit.

A curious Nigel asked, "Luciana, do you know Thiago?"

"Yeah. He transferred to my high school in his senior year," Luciana replied quietly, still not eager to have lunch with them. "Thiago and I were the same year, so how is he taking his master's now?"

"He did his undergrad in Ubrurg, which was supposed to take three years, and graduated a year early. He just started his master's here at Jorendale. Both of us are in the same major, studying under Professor Dibble."

"Oh…" she replied absentmindedly.

Thiago graduated a year early from Crestwood University in Ubrurg and even managed to get an exception to be admitted to the biomedical science graduate program of Jorendale University. So, were his terrible math and physics scores back in high school all just a joke?

Luciana wasn't exactly a science prodigy herself, but she had patiently helped him with problems every time she saw his grades. Back then, Thiago always insisted he didn't need her help, but she thought he was just shy. It turned out he genuinely never needed it.

No wonder she always questioned how someone could consistently score just enough to pass every exam. It seemed he had deliberately held back.

In that fleeting moment, memories from her senior year of high school surged into her mind.

…

Her younger self, clutching her homework, shamelessly scooted over to Thiago's side. "Stop napping! Why aren't you doing your homework? Practice makes perfect. The more you do, the quicker you learn."

Thiago's expression was cold. "I don't need to."

She was persistent. "Says who? If you have any questions, you can just ask, and I'll teach you."

Thiago was speechless at her stubbornness.

…

Snapping back to the present, Luciana clutched the hem of her shirt, her head dropping lower as her face flushed a deep red.

Seriously, what had possessed her back then to be so forward with Thiago? She would give anything to hop into a time machine and smack some sense into her overly bold teenage self!

A sharp headache suddenly struck Luciana, followed by a dull ache in her stomach. She winced inwardly.

If she had known the day would turn out like this, she would've checked her horoscope before leaving the house.

Soon, the four settled into a casual bistro just outside the campus.

Luciana and Nigel sat on one side of the table while Thiago sat directly across from Luciana. Just a lift of her eyes and she would be able to stare right into those dangerously charming eyes of his.

His eyelids, faintly hooded, cast soft shadows that deepened the captivating power of his gaze.

After ordering, Nigel took the lead in making conversation with Thiago, most of it circling around advanced topics in biomedical science.

It was then that Luciana learned that Thiago hadn't just studied abroad; he had also founded Altigo Group, a cutting-edge biomedical startup now holding several national patents. On top of that, he was the only son of the richest family in Jaxwell.

Thiago wasn't just well-known at Jorendale University. His name echoed through all of Jaxwell—maybe even the whole country.

Nigel courteously poured him some juice. "I wonder if your company has any internship positions available for the upcoming winter break. I'd really love to give it a try."

Thiago looked up to ask Hugo. "Do we?"

Hugo swiftly handed Nigel a name card. "We do. Just contact me when the time comes."

When Nigel took the card and read it, he gasped, "It's you, Hugo Barron. I'm sorry I didn't recognize you earlier."

"It's all good." Hugo waved in dismissal before scrutinizing Thiago with a long, skeptical look.

Thiago was acting extremely peculiar today. Was he… into Nigel?

Noticing his stare, Thiago swept a cold glance at his business partner. "Admiring my charm? Falling in love yet?"

Hugo raised a brow, his smile particularly ambiguous. He lowered his voice and returned the jab, "Look who finally has an interest in someone. Have pigs started to fly?"

"Mind your own business," Thiago replied.

Hugo stayed quiet.

While the men chatted, Luciana silently focused on her meal. If possible, she would've gladly crawled into a hole and vanished. Just then, her phone lit up with a message.

Vivian: "Luci, where have you been? Why is the booth closed?"

Luciana: "Just ran into a friend. Nigel and I are having a meal with him. Do you want to join us?"

Vivian: "Nah. I've just wrapped up here, and I'm pretty knocked out. I don't feel like going back to the dorm. Can I crash at your place?"

Luciana was renting a small one-bedroom apartment in an old residential neighbourhood near campus to get around the dorm's 10:00 pm curfew, especially on nights when she worked late.

Luciana: "Of course, go ahead. You have my keys."

Vivian: "Okay. Love you."

