"For now…"
His voice came out low, almost careful, as if he didn't want it to travel too far.
"I'm leaving."
Aiden dipped his head slightly. His eyes stayed on Lily's face for a second longer than necessary, like he was making sure she had heard him properly.
She nodded.
That was all.
No words followed. No rush to fill the silence.
Aiden turned first.
He didn't look back.
Even when his steps slowed without him noticing.
He walked toward his building, the strap of his bag pressing into his shoulder. The corridor was louder now. People passing. Someone laughing too hard. Shoes dragging against the floor.
He checked the time
Is Jake coming or not? That guy is probably late again.
He exhaled quietly and shook his head once as he rounded the corner.
Finally. There he is.
Jake was exactly where he expected him to be.
Leaning against the wall. Too relaxed — and, of course, surrounded by girls.
They close enough that their shoulders brushed his arms when they laughed.
Aiden's brows pulled together before he could stop it.
Jake saw him immediately.
"Hey, bro!"
Jake lifted his hand, grin wide, one arm still hooked around a girl. "Come here. They're asking about you."
The movement drained from him all at once.
His grip hardened, the only crack in his calm exterior.
I'll deal with you later, he thought, fixing Jake with a flat look.
Jake only winked.
Three girls stepped closer. One of them tilted her head, studying Aiden's face like she was searching for something familiar.
"Aiden… do you remember me?"
He looked at her properly. Took a second.
Then shook his head.
"…I don't think so. Sorry."
He didn't stay long enough for awkwardness to settle. His gaze shifted to Jake as he adjusted his bag.
"We've got a lecture," he said calmly. "We're already late."
Then he turned back, a polite smile touching his lips - neither warm nor distant.
"See you around."
"Bro, wait—" Jake started.
Aiden cut in, voice quieter now.
"You can do whatever you want. Just don't drag me into it."
Jake laughed, slinging an arm over Aiden's shoulders as they walked.
"Hey, calm down. It's not a big deal, just for fun."
He didn't respond. "Just for fun" had never been his kind of thing.
The hours slipped past in lectures. One, then the next.
After class ended, they made their way to the cafeteria.
When they reached the cafeteria, the sunlight had shifted, softer now, streaking through the windows. Dust hung in the warm air. Around them, the hum of trays, scraping chairs, and overlapping voices filled the space.
Aiden sat with Jake and a few others. Girls lingered nearby again.
He answered when spoken to, keeping his words short and exact. Nothing more. Nothing unnecessary. That was how he kept control and kept himself unreadable.
"So, Aiden," one of them asked, leaning forward slightly, "is it true you don't draw people unless it's for assignments?"
"Yes."
That was enough. One word, clear.His eyes drifted across the cafeteria, noticing people lost in their own chatter and laughter, oblivious to him.
Then the doors opened. Mira walked in first, and his gaze followed her automatically. She's here alone…? Where's—
But the thought didn't finish. Behind her, small and quiet, Lily's figure appeared, following just a step behind. His eyes lingered.
She stepped inside carefully, like she was checking whether the room would notice her. Her bag was held close to her body. Her gaze moved across the space, not settling on anyone for long.
Aiden felt his attention narrow.
She looks like she's deciding where it's safest to stand, he thought.
Mira headed to order. Lily drifted slightly away, drawn toward the garden outside.
Aiden stood suddenly.
"Excuse me."
The word barely interrupted anyone as he moved.
He pushed the door open and stepped outside.
Cool air brushed against his face, carrying the faint scent of soil and flowers. Behind him, the noise from inside faded into a distant hum.
He stopped near the doorway.
Didn't go closer yet.
Lily stood among the flowers, leaning in slightly, her fingers hovering before touching a petal. The movement was slow. Like she didn't want to break whatever moment she was in.
Aiden watched her without making a sound.
She takes her time with small things, he noticed.
Then she stopped.
Her attention fixed on one flower.
White and simply beautiful, standing quietly among the others.
It's Lily's flower, he thought.
Her posture changed. Just a little. Her shoulders dropped. Her gaze lowered, as if something had pulled her away from the present.
