Ch. 60
Ethan's POV
The gates of the Valen mansion slid shut behind Ethan's car with a soft, mechanical hum.
He didn't drive off right away.
For a few seconds, he simply sat there hands resting on the steering wheel, engine idling staring at the tall iron gates as if Selene might suddenly reappear, as though this wasn't really the end of the ride.
"...Get it together," he muttered, exhaling.
He finally pulled away, the mansion shrinking in the rearview mirror as the road stretched ahead, quiet and dimly lit. The farther he drove, the thinner the city lights became, until only long stretches of silence remained.
And that was when it hit him.
His thoughts drifted back without warning to the academy, to the moment Selene Valen walked into the classroom like she didn't belong to the same world as everyone else.
Cold.
Composed.
Untouchable.
Back then, he'd been curious about her. He even remembered thinking, Wow... she's mysterious.
What truly caught him off guard, though, was that she hadn't paid him any attention at all. It was a first for him. He hadn't known how to feel about it only that, strangely, he'd felt offended.
The next day at the cafeteria, he'd been ready to defend Lina. She was his friend, even if they barely knew each other. He'd reacted instinctively, assuming she was the victim without understanding the full situation.
But the truth had been obvious.
Selene was the one drenched in coffee.
Lina had been the one who bumped into her.
Lina was clearly at fault.
Ethan had wanted to help Selene until her response caught him completely off guard.
"Yes, I'm aware. It's coffee, not acid."
He'd blinked, unsure how to react. Her tone had been cold and distant almost as if she disliked him. He'd wanted to apologize, to say something to smooth things over, but Selene dismissed the incident as if it were nothing serious.
That alone had unsettled him.
Did I do something to offend her?
Ethan let out a soft chuckle as he adjusted the steering wheel. Even now, the memory felt strange.
Questionable.
To this day, he still didn't know the answer. A silent grudge he couldn't understand.
What did I ever do to you?
He'd wondered then half amused, half confused. They'd been strangers, yet she'd spoken to him like he symbolized something she despised. Even during the debate especially during the debate! She'd dismantled his argument with brutal precision.
Not cruel.
Just... final.
And afterward, when she told him to stay out of her way?
It had hurt.
And he didn't even know why.
He'd been irrationally jealous, too... because Selene seemed to talk more easily with Adrian than with him.
That was when he started trying harder to behave. Though, honestly, he wasn't very good at it.
Ethan chuckled again as he drove.
At least things had changed. Somewhere along the way, teasing Selene had become something he genuinely enjoyed. It felt like a small victory every time he managed to make her respond like making her talk to him had become his personal mission.
Her companion.
Ethan sighed softly. Now, he understood. That was simply Selene's personality.
Cold. Quiet and reserved.
But kind.
Beyond her talent and sharp intellect, Selene always made sure not to offend anyone, even when she chose to keep her distance. She thought carefully before speaking. She knew how to read a room.
Still, these past few days... she'd seemed different.
Before, she'd always been on guard whenever he approached her. Now, when he found her alone, she didn't seem to mind his presence at all.
That alone made him happy.
She talked to him like they were friends.
He'd even seen her smile after she'd looked so down earlier.
That was new.
And it had been a relief.
He didn't know why, but in that moment, he'd felt obligated to make her feel better. He was glad he'd been there. Glad he'd seen her when she was alone.
Ethan smirked faintly until the memory of the hospital surfaced.
He saw the panic in her eyes. The fear she'd tried to hide.
His expression sobered.
"What's going on at Jerome's hospital?" he murmured to himself.
"She looked terrified earlier."
The traffic light turned red, and he slowed to a stop. He glanced to the side and saw his phone light up.
"Lina?" he muttered.
He hesitated, unsure whether to answer. Just as he reached for the phone, the light turned green. He moved the car forward first then glanced back at the screen.
The call had ended.
For a brief moment, confusion washed over him.
...Since when?
did things... start feeling this complicated?
He cleared his throat, forcing his expression neutral, and tried calling her back but it has no signal.