Seeing those cheesy words from her best friend, Luciana couldn't help but smile, momentarily forgetting the awkwardness of her situation. A pair of soft dimples appeared on her cheeks. She was sweet, effortless, and entirely unaware of the charm she exuded.

Across the table, a low, teasing voice cut through the moment. "What's with the smile? Texting your boyfriend?"

Chapter 3

Luciana looked up from her phone and met Thiago's lazy but cool gaze. In the depths of those eyes, she saw her own little reflection flickering like a flame.

In that brief moment, under the sunlight streaming through the window, the gleam in his eyes seemed to shimmer brighter than stars in the night sky.

She bit her lower lip and lowered her head. "No, it's not him… I don't have one, actually…"

Hugo's interest in stirring the pot reignited. "Luciana, didn't you say you had a boyfriend earlier? Or are you… secretly crushing on Nigel?"

Nigel pressed his lips into a faint smile. "No. I'm dating her best friend. I heard she and Thiago went to high school together. I suppose… she was just stunned by how good-looking he is and got completely tongue-tied."

"Oh, I see…" Nigel dragged his vowels, his eyes repeatedly darting between Luciana and Thiago. A guess surfaced in his mind.

Luciana was so embarrassed that she instinctively felt the urge to curl her body up. She kept her head down, shoveling food into her mouth to distract herself.

The earlier conversation about biomedical patents had wrapped up when Hugo casually scrolled through his phone and tossed a question to Thiago. "Hey, Monica's asking if you're free to grab a drink at Vellum."

At that, Luciana's hand froze in mid-air, still holding her fork. That single sentence carried more weight than it appeared.

The Vellum Room was the infamous hangout for Jaxwell's richest heirs. Just reserving a booth cost six figures.

And Monica Dibble, senior in the biomedical science department and daughter of the department chair, Kevin Dibble, was one of the most talked-about beauties on campus.

Thiago, seemingly unfazed, pulled a cigarette from a sleek case. His long, defined fingers held it lightly but precisely. He studied it with a faint smirk tugging at his lips, his eyes glinting with something unreadable.

The way he lounged there—with half arrogance and half ease—was infuriatingly magnetic.

Before he could answer Hugo, Luciana pierced the silence by standing up. "Excuse me. I need to use the restroom."

Thiago narrowed his eyes slightly, his gaze trailing after her retreating figure. He fixed his eyes on her white skirt for a moment before he wordlessly placed a cigarette between his lips.

Receiving no response, Hugo nudged him again. "Hey, are you going or not?"

After a long beat, Thiago turned his head, pulled the cigarette from his lips, and stuffed it into Hugo's mouth instead.

The mockery in his expression was unmissable as he replied lazily, "Like hell I am."

Hugo had no words.

…

Meanwhile, Luciana sat frozen on a toilet seat in the women's restroom, her body stiff. For a moment, time seemed to grind to a halt.

No wonder her stomach had been hurting earlier—her period had come early without warning!

The air conditioning in the bistro had been set unreasonably low, yet sweat now beaded along her forehead.

This was bad. She didn't have a sanitary pad.

Things could be manageable so long as she layered some toilet paper in the meantime, but the worst part was the small, unmistakable red stain blooming on the back of her white skirt!

She met her crush again after three years, and in just one afternoon, she had pretended to have a boyfriend, only to get caught, and been ambushed by her period with a bloodstain as proof.

Was there anyone more unlucky than her?

The three guys proceeded with their meal for another 30 minutes, yet there was no sign of Luciana. Curious, Nigel asked, "What's going on with Luciana? She's not having diarrhea, is she?"

Hugo guessed, "Maybe she accidentally fell into the toilet bowl?"

"Yeah, and then she stuck her hand out and pulled the handle to flush herself away," Thiago chimed in.

His contribution to the conversation rendered the other two at a loss for words.

After a few seconds of silence, Thiago rose to his feet. "I'm going to the restroom as well."

Instead of heading to the restroom as he said, he walked out of the bistro and turned into a convenience store.

After some time, a young woman was about to step into the bistro but was immediately drawn to a man standing by the door. His broad shoulders, narrow waist, and long legs made for an exceptionally striking figure, and she couldn't take her eyes off him.

She stole a second glance at him, and the man smiled at her. "Excuse me, could you do me a favor?"

Her heart skipped a beat as she focused on him. The next moment, she blurted, "A-Are you Thiago?"

