WFCA 07

Chapter: 07

‘What should I say to get through this situation?’

Saying she didn’t like kissing in front of others wasn’t a good answer either. Sonnet had already made that cursed confession in public first.

“So I…”

After hesitating for a moment, Sonnet finally muttered quietly,

“I got jealous because you’re too popular.”

The moment she finished speaking, self-loathing washed over her. After thinking so hard, the answer she came up with was jealousy?

Was this really the best she could do?

Still, since the words were already out, she added firmly,

“And everyone knows everything we do and keeps watching us, so that annoyed me too.”

Aiden straightened his upper body as if the tension had drained from him. With a completely relaxed expression, he let out a small laugh.

“So that’s why you left first?”

“Yeah. I want to have you all to myself when no one’s looking.”

Maybe because she had already said something strange, the even stranger words came out without hesitation.

Aiden said nothing.

He simply stared at Sonnet.

His gaze was hot and persistent, as if trying to peer deep into her heart.

Flustered by that look, Sonnet hurriedly avoided his eyes and deliberately turned her steps to move away from him.

But Aiden quickly lengthened his stride and caught up.

“Do you have somewhere urgent to be?”

Without stopping, Sonnet replied,

“You have to get seats early for the audiovisual lecture.”

Aiden gently took Sonnet’s hand. Startled by the sudden contact, she halted and looked at him, and he smiled at her from the side.

“If you go with me, you don’t have to rush.”

“Why?”

“I have my seat.”

As if that settled everything, Aiden casually tightened his grip on Sonnet’s hand.

It was her first time holding hands with a man, and it felt incredibly awkward.

In fact, Sonnet had never even held hands with a female friend. She had hardly ever formed close bonds with anyone.

She briefly considered pulling her hand away—but stopped. She was the one who had confessed first. Either way, she had to act like a lover. That way, Aiden wouldn’t suspect anything.

Walking side by side with their hands clasped, she wondered whether Aiden’s hand was unusually large or if all men’s hands were like this. His big hand was quite firm, and even though he held her gently, she could feel the strength in it.

‘What is this feeling… that I don’t dislike?’

It had definitely been awkward just moments ago, but now it didn’t feel so bad.

No matter how she thought about it, it was strange.

Walking hand in hand really made it feel like she and Aiden were actually dating. More than anything, she liked the faint scent of mint coming from him.

‘That’s definitely mint from the Itar region.’

Mint from the Itar region wasn’t expensive or refined enough for someone like Aiden of the Rosfield family to enjoy.

A high-ranking noble who frequented bare-knuckle fight rings—and carried the kind of mint scent she liked…

‘Just what kind of person is he?’

Without realizing it, Sonnet looked up at Aiden.

His indifferent eyes facing forward and his straight nose made him look undeniably cold.

It felt like there was an invisible wall around him that made it hard for anyone to approach.

Perhaps sensing her gaze, Aiden naturally lowered his head to look at Sonnet.

The previously detached curve of his eyes softened warmly.

“Why?”

Sonnet awkwardly lifted the corners of her lips and turned her head away.

“It’s nothing.”

She usually had no interest in other people, but strangely, Aiden kept stimulating her curiosity.

Maybe she was getting stubborn because her guesses kept missing the mark.

Meanwhile, people around them kept sneaking glances at Sonnet and Aiden.

It was the lingering attention after their public confession photo had been splashed across the school newsletter.

Come to think of it, Aiden was always surrounded by several friends—but today, not a single one was in sight.

“Where are your other friends?”

Aiden looked at her carefully. Sonnet continued naturally,

“You always had a lot of friends around you.”

“If you’re here, why would I need friends?”

At the same time he answered, Aiden tightened his grip on the hand holding hers.

Caught off guard, Sonnet looked at him.

“Won’t your friends be upset?”

“I don’t care. I’m dating you—I don’t even want to bother worrying about their reactions.”

Aiden spoke casually, but Sonnet couldn’t understand.

Even if he had a girlfriend now, was it really okay to neglect his friends this easily, as if it were nothing?

‘Is he serious?’

Or was this some kind of teasing wordplay meant to toy with her? She grew suspicious. But Aiden’s expression was far too sincere for that.

‘When did he always move around in packs, and now suddenly because of just me? Why?’

Sonnet’s doubts continued even after they arrived at the audiovisual lecture hall.

Aiden took a seat in the very front row.

That seat was always empty—it was where Aiden usually sat with his friends. Now that she looked, the front row held only Aiden and Sonnet.

Perhaps they had arrived earlier than expected; the lecture hall was quiet. The moment Aiden sat beside her, he stared straight at Sonnet with a subtle smile.

Trying to ignore him, Sonnet fussed with her bag for no reason.

But even while she did that, Aiden didn’t take his eyes off her for a single moment.

‘Is dating normally like this?’

His gaze was far too persistent. Now there was nothing left to take out of her bag.

While she awkwardly fumbled through the empty interior, Aiden draped his arm around the back of her chair.

“There’s only the two of us here.”

Startled by the suddenly reduced distance, Sonnet widened her eyes.

Aiden tilted his head slightly and looked down at her eyes from an angle.

“You like this kind of atmosphere, don’t you?”

His low, secretive whisper inexplicably tickled her ears.

Caught completely off guard, her heart lurched again.

Aiden was far too skilled and natural about this.

Avoiding his gaze, Sonnet pretended to be unfazed and said,

“There are people behind us.”

Aiden snickered.

“Don’t worry about them.”

His breath brushed close to her lips.

The mint scent Sonnet liked swept strongly past her nose. Her whole body felt bound.

Aiden’s breath, the mint fragrance, and his gaze turned her mind blank.

She had only ever studied diligently; she was terribly inexperienced at forming relationships and interacting naturally with people, which only made everything more awkward.

‘What are you even supposed to say or do in a situation like this…?’

Just then, Aiden, who had been staring straight into her eyes, curled his lips.

“…You looked so confident when you confessed to me first. So why can’t you do anything when you’re actually with me?”

There was amusement on his face, but his eyes were quite sharp.

As expected, Aiden was not an easy opponent.

He definitely had some hidden agenda. Otherwise, there was no reason for him to toy with someone like this.

Sonnet quickly steeled her resolve, firmed her gaze, and spoke decisively.

“It’s just… being like this with you makes me really nervous and shaky.”

“….”

“I’ve always only thought about you in my head, but now that we’re actually together, it almost feels like a dream.”

His ice-cold eyes softened, and a smile bloomed on his lips.

“Is that so?”

He spoke gently, then released the arm around her chair and pulled Sonnet straight into his arms.

In an instant, Sonnet was completely enveloped in his embrace and froze stiff.

‘This isn’t what I meant.’

While her mind went blank, Aiden pulled her even closer and whispered lowly,

“I’ll hug you often.”

“……”

“So it won’t feel like a dream.”

For a moment, Sonnet held her breath.

His breath brushed loosely against her ear, giving her a strange feeling. The firm contact of their bodies did too.

It wasn’t as unpleasant or repulsive as she had expected. He was clearly a noble full of elitism, so why…

While Sonnet was still confused, Aiden slowly pulled away. With a faint smile still on his face, he looked at her and then took a book out of his bag.

Sonnet finally let out the breath she’d been holding. Aiden was definitely not an easy opponent.

Starting from the way he had accepted her possessed-sounding confession without hesitation—nothing about him matched her expectations.

Forcing down her still-racing heart, Sonnet looked at him. She couldn’t let herself be swept up by Aiden any further.

Narrowing her eyes slightly, she watched him—only to see that he had opened a book about weapons.

Sonnet abruptly asked,

“Why do you like me?”