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The corridors were jam-packed with students, hanging out by the lockers to chat with friends, walking together in groups, and lingering near the classroom doors.

Raphael passed by classroom 2-C. The room was surprisingly empty except for a few students blocking the doorway. He was at least expecting Antonio to pop out of nowhere with Alexis, or Feyline to surprise him from behind.

I guess they left already...

He sighed.

Then, he looked up once more, scanning the room carefully.

Not in her seat.

Nor by the lockers outside.

No sign of her.

He cautiously walked towards his own locker, still carrying his coat on his arm. Then, he stopped right in front of it as his eyes surveyed the area once more.

The locker door clicked open when he tapped his student card.

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As soon as he pulled it, a neatly packed lunch box with a sticky note on top stood out in the middle of the metal box.

A lunchbox? From who?

Raphael blinked twice as he leaned inside the metal box, tugging the note to read the message.

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"Heard you were starving for this~ Enjoy."

-Uncle 'Eric'

His face lit up with unmistakable excitement.

He knew exactly what was inside.

His favorite sandwich.

Raphael threw his coat inside as he clasped the lunchbox with both of his hands. A whiff of the sandwich's scent clung to his nose, inhaling and savoring it.

His stomach churned.

Should I really eat this in that dusty storage room again?

He shook his head.

That place had this suffocating smell of dust and old books, and was cluttered with a bunch of tables and chairs, reminding him so much of the cramped cubicles in the restroom.

He wanted a change of scenery. Somewhere to enjoy his lunch.

A better idea suddenly hit him.

Immediately, Raphael shut the locker door right behind him and rushed down the hall, holding his packed lunch tightly.

---

After a few minutes, Raphael arrived at the Academy's mini garden just along the courtyard. His chest heaved as he stopped by the entrance, catching his breath.

He wiped the beads of sweat from his forehead, still slightly out of breath from rushing.

The place smelled like freshly cut grass and blooming scented flowers, and paired with the serene view of the clear blue sky, and overgrown nature like a perfect hidden escapade.

He stepped inside, marveling at the surroundings as he walked along the path.

Birds chirped in a nearby birch tree. Breeze rustled the canopy of trees. The pebbles on the ground crunched underneath his sole.

Finally. No one is around.

Just him.

Perfect.

Beneath the canopy, a marble bench was tucked right beside an old oak tree. The trees cast shadows, shading the spot against the harsh sunlight.

Raphael didn't hesitate and settled down, immediately plopping into a seat, placing his lunch on top of his lap securely.

The lid of the lunch box popped open as his fingers reached to the sides, pulling it up. The heavenly smell of truffle oil and roasted ham filled the air, clinging to his nostrils.

A grumble churned in his stomach.

He was hungry.

He held the sandwich in his hand steadily, raising it at an angle before he snapped a photo.

Click!

The shutters of his camera chimed, capturing a perfect image of his sandwich, sauce oozing from the side, and delicate layers of meat, veggies, cheese, and bread.

Not bad for a first shot.

Then, he took a hefty bite from his sandwich as the mixture of saltiness, creaminess, and warmth coated every inch of his tongue. The light toasted crisp of the bread ground on his teeth, creating a delicate crunch.

For a moment, the tension in his shoulders eased as he gazed around the surroundings while chewing on his sandwich.

Ah, this is just great.

He smiled contentedly, shoulders relaxing.

Ping!

His phone vibrated, buzzing in his hand.

A notification appeared on his screen.

New message from RedFox.

Sylvia. . .

His stomach dropped.

His thumb hesitantly hovered above the message. Then, he pressed it. The screen flashed black, loading him over the latest message sent.

Nothing else was shown but a single smirking emoji.

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His brows furrowed, looking confused while biting another piece of his lunch.

A smirk?

What on earth does this even mean?

Frustration etched all over his face. He was half expecting to see a threatening message instead of this. His eyes lingered on the screen, unconsciously.

The birds by the trees chirruped at each other, watching intently over Raphael as the sandwich in his hand limped and was half-eaten. Then, all of a sudden, the birds fluttered away in unison as a predator had just appeared in their midst.