Thiago curled one side of his lips. "A fellow student at Jorendale?"

The woman nodded eagerly. "Yes! I'm from the business—"

Before she could finish, he slipped a small package into her arms. "Help me out and give this to someone named Luciana inside the restroom."

"Oh, okay."

The woman dubiously took over the item, suppressing her overflowing urge to ask, "Is she your girlfriend?"

Inside the restroom stall, Luciana finally mustered up the courage to take several sheets of toilet paper and use them as a quick makeshift pad. She planned to wash off the small bloodstain at the sink later.

Just as she stood up, a knock came from outside the door. "Are you Luciana?"

Luciana opened the door, revealing half of her flushed face. "I am. And you are…"

The woman handed her the package of sanitary pads. "This is from Thiago. He told me to give it to you."

What the heck?

…

After a while, Luciana stood quietly by the sink, her naturally soft, fair face now flushed a deep, bright red. She was doomed. Thiago must have seen the bloodstain on her skirt when she left her seat earlier.

Blood surged to her head, flooding her with overwhelming embarrassment. If it weren't for her phone still sitting on the dining table, she would've bolted by now.

Suddenly, she heard a familiar and melodious male voice outside the women's restroom.

"Come on out, Luciana," Thiago called.

Luciana was startled. If she hadn't been holding onto the sink, she probably would've collapsed to the floor. Instinctively, she answered, "Luciana is gone!"

Really?

Almost instantaneously, she was engulfed by the embarrassment of her own stupidity. She closed her eyes, pretending she was in a dream.

A soft chuckle escaped Thiago's lips. "You're not coming out? If you take any longer, someone's going to suspect something and call the police to launch a crackdown."

With no other choice, Luciana quietly exited the restroom with the sanitary pads still in her arms. She inched closer to him. "Thanks, Thiago."

He seized her arm. "Hold on."

She looked up at him, confused.

Though she was five feet seven inches, she was still a head shorter than Thiago, who stood at six feet two inches. From this angle, she had a good view of his pronounced Adam's apple.

Luciana instantly averted her gaze. "What's wrong?"

Thiago slipped off his light blue button-up that he wore over his white T-shirt and casually tied it around her slender waist with a loose knot. "Done. You're good to go."

Chapter 4

Luciana's breath caught in her throat. She didn't have the strength to look at Thiago's face. Instead, she fixed her eyes on the white T-shirt he was wearing. The fabric was thin, almost sheer, outlining the solid lines of his chest.

As her gaze drifted downward, the faint lines of his abs and pelvis came into view. His physique was teasingly visible under his shirt.

Thiago tilted his head, a roguish smile playing on his lips. "Why do you keep avoiding my eyes, Luciana?"

She finally lifted her head, her shimmering, clear eyes meeting his gaze head-on.

"I'm not," she said softly, but it was sweet enough to stir the heart. "It's been a while, Thiago. Great to see you again."

The man Luciana had been dreaming of night after night was standing right before her eyes, and her heart had long since lost its rhythm.

She was just a young woman who had to work part-time to scrape together her tuition, yet she was foolish enough to harbor her feelings for someone like Thiago, who stood at the very top of the pyramid.

He was far too good for her. There was no way he would reciprocate her feelings. She was simply out of his league.

Thiago's expression remained calm, but something unreadable seemed to flicker deep in his eyes. The air around him was sharp, almost commanding.

"Do I not get a 'thank you'?"

"Thank you," Luciana said softly.

"Good girl." He smiled subtly, then turned and walked toward their table. "Let's go."

…

An hour later, Luciana returned to her rental apartment in Ember Lane.

Vivian was still fast asleep on the bed, curled under the covers. Luciana tiptoed to the bathroom, took a quick shower, and changed into a clean set of loungewear.

As she folded Thiago's light blue button-up, her gaze unintentionally drifted to the label stitched into the collar. Curious, she picked up her phone and searched the brand online. A second later, she gasped sharply at the average price of their products. "Three thousand dollars?"

The convenience store her parents ran back in Januview probably wouldn't make that much in a month. What others earned from more than a month of hard work was, to Thiago, just another casual piece of clothing.

Luciana steadied her emotions, carefully folding the light blue button-up and placing it on the couch. She made a mental note to take it to the dry cleaners later.

