Chapter 3: The Library

Chapter 3 — The Library

The next day passed like any ordinary school day.

Students rushed through the hallways carrying books and unfinished assignments while teachers

complained about deadlines nobody remembered.

Inside the crowded corridors of St. Virel Academy, Ethan quietly walked alone with one hand inside his pocket. Even after only one day, people had already started recognizing him. The mysterious transfer student. Some students stared because of curiosity.

Others because of his looks.

And a few because they were trying to figure out why Lucas Vale suddenly seemed interested in him.

“Excuse me!”

A cheerful voice stopped Ethan in the hallway.

He turned slightly. A group of girls from his class stood nearby, looking both nervous and excited. One of them stepped forward first.

“You’re Ethan, right?”

“Where are you from?”

“What school did you transfer from?”

“What’s your family background?”

“Are you rich?”

“Why did you transfer here?”

Questions immediately came one after another without pause. Ethan simply blinked behind his glasses while quietly listening. Before things became worse, another girl quickly stepped between them with an awkward laugh.

“Come on, guys. Don’t interrogate him.”

She smiled apologetically toward Ethan.

“I’m Lyla, by the way.”

Lyla Hart.

Unlike the others, her expression looked sincere rather than overly curious.

Ethan gave a small polite smile.

“Nice to meet you.”

The girls nearly melted from that simple smile alone.

Lyla awkwardly cleared her throat before asking again.

“Uh… where are you going? Wanna join us for lunch?”

The other girls instantly nodded excitedly. But Ethan gently shook his head.

“Sorry. There’s somewhere I want to go.”

He paused briefly before adding softly,

“And I’d like to be alone for now.”

There was no harshness in his tone. Yet somehow… It still felt distant. Ethan gave them one final polite nod before walking past them calmly. The girls remained frozen for a few seconds.

“…Oh gosh,” one whispered dramatically. “He’s kinda cold. Not what I expected.”

Another sighed.

“But he’s still handsome though.”

Lyla laughed helplessly.

“Come on, guys. Forget the new guy. Let’s go.”

Meanwhile, Ethan continued walking through the quieter parts of the academy until he finally reached the library. The moment he entered, silence welcomed him.

Compared to the noisy hallways outside, the library felt peaceful. Comfortable. Rows of towering bookshelves stretched endlessly beneath warm afternoon light.

Ethan slowly walked between the shelves, his fingers brushing lightly against old book spines as though searching for something specific.

History. Philosophy. Literature. None of them interested him. Then finally— His hand stopped.

“There you are…”

A faint smile appeared on his lips as he pulled a thick dark-covered book from the shelf. The exact book he had been looking for.

But suddenly—

Another hand reached for the same book at the exact same time. Their fingers touched.

Ethan paused.

Slowly, he looked up.

And there stood Lucas.

His sharp eyes stared directly at Ethan with clear surprise before narrowing slightly in amusement.

“Well,” Lucas said lazily, “looks like we have the same taste.”

For a brief second— Neither of them let go of the book.