A warning sign.

A figure emerged from behind the trees down the dirt path. Soles clicked differently in every stride on the cobbled path, crunching every pebble, sand, and dust.

From the corner of Raphael's eyes, a pair of shoes arrived right next to him in slow, stealthy taps.

"Found ya."

A familiar voice broke the silence.

Immediately, his shoulders tensed up once more after hearing her voice, a playful tease like a cat purring. His gaze slowly turned towards her, trembling.

Her bright orange locks glowed under the harsh sun. Her hands clasped behind her back as she tilted her body forward, casting shadows on her face from the tree shade. A small grin curved across her lips.

"Were you hiding away from me, Raphael?" she asked sweetly.

The breeze passed by, fluttering her strands all over her face, her skirt lifted for a brief moment before the wind subsided. Her face appeared calm, unbothered.

A long pause.

"Ah. . .Sylvia... What are you doing here?" Raphael stuttered as he quickly turned his phone face down beside him.

"Hm? You know why, Raphael," she purred, approaching closer, standing right in front of him, her knees touching his.

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Her face leaned in towards his, watching him at eye level. Her loose dress shirt dropped low as her black lace bralette peeked at the edge like a tease hidden underneath.

His vision wandered all over, looking at her face, then at the distraction below. Suddenly, heat flushed on his cheek.

What am I even looking at…?

W-wait… This is so wrong… I’m not supposed to see that…

A sweat trickled down his forehead before he looked away, avoiding everything altogether.

"I-I wasn't hiding.... just eating my lunch."

Raphael hesitated, gripping his sandwich tightly in his fingers. His eyes still didn't look back at her.

Sylvia chuckled as she stepped back slightly.

"How funny."

Her hand reached out, tapping on his shoulder.

"Hey, Raphael. Wanna have lunch together?"

Raphael glanced in her direction, his brows furrowed.

That line...

Didn't I say that before?

His eyes locked onto hers while her eyes gleamed in a predatory smile.

"Ah, I'm quite famished," she muttered under her breath with slight playfulness in her voice.

Before he could think any further, Sylvia leaned in closer this time.

Too close for comfort.

Her warm breath brushed against his skin, and the scent of her cherry perfume smelled more obvious. Her lips hovered a few inches from his.

W-wait.

Why is she moving closer?

Instinctively, Raphael reclined back, moving away from her. His heart pounded rapidly against his chest. His breathing hastened.

Still, he watched her carefully.

Eyes lingered on each other.

Sylvia quickly dropped down on her knees, falling right in between his legs. One hand slithered across his thigh, caressing lightly with her touch.

Then, she tucked her locks at the side of her ear.

"You know sharing is caring, right?"

Without any warning or permission, she deliberately took a bite of the sandwich still being held in his hand on his lap. Her nails slowly dug deeper into his thigh.

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The creamy filling burst, and truffle oil oozed out, slowly dripping down her lower lip.

A passionate bite.

Unbearably stimulating.

Raphael's eyes just widened, caught in utter surprise.

Sylvia lifted her head, chewing slowly and sensually as the sauce still trickled down her throat. Her finger tips traced unhurriedly over it, wiping the mess and licking it clean in a swift motion of her tongue.

A smirk crossed her lips.

"Mmmm.... That was delicious," she purred. "Though not quite as tasty as the photo you sent me last time."

Raphael was speechless.

Heat rose from his cheeks, red and flustered. He gritted his teeth as an unwanted twitch stirred low in his lap, impossible to suppress.

W-what is this feeling?

It's... uncomfortable.

The grip of his sandwich loosened as its contents slowly slid out, dropping on the ground. Suddenly, the world around him narrowed until only Sylvia remained, and her green eyes locked onto his.

Sylvia leaned in closer, resting her chin on his lap. Her fingers traced playfully on his thigh, stopping halfway up before moving back down.

"So tell me, Raphael. . ."

Her eyes flicked up as she continued, voice dropping into a low tease.

"Did you take the picture I asked for?"