Then, she sat at her desk, pulled open a drawer, and reached into the farthest corner. From it, she retrieved a soft pink envelope. Inside was a bracelet she had beaded by hand.

It was a love letter, one she had written to Thiago back in their senior year of high school, but she never had the courage to give him. Since then, it had stayed sealed and untouched, buried deep away.

Every time she so much as looked at the envelope, it reminded her of how foolish she had been.

In an instant, her memory drifted back to that day early in their senior year, right after the new semester had started.

…

Silverlake High School was one of the most prestigious high schools in Jaxwell, a place reserved for the children of the elite. Everyone who walked those halls came from wealth or power—everyone except Luciana.

She earned her spot with a full scholarship that was offered only to top-performing students across the region. She was just a girl from a modest home in Januview trying to survive among heirs and heiresses.

Luciana lived on campus for all three years of high school, and during that entire period, she remained on the fringes of every social circle. She never made any real friends.

That morning, just outside the gates of Silverlake High, a boy on a bicycle brushed past her, nearly knocking her over. He had the kind of looks that turned heads. He appeared sharp, striking, and untouchable.

There was a quiet arrogance in his gaze and a chill in the arch of his brow, the kind that warned people to keep their distance. But it was exactly that careless, untamed air that made him impossible to ignore. Just like that, Luciana fell hard for him.

Perhaps he was just like her, she thought. A special admit, one of the few who wasn't born into privilege.

"Hey… Your bike looks kind of light. You should be careful, though. Maybe switch to something a little sturdier?"

Thiago hadn't entertained her at that time.

Later, Luciana found out that the lightweight mountain bike was worth over fifty thousand dollars. Every time he rode it to school, a convoy of luxury cars would follow closely behind, escorting him.

As for why none of the other students at school seemed to know Thiago, it was because he was the only son of Lawrence Langston, the richest man in Jaxwell, who had Thiago in his 40s.

The Langston family had always shielded him from the public eye, only allowing him to appear in the media when he turned 20.

That was something Luciana later saw on TV.

…

Luciana tucked the pink envelope back into her drawer and gave herself a bitter smile. She had long known that she should give up, but loving someone had made her like a moth drawn to a flame. Despite knowing full well it was a fiery trap, she still plunged in without hesitation.

For the past three years, she had been quietly crushing on Thiago while wiping away her tears in secret. It was exhausting, and her heart ached deeply.

Suddenly, a new Instagram follow request popped up on her phone. The person had a vast blue ocean as their profile photo, with the name "Thiago Langston".

Luciana was stunned for a few seconds before quickly accepting it and following him. Then, she immediately clicked on Thiago's profile feed. His account was public, but it was filled only with posts related to biomedical research.

For some reason, just seeing those posts made her heart race faster. Realizing her emotions were getting out of control, she immediately put down her phone and buried her face deep into her arm.

This couldn't go on. She had to move on!

He was like the bright moon reflected in the water; he was not meant to be grasped. If she tried, she would only fall into the water and drown.

A hand gently tapped her shoulder at that moment.

Luciana looked up and found Vivian smiling brightly at her. "Vivian, you're up."

Vivian gently cupped Luciana's face. "What's wrong? Did someone or something upset you? Why do you look so down?"

Luciana smiled, two cute dimples appearing on her soft, fair cheeks—one shallow, one deep.

"I'm not upset. Just feeling tired on the first day of my period."

Vivian pulled over a chair and sat down beside her. "Oh my gosh, what a coincidence! It's my first day too!"

She continued, her voice helpless, "Can you believe it? Of all days, it had to come on the day of my cheerleading competition! When I was doing the splits, I felt like I was going to crack in half!"

Vivian was the captain of Jorendale University's cheerleading team and also the belle of their department. But with her carefree way of speaking, she didn't quite fit that title. In her words, Luciana was the beauty while she was the sidekick.

"So, how are you feeling now? Want me to make you some chamomile tea?"

Vivian pinched Luciana's cheek. "Look at you—so pretty and loving. Whoever marries you will be the luckiest bastard in the world."

Luciana held her hand. "I don't want to marry anyone. I just want to be with you."

"Okay. Once I get married, you'll sleep between me and Nigel. Cool?"

"Not cool. I'll take the spot under the bed instead."

The two women happily chatted for a while longer.