Aiden didn't think further.
"Winslow."
No response.
He stepped closer. Gravel shifted under his shoes.
"Winslow."
She turned suddenly.
They were closer than he expected.
Her eyes widened, catching the sunlight directly. The light reflected in them, making them look brighter than before. Her cheeks flushed almost instantly, color spreading like she'd been caught doing something private.
Aiden froze for half a second.
He hadn't meant to stand this close.
"…Ah."
A quiet breath left him before he could stop it. He let out a small chuckle, more to ease the space than from humor.
"You were…Zoning out again?"
His voice dropped without effort.
"You always do that."
He had stepped closer without thinking again.
Not enough to touch her.
Just enough to see her properly.
The garden behind the cafeteria carried the soft scent of damp soil and morning sunlight warming petals. A faint sweetness lingered in the air — not strong, just enough to sit between breaths.
Lily stood near the flower bed, her fingers wrapped around the strap of her bag. He noticed the way her knuckles had turned slightly pale from holding it too tightly.
She looked as if she had been somewhere far away inside her own thoughts.
He watched her face for a second longer than necessary.
Her cheeks were still faintly colored from earlier. Not bright red. Just a soft pink that never fully left her skin. Her lashes lowered when she blinked, slow… as if she was waking up from something.
She really is like that… shy and careful. He thought.
Mira wasn't exaggerating after all.
Lily finally spoke, her voice low and careful.
"I— I didn't notice…"
Her fingers tightened again around the strap. She wasn't looking at him. She was looking back at the flowers, as if they could answer for her.
He followed her gaze.
A single white lily stood among the others. Its petals were open, clean and pale under the light. The edges almost translucent.
He stepped closer to the flower bed. Close enough that their shoulders were nearly aligned.
His eyes lingered on the flower, then drifted to her face. When he looked back at it again, it felt different, like it had borrowed its softness from her.
"A lily…" he said, voice even, almost thoughtful.
"It suits you."
He tilted his head when he said it, his tone calm and thoughtful.
She looked up immediately.
Her brown eyes met his, wide and a little startled.
For a heartbeat, she simply stared, forgetting everything else.
He noticed the way her lips parted slightly, like she meant to respond but lost the words halfway. A faint breeze moved a strand of her black hair across her cheek. She didn't fix it.
He didn't move either.
There was no heavy meaning in what he said. It was simply true in his mind. The flower looked soft but steady. It stood upright without trying too hard.
Like her.
Before the silence could stretch any further—
"Hey! I knew you'd come here too, Aiden. Where's Jake?"
Mira's voice cut through the moment, bright and effortless.
He turned his head slightly.
Mira was walking toward them, balancing two paper cups and two small plates. The smell reached him first, warm chocolate and butter cake.
Lily blinked once, as if the spell had broken.
She stepped back just a little.
Mira struggled slightly with the cups in her hands. Lily stepped forward instinctively to help.
Without thinking, he stepped forward and took what was in Mira's hand before it tipped.
Their fingers came close, just a fraction of a second. Not Mira's, but Lily's, she hesitant, almost daring, stopping just before meeting.
But in that instant, something electric passed between them, a small shock that neither voice nor movement could explain.
"Oh, thanks, Aiden," Mira said with a bright smile.
He returned a small one of his own.
"Where's Jake?" Mira repeated, glancing around.
"He's here… with friends." he answered calmly. "Probably still surrounded."
Mira laughed.
Lily stayed quiet beside them.
And He noticed.
She always seemed to look at small things when she didn't know where to put her eyes.
The breeze moved again. The scent of the flowers mixed with melted chocolate and warm cake.
Mira started talking about something random — a lecturer, an assignment, how Jake being dramatic as usual.
He responded when necessary.
But his gaze drifted once.
Just once.
Back to the white lily in the garden.
Then briefly to the girl standing beside him.
No conclusions.
No labels.
No thoughts beyond what was visible.
Just an observation that stayed longer than it needed to.
And then he looked forward again.
Like nothing had happened.
End of chapter 22