Chapter 96
Starting last week, Remillia’s room became a nightly gathering spot for her friends. They would usually drop by after classes, staying up late before curfew. The next day, they would come visit her again to either play games, chat or study with her.
This day was different though, Cypher was the only one who showed up. The others sent a chat one by one deciding to give their brains a rest or else it would overheat from using it too much which caused Remillia to laugh at them. In the end, Remillia was left alone with Cypher. He was sitting on the floor beside her bed, struggling with a particularly tricky formula while she lounged on her bed, watching a movie with Macaron.
Remillia was engrossed in her movie, occasionally glancing at Cypher as he worked through the problems. She thought nothing of his presence, assuming he was there just to study like usual. What she didn’t realize was that Cypher was there because he enjoyed the quiet, intimate time they were spending together. He liked the others, of course, but there was something special about being with her.
He secretly stole a glance at her, watching as she laughed softly at something on the screen. Her guard was down, her usually sharp and confident demeanor replaced with a relaxed, almost carefree attitude. It was a side of her he didn’t get to see often, and he cherished these moments.
Remillia caught him looking and raised an eyebrow. "Need help with that formula?" she asked, pausing the movie.
Cypher quickly turned his attention back to his notes, a slight blush creeping up his cheeks. "Uh, yeah... I’m stuck on this one."
She slid off the bed, kneeling beside him to look at the problem. As she explained the steps, her voice soft and patient, he was only staring at her, completely mesmerized by the scene before him. He knew he had fallen for her long ago, but these quiet nights only deepened his feelings.
"There, that should make it easier," she said while smiling.
She then turned to look at Cypher, only to realize how close they were—far closer than she’d anticipated. Their faces were just inches apart, and she could feel his breath on her skin. For a moment, neither of them moved, both too stunned to react.