95 .Hopeless brat
---
AIDEN — LISTENING BUT NOT LISTENING --
The sports sir cleared his throat loudly after breaking their… moment.
"Aiden, since you're here, let's talk," he said, gesturing him to follow.
Aiden dragged his feet behind him, eyes still glued to the empty doorway where Marcelline had disappeared. His heartbeat hadn't returned to normal yet.
Sir talked for almost thirty minutes:
About the upcoming selections…
New students from UG sector…
Trials…
Responsibilities as senior captain…
But Aiden heard nothing.
His mind was replaying only one scene—
That face above him…
Those eyes…
Her scent…
Her soft hair brushing against his cheek…
Her whisper-soft breath ghosting over his lips…
He wasn't in the sports room.
He was still lying on that floor with her.
Sir noticed his absent-minded nodding and sighed loudly.
"Aiden Brooks! Are you even listening?"
Aiden blinked. "Uh—yes, sir… I mean—yes… students… UG… I got it."
Sir rolled his eyes. "Hopeless brat. Go. We'll talk later."
Aiden bowed quickly and rushed out.
His disappointment hit instantly.
She must be gone…
Why would someone like her wait?
Why would a goddess wait for someone like—
His steps halted.
Marcelline stood near the corridor wall, sunlight falling on her like a divine halo. Her hair glowed, her eyes calm, her presence mesmerizing.
Aiden stopped walking.
He even stopped breathing.
Shock.
Happiness.
Disbelief.
Confusion.
Excitement.
All emotions collided inside him at once.
He whispered under his breath:
"She… waited… for me?"
Marcelline turned slightly, her angelic aura softening.
"Hey…" she said gently. "I'm… sorry about earlier."
Her voice…
Aiden felt it more than he heard it.
Soft.
Warm.
Melodic.
Better than any song he'd ever known.
The apology stunned him.
"No—no, please! I mean—it wasn't your fault. I should have watched where I was going. I was being stupid—uh, distracted—no that sounds wrong—"
She smiled.
Aiden forgot how to human for three seconds.
---
INTRODUCTIONS — IN THE MOST DREAMLIKE WAY --
Marcelline extended her hand.
"I'm Marcelline."
Aiden looked at her hand as if afraid it was an illusion.
Then he awkwardly, gently, finally shook it.
"H–hi… I'm Aiden."
Their hands were warm.
Somewhere inside him, a small voice whispered—
Don't let go.
She continued, "I'm doing my PG in AI and Robotics."
"Oh—uh—wow. That's amazing. I'm in Business and Finance… basically numbers and boredom compared to your cool stuff."
"I think numbers are beautiful," she said honestly.
Aiden blinked.
He'd never heard anyone say that.
And definitely not in that voice.
---
CONTACT EXCHANGE — AIDEN BROKE INTERNALLY --
Marcelline tilted her head softly.
"Since we bumped into each other… and I was partly at fault… maybe we should stay in touch? Just in case of… future collisions?"
Aiden's brain short-circuited.
"S-stay in touch…? With me?"
"Yes."
She smiled again — serene, angelic, effortless.
He handed his phone instantly.
He would've given his soul if she asked.
She saved her number—
Marcelline A.
(With a small golden star emoji she added unintentionally.)
He stared at the screen like it was holy scripture.
"Thank you," she said.
"You don't have to thank me—thank you—no wait—uh—forget I said anything—"
She chuckled.
Aiden felt his heart melt like butter left under the sun.
They walked together until the hall turned into two directions.
"I'll see you around, Aiden."
"Y-yeah! Yes. Anytime. Everytime. I mean—uh—see you!"
She walked away.
He remained frozen for a full minute.
Then… he exploded internally.
---
CLOUD NINE CONFIRMED — GREECE'S MESSAGE --
Aiden finally checked his phone.
Greece's message loaded.
And his jaw dropped.
There were pictures of Marcelline:
Her entering the campus.
Her in the garden.
Her sitting in the canteen with her friends.
Her walking alone, hair glowing under the sun.
Aiden whispered:
"She's… unreal."
His heart wasn't on cloud nine.
It was somewhere beyond heaven.
---
AIDEN'S ENTIRE DAY — LOST IN HER ...
He went to class.
He sat in lectures.
He walked through hallways.
But he remembered nothing.
All he saw…
Was her.
All he heard…
Was her "Hey…"
All he felt…
Was the softness of her cheek under his fingertips.
---