He had been walking for a long time before he finally found his way back home. His mind wasn't clear yet. There was still so much to think about, so much to figure out, and on top of that, a mountain of schoolwork waiting for him. How many classes had he missed already? He wasn't even sure anymore—he'd lost count.
Reaching the mansion, he pushed open the tall, luxurious gate. For some reason, the idea of going through the front door didn't sit right with him. It rarely ever did. He had always preferred slipping in through the back, quiet and unnoticed.
His footsteps softened as he moved across the yard, heading for the back entrance. Slowly, gently, he made his way around the big house… until he stopped. His eyes froze on the sight before him.
Jane.
There she was, sitting with her headphones on, looking as cute as ever in the quiet night. The faint glow of light touched her face, and Ivan felt his chest tighten. Why did she love those headphones so much? And why, of all things, did she never wear anything warm enough when the nights grew chilly?
He stood there for a while, just watching her. He liked the way she gazed at the stars, like they were the most beautiful things in the world. It reminded him of the first night he had seen her doing the exact same thing…
That night, he hadn't planned on going to her, or even looking her way. But honestly, from the very moment she whispered that shy little "hello" when she first arrived, she had left him intrigued and curious ever since.
"Hey there, Muffin," he said softly as Jane finally noticed him. She slipped her headphones off, and Ivan walked closer with a smile tugging at his lips. Tilting his head slightly, he asked, "Can I join you?" And truth be told, no sane human could say no to that irresistible charm of his.
"Yeah… sure," Jane nodded quickly, her eyes dropping to the floor nervously.
She was shy normally, but whenever Ivan was even within ten feet of her, that shyness seemed to multiply. She didn't know why she felt so different around him, but whatever it was… she liked the feeling a lot.
"Don't you feel cold?" he asked almost in a whisper as soon as he sat down on the bench beside her.
"Not really… kinda used to it, I guess," she mumbled, pinching her fingers together.
Act natural. Act natural. Act natural.
She kept repeating it in her head, but her body didn't listen.
The truth was, this was her natural self. Around others, she tried to put up confidence like a shield. But around Ivan… it felt unnecessary. With him, she felt like she could just be, and somehow, he would still understand.
"But still…" Ivan murmured, slipping off his jacket and carefully draping it over her shoulders. Underneath, he wore a hoodie, and she was sure there was a T-shirt beneath that too. He gave a small, satisfied smile once she was covered. "That's better."
It felt like a good moment to ask her a few things. He wasn't completely sure if it was the right time, but he was willing to try.
"So… we barely know anything about each other," he began, stating the obvious. "Wanna talk about yourself? Or we can both share… whatever you want. But dear Janey, why do you always have music on?" His voice stayed calm and smooth, never too loud, never rushed. That was one thing about Ivan—and Jane found it weirdly, almost unfairly, hot.
"Uh… sure. I always… uh… have music on because… well… I feel anxious around people," she admitted honestly. Ivan had probably noticed that about her already—how quiet she was around everyone else. But now, he finally had the truth from her own lips.
"So… music is like your therapy?" he asked knowingly.
"You know, I'm a good therapist," he joked lightly. "Since I know you now, I'll make your session longer." He winked, and Jane's face burned red instantly. Ivan…
"I'm guessing you're eighteen?" Ivan asked, his eyes fixed on hers. She gave a small nod.
"Perfect. Don't you think?" he said, leaning in a little closer. Their eyes locked. He loved the way her eyes glowed even in the dark, how the stars above seemed to reflect in them.
"Why do you think it's perfect?" Jane finally broke the silence, her voice quiet but steady.
"Mehh… just a few reasons," he answered casually, suddenly adopting a nonchalant, almost careless tone.
Let's not scare her away, he told himself inwardly, though his heart was already racing...