There was a faint, unguarded smile on Ethan's face as he stepped into his office.
Bella's flustered expression still lingered in his mind — the way her cheeks had flushed under the morning sun, the determined spark in her eyes. The image refused to fade, circling through his thoughts like a quiet whisper.
He was so lost in that memory that he didn't notice someone already sitting inside.
"Well, well… someone looks unusually pleased," came a voice laced with sarcasm.
Ethan blinked and turned. "Officer Becky," he said evenly, regaining his composure. "Everything alright?"
Becky tilted her head, a sharp smile tugging at her lips. "Why? Am I not allowed to visit? Or were you expecting someone else?"
Ethan's eyes narrowed slightly. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Oh, come on," Becky said, her tone dripping with mock amusement. "You've gotten rather bold lately. Especially during the training session today…" She took a deliberate pause. "You seemed very interested in Cadet Bella."
Ethan's lips curved faintly — not quite a smile, more a warning. "You've been watching me closely these days, haven't you? Careful, Officer Becky — you're the cadets' discipline in-charge, not mine."
Becky let out a short, humorless laugh. "Is that so? Then tell me, what's so special about her that you can't seem to see anyone else when she's around?"
Ethan's tone hardened. "You're crossing a line, Becky. You're in my office — I suggest we keep our conversation professional."
She chuckled again, stepping closer. The click of her polished boots echoed softly against the tiled floor as the distance between them narrowed.
Her hand rested lightly against his chest, nails gleaming against the dark fabric of his uniform. She looked straight into his eyes. "Professionalism?" she whispered. "Was that what you were practicing on the training ground — when you were that close to her?"
Ethan didn't flinch. He calmly removed her hand from his chest and stepped back. "I know exactly what I'm doing," he said, his voice quiet but firm.
Without another word, he sat down at his desk, opening his laptop. The click of the keyboard was the only sound in the room.
Becky stood there for a moment, her expression twisting from mockery to irritation. Then, without saying anything more, she turned sharply and left, the door closing hard behind her.
Ethan's fingers stilled over the keys. For a long time, he simply stared at the closed door — his reflection faint in the dark screen before him.
*************************************************************************************
After dinner, Bella returned to her room. Once she had freshened up, she picked up a book from her study table and was about to step outside.
"Where are you going?" Norah asked.
"Just to the ground outside… for a little while," Bella replied.
Ellena added, "If Officer Becky sees you out there, she'll get another excuse to give you punishment."
Bella smiled softly. "Don't worry. I'll be careful."
Then she stepped outside, taking the narrow path leading to the back of the building until she reached the vacant rooftop.
Moonlight had washed the entire roof in a silver glow.
The night breeze sent a shiver crawling across her skin. Yet the moonlight wasn't strong enough for her to actually read. She stood near the railing, opened her book, and tried to focus on the words. Her eyes froze on a single sentence:
"Sometimes the law does not always deliver justice—and occasionally justice exists outside the law."
She read the line again.
Just then, her gaze drifted to the ground below. A shadow moved across the open space. She narrowed her eyes, trying to make sense of its movements. The figure seemed to be heading toward the path that led into the forest.
She closed the book and leaned slightly over the railing for a better look—
when suddenly someone grabbed her arm and pulled her back.
"Have you lost your mind?Trying to fall off the roof?" Ethan said angrily.
"Officer Ethan…" Bella looked at him, startled.
Ethan's eyes flicked from her face to the book in her hand. "You think moonlight is enough for you to read those tiny words?"
Bella pulled her arm free. "I was going back to my condo."
Ethan caught her arm again, stopping her.
"Can we talk normally? Can you stop avoiding me—at least for a while?"
He guided her toward a bench, and they sat down.
Bella looked at him, then lowered her gaze, saying nothing.
Ethan exhaled heavily. "Is it the… change in our relationship? Is that what's confusing you?"
Bella sat with her head bowed, fidgeting with her fingers.
Ethan continued, "You don't have to stress about it. That decision—made so suddenly, under pressure, because our parents were emotionally—"
He was still speaking when Bella abruptly stood up.
"I'm feeling sleepy. I'm going back to my condo."
And without waiting for a response, she walked away.
Officer Ethan watched her until she disappeared into the night.
*******************************************************************************
The next day, during their free time in the afternoon, Bella turned to Ellena and said,
"Should we go to that vacant ground? Last night… I saw someone moving there again. A shadow heading toward the forest path."
Ellena shrugged. "Maybe it was just an officer doing patrol."
"Maybe… but still, I—" Bella began, but Ellena cut her off.
"Okay, fine. We'll go. But if someone sees us—and if Officer Becky sees us—then we're both done for."
Bella sighed. "Alright then, I'll just go alone. You don't have to come."
Ellena crossed her arms. "I'm not letting you go alone. What kind of friend abandons you in a risky moment?"
She winked playfully.
Bella couldn't help but smile, nodding in agreement.