Chapter 65: The First Person to Notice

Chapter 65: Chapter 65: The First Person to Notice

~Reynold’s POV~

I waved back with a small smile as the luxury car pulled away, its tires crunching softly over the gravel driveway before disappearing through the estate gates.

Taking a deep breath, I turned around and walked back into the house.

The estate was quiet and cool as I made my way through the foyer and headed straight for the dining room. The dining table had already been set by the maid, with a light meal waiting for me. I sat down, picked up my fork, and began eating.

I ate slowly at first, but before long, my mind drifted back to the way Frederick had looked at me before he left. Even after I finished my meal, that final look remained in the back of my mind.

After the maids cleared my plate, I remained at the table for a few more minutes before finally getting up and heading upstairs to the bedroom. I still had a few hours before I expected to hear from Frederick, so I grabbed my textbooks and handouts and settled at the desk to keep myself occupied.

I spent the next few hours going through my notes and working on my assignments. Midway through studying, I paused and sent Frederick a quick text to check on him.

The hours blurred together as I studied. By the time I finally gave up and climbed into bed, I found myself tossing and turning, unable to settle without Frederick’s warmth beside me.

Eventually, my phone rang, and I immediately reached for it when I saw Frederick’s name on the screen.

"Hello?" I answered softly.

"I’m home," he said. "I arrived safely, and Lily is back at the estate too."

A small smile touched my lips. "Extend my greetings to Lily."

"Alright," he replied. "I’ll tell her you said hello."

We continued talking for a little while longer, neither of us wanting to be the first to end the call. Even after the conversation had naturally slowed down, we kept finding little things to talk about. Eventually, we finally said our goodnights and ended the call. I plugged my phone into the charger beside the bed, settled beneath the covers, and soon drifted off to sleep.

The next morning, I woke up early. After lying in bed for a few moments, I grabbed my phone and headed into the bathroom. I sat down on the toilet, unlocked my phone, and quickly typed out a message.

Good morning. Mr. Corvin.

A few minutes later, he replied.

Good morning, little pet. I’m going to be very busy today, but as soon as I’m free, I’ll call you immediately.

I quickly replied: Okay. Have a nice day ahead.

His reply came almost immediately.

You too. And be a good boy.

After that, I put my phone aside and focused on getting ready. I brushed my teeth, took a quick shower, then stepped out of the bathroom and walked over to the dressing mirror. I sat in front of it and went through my usual skincare routine before getting dressed. Once I was ready, I packed my bag, slung my backpack over my shoulder, and headed downstairs.

"Good morning, sir," the maid greeted me warmly.

"Good morning," I replied with a quick smile.

My breakfast was already waiting for me on the dining table. I sat down and ate quickly before grabbing my car keys and heading outside.

The crisp morning air greeted me as I walked toward my car. I unlocked it, tossed my bag onto the passenger seat, slipped behind the wheel, and started the engine. I turned on some soft music to calm my nerves before driving toward campus.

The drive was quiet and uneventful. I kept the music playing softly as I followed the familiar route, and before long, the university campus came into view. I drove through the gates and headed toward the student parking lot.

Once I found an empty space, I pulled in and switched off the engine. I had barely opened my car door when another vehicle pulled into the parking space beside mine.

I stepped out just as the student in the car next to me opened his door. We both paused for a moment when our eyes met.

I recognized him from around campus and gave him a polite nod. "Good morning, senior."

He smiled as he closed his car door. "Morning. You know, I kept thinking I’d seen your face somewhere before."

I smiled back. "I always greet you whenever you walk past me."

"You’re right," he said with a small laugh. "But when I saw you, I kept trying to remember where I knew your face from."

I froze, my heart skipping a beat. I turned toward him, my voice suddenly tight. "I don’t understand. Do you know me from somewhere else?"

"Not personally," he chuckled. "But I was with some friends at a lounge this past weekend, and you were there with Frederick and his friends. Our booths were right next to each other. I kept thinking I’d seen your face somewhere, but I couldn’t remember where. Then I saw you just now, and it finally clicked."

Panic immediately flared in my chest. I stared at him, my eyes widening as I struggled to hide my sudden fear.

The senior noticed my reaction and quickly raised both hands. "Relax. I’m not going to tell anyone." He smiled, his gaze briefly moving over me. "Besides, now that I’m seeing you up close, I have to say, you look absolutely stunning. Especially in that outfit—I mean, the one you wore that night."

His words left me even more flustered. I had been so worried about him recognizing me that I hadn’t expected him to start complimenting me. I lowered my gaze, unsure of what to say. "Th-thank you."

"You’re welcome," he said. Then, after a brief pause, he added, "Can I have your contact? Maybe we could be friends."

I hesitated, unsure how to respond to the request. "I-I’m sorry, I can’t..."

He immediately smiled and waved it off. "Don’t worry. I wouldn’t dare cross Frederick. I just thought it would be nice to know you. And if you ever need any help with your studies, you can always ask me."

I nodded stiffly. "Alright."

We briefly exchanged contacts before he headed toward the building. I remained beside my car for a moment, taking a slow breath and trying to calm myself.

Just then, Julian’s car pulled into the parking lot. I waited for him to park and step out, forcing myself to look casual as he walked over to greet me. Together, we headed inside for our morning lecture.

Once I settled into my seat in the lecture hall, I couldn’t stop thinking about what had just happened. The senior recognizing me from the lounge made me realize that people who had seen me with Frederick could recognize me again. If more people started noticing me around Frederick, it would become very hard to keep whatever was going on between us a secret.

I can’t keep this from Julian forever, I thought, gripping my pen tightly. No matter how he reacts, he needs to hear the truth from me. If I wait any longer, it might be too late.

Julian glanced over and noticed that I wasn’t paying attention. He leaned closer. "What’s wrong? You look pale."

"I’m fine," I whispered, though my voice betrayed my nerves. I swallowed hard and looked toward the professor. "Julian... after the lecture, I have something very important to tell you."

Julian frowned, studying my face for a moment before slowly nodding. "Alright. But let’s focus on the lecture first."

"Okay," I murmured.

We both turned our attention back to the professor and tried to concentrate on the lecture. When the lecture finally ended, the professor closed his laptop, and Julian and I gathered our bags before leaving the hall to grab a quick bite ahead of our second lecture.

We walked out of the busy lecture hall together and made our way through the crowded corridors until we reached a quieter campus cafeteria near the arts building. We found an empty table in the corner, sat down, and ordered a couple of light sandwiches and iced coffees.

Our food arrived a few minutes later. We ate quietly, but my stomach was tied in knots. Every bite felt heavy, the words I needed to say weighing on my mind. I kept running my finger around the rim of my cup, trying to figure out how to begin.

When we finished eating, Julian pushed his empty plate aside and leaned back in his seat, crossing his arms. He looked at me expectantly.

"Alright," Julian said, lowering his voice. "We’ve eaten, we’re settled, and you look like you’re about to confess to a crime. What is it you wanted to tell me?"