Ch. 62
The clinic was quiet again.
Too quiet.
Selene lay back against the pillow, staring at the ceiling, when a faint rustling sound pulled her attention away.
Paper. Plastic.
The soft clink of a bottle being set down.
She turned her head. Adrian was still there.
He had taken the seat beside her bed, one leg crossed over the other, placing the contents of the paper bag neatly on the side table bread, a small boxed meal, and a bottled drink.
"You didn't have to stay," Selene said, breaking the silence.
Adrian glanced at her. "You're awake now."
"That's not what I meant."
He paused, then handed her the bottled drink.
"Hydration first."
Selene accepted it out of reflex.
...When did he get so close?
She took a sip, eyes flicking back to him.
"Aren't you busy? You're the student council president. I'm sure you have meetings or something important."
Adrian hummed thoughtfully, as if genuinely considering it.
"I rescheduled."
She blinked. "You what?"
"It wasn't urgent."
"You're lying." Selene narrowed her eyes.
A corner of his lips lifted. Not quite a smile but more like amusement.
"I prefer to call it prioritizing."
Her heart skipped.
This kid! He do knows what to say!
"You know I can take care of myself, right?" She looked away, pretending to examine the IV line.
"I know," Adrian replied calmly.
Then, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, he reached for the food container and opened it. The warm scent immediately filled the room.
"But that doesn't mean I shouldn't help." He placed the tray closer to her.
"Eat. I think, you haven't had anything since this morning."
Selene stared at the food.
Then at him.
"Are you always like this?" she asked.
"Like what?"
"Overly... attentive to girls?"
"This is how my grandmother taught me." He leaned back slightly, folding his arms.
Ah.
A lola's boy. I remember.
Selene picked up the fork, still watching him.
"But you're treating me like I'm fragile."
Adrian met her gaze evenly. "I'm treating you like someone who collapsed ten minutes after an exam."
"That was just bad timing." She huffed softly.
"And exhaustion," he added. "And overworking."
"You sound like my doctor." She rolled her eyes.
"I'll take that as a compliment."
She laughed quietly.
The sound surprised them both. She let out a small cough.
"You know," she said casually, poking at her food, "you're surprisingly easy to talk to."
"That's new." Adrian tilted his head.
"So I'm not intimidating?" Selene asked.
"You are," he said honestly.
"Just... not to me."
Her fork paused mid-air. She looked at him again.
"You're interesting," Adrian continued, voice calm but sincere. "Since, you transfer you immediately top of the first years. And yet you act like none of it matters."
Selene shrugged. "Grades are just grades."
His gaze softened. "Still. You stand out."
There it was.
That look again.
Not admiration but interest.
Selene felt her focus slipping away from all her carefully laid plans and straight into the warmth of his attention.
"Adrian," she said quietly, "why are you really still here?"
He didn't answer right away.
Instead, he stood, moved closer to the bed, and gently adjusted the blanket over her legs.
"Because," he said, meeting her eyes, "I wanted to make sure you were okay."
Simple and honest answer. Selene swallowed.
How unfair!
With him this close, with his calm presence wrapping around her like a shield... All her worries faded into the background.
Is this what having a second male lead around feels like? Weirdly... I'm okay with it.
Selene poked at her food absentmindedly, glancing at Adrian out of the corner of her eye.
"You're already a fourth-year next semester, right?" she asked casually.
Adrian looked up. "Yes."
"That's fast," she muttered. Then, curiosity got the better of her. "So... what are you gonna do?"
Adrian glanced at her, calm as ever. "I'll finish my degree in Business Administration first."
Selene raised an eyebrow, genuinely surprised.
"Oh... you're a Business Administration student?" she asked, trying to mask her curiosity.
She really was caught off guard. Sure, she had read the novel but her knowledge only went up to chapter 24, and she'd mostly focused on Ethan and Liana.
Adrian's background, his major, his future plans...
all of that had been vague in the original story.
Adrian's calm gaze met hers, and she realized just how little she actually knew about him.
"Yes," he said simply. "It suits my responsibilities and keeps my options open."
Selene tilted her head, a small smile tugging at her lips.
"Options... like what?"
He let out a quiet, controlled chuckle.
"Whatever I want. Law, family business, investments... or something entirely different. The degree is just the foundation."
Selene's curiosity deepened, but she kept it playful.
"So you already have a dream job in mind?"
Adrian blinked once, clearly not expecting the question.
"Dream job?"
"You're the student council president, top of the year, responsible and all that. You must already have something planned." She nodded.
He leaned back slightly, thoughtful.
"Law."
"Figures." She hummed.
He raised a brow. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"You look like someone who enjoys order and control," she said bluntly.
"Law suits you."
For a moment, he simply watched her then a faint smile appeared.
"You're perceptive."
"Occupational hazard." She shrugged.
"Then what about you?" Adrian asked. "What do you plan to do after graduation?"
Selene paused.
Work?
Her mind immediately flashed back to endless meetings, sleepless nights, contracts, and power plays. She grimaced.
"Honestly?" she said. "I don't think I'll work."
"You... won't?" Adrian choked on air.
"Why would I?" She looked at him innocently.
"Because you're one of the top students."
"Exactly," she replied. "I've suffered enough already."
He stared at her, clearly trying to process that.
Selene leaned back against the pillow, a playful glint in her eyes.
"Besides, I've already experienced working in my past life."
"Past life?" Adrian frowned slightly.
She waved it off. "Figure of speech."
Then she smiled bright, unapologetic.
"I'm already an heiress. No need to struggle, right?"
"That's... honest." He let out a soft laugh.
"Oh, I'm not done," she added. Adrian braced himself.
"My real goal," Selene said cheerfully, "is to find a husband rich enough to fund my lifestyle."
Silence.
Then— Adrian burst out laughing.
Not a polite chuckle but an actual laugh.
Selene blinked.
Oh... does he think I'm joking? Because this is really part of my plan while I'm stuck inside this novel. Call me cheesy if you want, but I actually want to get married too. I never even got the chance to date properly back when I was Yuna.
"You're serious?" he asked, still smiling.
"Half," she admitted. "I mean, if I'm going to marry, might as well be practical."
His laughter faded into something warmer.
"Then what about love?" he asked.
Selene tilted her head. "That would be a bonus."
Adrian studied her carefully now.
"You're interesting," he said again, more certain this time.
"You already said that." She smirked.
"And I'll probably say it again."
Her heart skipped.
She didn't miss the way his gaze lingered just a second longer than necessary.
"If you don't plan on working," he added calmly, "then you really need someone reliable."
Selene raised an eyebrow.
"Are you volunteering?"
He met her eyes without hesitation.
"Depends," he said lightly. "Do I meet your standards?"
...Oh. Does he?
Selene laughed, looking away to hide the warmth creeping into her cheeks.
"I haven't decided yet," she teased.
"Then I'll give you time." Adrian smiled.
And just like that, the clinic felt a little too warm.
And Selene realized she was in far more trouble than she'd planned.