Vivian glanced at the time and realized it was getting late. She needed to head back to the dorm. Suddenly, her eyes were drawn to the light blue button-up lying on the couch.

She quickly dashed over and picked it up. "Luci? Why do you have men's clothing lying in your apartment?"

Luciana blushed. "A senior lent it to me. I'm taking it to the dry cleaner's before returning it."

Vivian checked the button-up and gasped. "It's from Dovich? This is a limited edition piece from their latest collection! This must cost at least ten thousand dollars! Who's that rich senior of yours?"

Luciana was stunned in her spot. Ten thousand dollars? She had thought a simple button-up like that had come from a diffusion line!

She explained, "He's a graduate student in the biomedical science department, Thiago Langston. Nigel knows him too."

"What? Thiago Langston?" Vivian exclaimed.

"Vivian, can you not freak out like that?" Luciana's heart was pounding from Vivian's sudden excitement. "You know him too?"

Vivian put down the button-up. "How can I not know someone as legendary as him? I heard from Nigel that he originally went to high school in Ubrurg, but he didn't really focus on school there. Instead, he was always messing around with biology experiments. In the end, he blew up the school lab. So, his dad brought him back to the country to finish his senior year."

Luciana's mouth was agape as though she had been enlightened. So, that was why Thiago suddenly transferred to Silverlake High School. She couldn't help but laugh at herself for thinking he was just an ordinary scholarship student back then.

Suddenly, Vivian's eyes sparkled mischievously as she raised an eyebrow at Luciana. "Say, why would Thiago lend you his button-up? Does he have a thing for you?"

Chapter 5

Vivian's question instantly brought a smile to Luciana's face, her eyes turning bright.

"Thiago having a thing for me? What would he even like? My dazzling mediocrity or the way I scrape together my tuition fees with part-time jobs?"

Seeing Luciana downplay herself made Vivian a little angry. If Luciana were what people called mediocre, then nobody else in the world could be considered average.

Vivian sized her up with her foxy eyes. Eventually, her gaze stopped at Luciana's chest. "Uh-huh. Maybe Thiago knows exactly what he's after."

"Your 'uh-huh' sounds wrong…" Luciana's cheeks flushed red in embarrassment when she noticed Vivian's bold stare. "Stop it…"

"Seriously! I've showered with you—I know how hot you are. Even I admire your body, let alone men."

Vivian pretended to be serious and continued, "When are you going to start wearing clothes that actually show off your figure? Girl, let them be free! You're a total smoke show!"

"Never," Luciana replied nonchalantly. Then, she crouched down and began rummaging for a bag to store Thiago's blue button-up. "I don't spend my money on clothes. I spend them on my tuition."

Out of concern, Vivian asked, "Right. How's your parents' convenience store doing? Didn't you say business hasn't been great and they're struggling to pay rent? If you need any help, I could—"

Luciana cut her off, "It's fine. They've resolved the issue. I did a few extra illustration gigs, and with the new semester, there's been a new surge of students. Business is up and running again, so don't worry about us."

What she never told anyone was that during the most difficult times, her father had taken up construction work, leaving her mother alone to run their small shop. It wasn't that Luciana was ashamed; she just didn't want her best friend to worry.

With the way her life was going, how could she even think about dating, let alone someone like Thiago? The gap between them was too wide, and it was laughable even to imagine crossing it.

…

The next afternoon after class, Luciana carried a paper bag from the dry cleaners, getting ready to return Thiago's button-up. She genuinely didn't want to have any more contact with him. She wanted to end this little infatuation of hers once and for all.

Quietly pulling Vivian aside, she whispered, "Vivian, could you give this bag to Nigel and ask him to pass it along to Thiago?"

Vivian raised a brow, a teasing smile playing at her lips. "Nigel's off-campus for his internship this week. It's just a shirt. Why don't you return it yourself?"

"I…" Luciana was at a loss for words and couldn't find an excuse.

Vivian didn't give her a chance to refuse either. She looped her arm through Luciana's and grinned. "Come on, let's go find Thiago. I heard some juniors say he's playing basketball."

Luciana was helpless. After a while, the two arrived at Jorendale Sports Grounds. The basketball court was already packed with layers of onlookers, mostly women.

