Chapter 93: ⁹³: Eclipse

"Rest for a while. I’ll call you when the class teacher comes," Rose said beside me, and I just hummed in response.

I hadn’t even closed my eyes for a few seconds when I felt a presence beside me. Hadn’t Rose told me she would let me know when the teacher came? Then who was this?

I lifted my head in confusion, only to find the last person I wanted to see standing beside my desk.

"Louis?!" I blurted out, irritation immediately visible in my voice. At this point, I felt like getting up and leaving rather than dealing with him again.

"Heard you say earlier that you weren’t feeling well, so..." He placed a bag filled to the brim in front of me. "I searched around and found that girls like to eat these things to lift their mood, so I bought you some."

I stared at the bag for a moment, completely speechless. What was wrong with this man?

First, he had posted that ridiculous video. Then he had confessed those ridiculous feelings to me. And now he was apparently researching what girls liked to eat just because I had said I wasn’t feeling well.

I lifted my hand, intending to push the bag straight onto the floor. But before I could, the classroom door opened and the teacher walked in.

I immediately withdrew my hand and turned toward the front, pretending Louis wasn’t even standing beside me.

"He just smiled at you and went back to his place," Rose whispered beside me.

I shot her a glare.

"What?" she whispered, trying not to laugh. "I’m just telling you what happened."

I slammed my book onto the table before turning my attention toward the teacher, deliberately ignoring the strange whispers spreading around the classroom.

I could not wait for the day Louis Dreven would finally stop with all these ridiculous shenanigans and leave me alone.

Why couldn’t he understand that I wanted nothing to do with him? Whatever he thought he felt for me, it wasn’t my problem. And I certainly wasn’t going to let his sudden change in behavior distract me from my own plans.

As soon as the class ended, I turned toward Rose. "You take your time. I’ll wait for you in the next class," I told her, grabbing my things before dashing out of the classroom.

As far as the things Louis had brought were concerned, that was not my problem. His fangirls could take them for all I cared.

I reached my next class and sat down, relieved to see that Louis didn’t share this one with us. At least I would get a little peace.

For the rest of the day, I tried my best to focus on my studies and ignore everything else. Yet every now and then, my mind would drift back to everything that had happened recently.

There were far too many things happening at once, and somehow I had to keep all of them from interfering with one another.

Soon, all our classes were over. I parted ways with Rose, wanting to get back as quickly as possible. The last thing I needed was to be spotted by Louis Dreven and have to deal with him all over again.

I reached the small restaurant near the academy and glanced around carefully, making sure nobody who knew me was nearby. Only after I was certain the coast was clear did I finally get into my car.

I started the engine and drove toward my new house. The entire drive, I kept telling myself that I was simply going home. Nothing more. But deep down, I knew I was also wondering whether Kael would be there.

When I finally reached the villa, I was surprised to find it completely quiet. I parked the car and stepped inside, carrying my things into the living room.

"Kael... are you here?" I called, glancing around.

There was no answer. I frowned.nKeeping my things on the living-room desk, I quickly headed toward the kitchen, wondering if he was there.

"Kael?" I called again as I stepped inside. Nothing..I looked around the empty kitchen, my eyebrows drawing together.

"He isn’t here?" I murmured. For some strange reason, the realization left me feeling a little disappointed.

He wasn’t.

"Will he not come tonight?" I couldn’t help but wonder, a strange feeling settling in my chest. But I quickly shook the thought away. It wasn’t like Kael was obliged to be here every day.

...

The next day, I stepped through the academy gates, still feeling a little sleepy.

My entire night had been spent thinking about Kael, and it was slowly driving me crazy. The more time passed, the more frustrated I became. I didn’t even know what I was supposed to do anymore.

I rubbed my forehead, trying to push those thoughts away.

I just hoped this day would go smoothly and there would be no unnecessary drama. Thankfully, Maria was still suspended for a few more days, so at least I could have some peace until then.

The moment that thought made me feel a little better, however, the second problem of my morning appeared right in front of me.

Louis.

"What do you want, Louis?!" I asked, making sure the irritation in my voice was obvious.

"Are you fine today?" he asked, completely ignoring my irritated expression. His eyes studied my face. "Has something happened? You look like you didn’t sleep well."

I almost rolled my eyes. What was I supposed to tell him? I couldn’t sleep because I spent the entire night thinking about your older brother? There was absolutely no way I was saying that.

"You’re right," I said instead, taking a step toward him.

His eyebrows rose slightly, as though he wasn’t expecting me to agree.

"I couldn’t sleep well last night. You know why?"

He chuckled, seemingly amused by my attitude. That only made me more irritated.

"Because you’re the one who keeps bothering me!" I snapped. "So stop bothering me and get back to your usual fuckboy life!"

I walked past him without waiting for a response. I had no intention of standing there and arguing with him first thing in the morning.

But, of course, Louis wasn’t going to make things that easy. "I won’t stop bothering you, Athena!" he called after me. "We’ve come to a first-name basis now. Don’t you think that’s progress?"

"Progress, my foot!" I muttered without even turning around.

I continued toward my classroom, refusing to give him the satisfaction of seeing my reaction.

By the time I reached my seat, I had almost managed to put the entire conversation out of my mind.

Almost.

"Athena! What are your plans for the upcoming Lunar Eclipse?" Rose’s voice immediately pulled me out of my thoughts.

I looked at her as I sat beside her after greeting her. Before I could answer, she continued excitedly.

"You know, even though it’s still far away, my mom has already started the preparations. You know how sacred that day is going to be! Why don’t you join my family for dinner that day?"

My smile disappeared. I shook my head. "I can’t," I said quietly.

My fingers curled into fists beneath the desk at the mere mention of that day. "I have something really important to do that day."

Rose studied me for a moment before giving me a teasing smile. "As you say. But let me tell you, you’re missing a great deal by not accepting my offer."

I forced a small smile back at her. "I’m sorry. You can invite me some other day, though."

Rose immediately perked up. "Okay, done!"

I nodded before looking down at my books. The Lunar Eclipse wasn’t just another day for me. It might be the turning point of my entire journey in this pack.

Everything I had been working toward could come together that night, and I couldn’t afford to make a single mistake.