Thiago wore a loose black jersey and a red-and-white sweatband on his wrist. His toned muscles glistened faintly with sweat. With his striking features, he looked radiant under the afternoon sun.

He dribbled lazily down the court, but when a drop of sweat rolled into his eyes, he ran his fingers through his hair, revealing the sharp lines of his brows and eyes. The crowd erupted in another wave of squeals from the sidelines.

"Oh my gosh! Thiago is so hot!"

"What a handsome face!"

"I'm gonna faint."

Amid the rolling waves of excited screams, Thiago dribbled the ball lazily. Suddenly, he shook off the defender behind him with lightning speed, his figure like the wind.

With a carefree leap into the air, his strong hands appeared against the bright blue sky like a striking foreground. About five yards from the hoop, he made a clean, precise shot.

The basketball steadily entered the net. The spectacular shot ignited the crowd once again.

"Shit! I think I'm falling in love!"

"Is he even real?"

"He's perfect, that's for sure!"

In the corner of the basketball court, Luciana was completely mesmerized. She felt as if she were under a spell, utterly frozen in place.

It turned out Thiago was exceptionally good at basketball.

Back in their senior year of high school, he never joined any activities and always sat in the last row of the classroom with his head down, playing on his phone. Was it because he didn't want to show off his talents?

She had innocently thought he was just as out of place as she was, without any special skills.

Crossing her arms, Vivian tilted her head with a smile. "Hm. Not bad. He's quite cute."

Luciana snapped back to reality and tugged at Vivian's shirt. "Let's go."

"Huh? I thought you were here to return the shirt?"

"I'm not doing that in front of a crowd. Next time."

Vivian arched a brow, mischief dancing in her eyes. "What is it? Are you shy?"

"Thiago has plenty of admirers. I don't want to be everyone's punching bag."

No sooner had the words left her mouth than a ripple of murmurs stirred through the crowd.

A woman holding a bottle of water and a towel approached Thiago with a bright smile. Her figure was flawless, and she looked even more stunning than many celebrities or models out there. Her voice was soft and sweet as she said, "Have some water, Thiago."

He glanced at her coldly, then took the water bottle with a simple, "Thanks."

Luciana felt her heart sink, an inexplicable bitterness rising. She awkwardly wiped the sweat off her forehead.

She knew that young woman. Actually, at Jorendale University, everyone knew who Monica, the belle of the biomedical science department, was. Luciana couldn't help but lament how perfect the pair looked standing next to each other.

Meanwhile, Vivian wore a look of disdain and pursed her lips at the sight of Monica. "There she goes again."

"What's with that tone?" Luciana asked curiously.

"You know Wendy Greer, don't you? She's on the cheerleading team." Vivian scoffed and continued, "She's best friends with Monica. That's enough to show that Monica's a two-faced bitch too. They're always speaking with a baby voice. Heck, Wendy even flirted with Nigel in front of me. I wanted to strangle that bitch!"

Luciana responded, "In other words, Monica didn't do anything to you. You just hate her because of her association with Wendy."

"Well, birds of a feather flock together. Wendy is a bitch, and Monica will be no different."

From afar, Luciana stood and sighed, her gaze still fixed on the basketball court. "But Monica and Thiago look great together."

"Girl, she's just born lucky. If I had the privilege she has, I could even marry into the royal family, let alone Thiago."

Vivian might not necessarily come from immense wealth, but her father was a cardiothoracic surgeon at Jaxwell Hospital. Meanwhile, her mother taught Ubric at the high school affiliated with Jorendale University. No matter how one looked at it, Vivian came from a well-educated family.

Luciana, on the other hand, had followed her parents from Netherfield to Januview when she was little. Despite working hard most of their lives, her parents only managed to run a small convenience store, one that was still on rented property.

Even now, they didn't own a place they could truly call home.

Thankfully, Luciana had loving parents. They doted on her, never once quarreled, and filled their modest home with warmth. That had given Luciana a happy childhood.

However, that happiness only existed within the scope of her own world. In Vivian's world, and especially Thiago's, the idea of happiness probably looked completely different from hers.

A strange heaviness settled in Luciana's chest. She bit the inside of her cheek and summoned a fragile smile. "Let's go. I'm getting hungry. Shall we walk to the cafeteria?"

"Sure."

As they left, a male voice suddenly echoed in the air.

"Luciana!"