The campus path stretched ahead of them, filled with students moving between buildings.
A group of girls passed by, their attention drifting toward Aiden.
A few of them whispered to each other.
It was the usual thing. Lily had grown used to it.
But he didn't seem to notice.
Or maybe he noticed and simply didn't care.
His expression remained calm, but there was something distant about it.
Lily watched his shoulders from behind.
Earlier, he had smiled at her so warmly.
Now his expression looked different…cooler, more composed.
He looks like a completely different person, she thought quietly.
She remembered something Mira had said once.
"He draws really well. Even the lecturers like his style."
Then another thought appeared.
If he's already good… why does he need me in this project?
Her mind immediately stopped itself.
"No."
She shook her head slightly.
"Don't think ridiculous things."
And suddenly—
Thump.
She didn't notice he had slowed down.
Lily walked directly into something solid.
Her forehead collided lightly with his shoulder.
She stumbled back slightly.
"Ow—"
Her hand moved quickly to her forehead.
Aiden had stopped walking.
He turned around immediately.
"Are you okay?"
His voice carried concern now.
His hand moved instinctively toward her head.
His fingers gently brushed the spot where she had bumped herself.
Then he lightly patted it.
"Lost in your thoughts again?" he asked softly.
Lily looked up.
His expression had changed again.
The small warm smile from earlier had returned.
She stared at him for a moment, confused by that softness.
"Winslow… is something wrong?" he asked when he caught her staring.
His head tilted slightly.
Lily hesitated for a moment before asking.
"Why… do you keep calling me Winslow?"
The question slipped out more quietly than she expected.
Aiden looked at her.
Not immediately answering.
His eyes stayed on her face for a short moment, as if he was thinking about something.
Then he spoke.
"Because you haven't called me Aiden yet."
Lily blinked.
Her fingers tightened slightly around the strap of her bag.
She hadn't expected that answer.
Aiden shrugged lightly, like it wasn't something important.
"When you do…" he said calmly, "maybe I'll stop."
For a second Lily just stood there.
Her heart made a small, confused beat in her chest.
Call him… Aiden?
To her, Thinking his name was easy. Saying it out loud was another matter.
Her eyes dropped to the floor.
He probably didn't mean anything by it.
Aiden was the kind of person who spoke casually like this all the time.
It was probably just another one of his teasing remarks.
Still…
For some reason her cheeks felt slightly warm.
Lily nodded quickly, pretending the moment didn't affect her.
"O-okay..."
Aiden didn't say anything after that.
But when she looked up again, she thought she saw the corner of his lips move very slightly.
As if he was hiding a small smile.
She followed Aiden to the place where the art projects were set up.
The classroom was much bigger than Lily expected.
When she stepped inside, the first thing she noticed was the walls.
They were tall, wide, and completely white.
The paint smelled new, faintly sharp in the air, mixed with the scent of wood from old desks and the dusty smell of chalk.
Sunlight came through the high windows, stretching across the empty wall like pale gold ribbons.
A few students were already inside.
Two boys were opening boxes of brushes.
Three girls stood near a table covered with paint jars, talking quietly.
For a moment Lily felt very small in the middle of the room.
Her fingers tightened around the strap of her bag.
Then—
"Aiden!"
A bright voice cut through the room.
The girl from that day.
The same girl who had asked Aiden to join the project.
She walked toward him quickly and her steps confident, almost impatient.
Her long hair swayed behind her as she approached, smiling brightly.
"You're finally here," she said as if she had been waiting a long time.
Her eyes barely glanced at Lily.
"I was waiting for you."
Before Lily could react, the girl reached out and lightly grabbed Aiden's arm.
"Come with me," she said casually.
As if it was the most natural thing in the world.
As if he belonged there.
Lily instinctively took a small step back.
She suddenly felt like she was standing somewhere she didn't belong.
But Aiden didn't move.
Not even a little.
His gaze shifted slightly.
Then he stepped to the side, calm and unhurried
The girl's hand slipped away from his arm.
Aiden's voice was calm.
But there was something firm beneath it.
"This is my friend," he said.
He gestured slightly toward Lily.
"The one helping me with this project."
His gray eyes moved briefly to the girl again.
"Be kind to her."
The room went quiet for a moment.
Several students turned to look at Lily.
The attention hit her all at once.
Some gazes were curious.
Some were surprised.
A few girls looked… less friendly.
Lily suddenly became very aware of herself.
Her dress.
Her hair.
Her hands.
Her heart began beating faster.
The girl smiled.
But the smile did not reach her eyes.
"Oh," she said lightly.
"So someone is helping you."
Her gaze moved slowly over Lily, almost like she was measuring something.
"Well," she added with a polite tone that sounded slightly forced, "pleasure to meet you."
Lily bowed her head slightly.
"Hello," she said softly.
Her voice almost disappeared in the big room.
But she tried.
She really tried not to look nervous.
The project leader began explaining the plan.
The theme.
The wall.
The concept.
"This mural should represent our campus life," one of the boys explained while pointing to the white wall.
"Something meaningful."
"Something that shows the journey of students."
Paint jars clinked softly as someone opened them.
Brushes tapped lightly against metal containers.
Lily nodded quietly while listening.
Her eyes moved slowly across the huge empty wall.
So this is where everything will go, she thought.
Her chest felt tight.
I've never done something like this before.
The wall felt too big and too important.
Her fingers touched the surface gently.
The paint felt cool and smooth.
It's something that represents our campus, she thought.
"A story on a wall."
"What are you thinking… Winslow?"
The voice came suddenly from behind her, low and much too close.
Lily startled slightly.
Aiden had leaned down beside her.
His voice was near her ear.
She could feel the faint warmth of his breath.
Her heart skipped.
"I—"
She shook her head quickly.
"I was just thinking."
Her eyes lowered to the floor.
"I've never done something like this before."
Her voice was honest.
"So I'm a little afraid."
Her fingers lightly pressed against the wall again.
"What if I do something wrong?"
For a moment Aiden didn't answer.
He simply watched her.
Then he leaned slightly closer to match her height.
"Don't be afraid."
His voice was calm.
"If something goes wrong, we'll fix it."
He paused and say.
"I promise."
His eyes were steady when he looked at her.
There was no doubt there.
No hesitation.
Just quiet confidence.
"So," he said softly.
"Let's do this."
She looked up at him.
Something in his expression made her chest loosen a little.
"Okay," she said.
And she smiled.
It happened naturally.
Without thinking.
Her small dimple appeared on the left side of her cheek.
Aiden's eyes paused there.
For just a moment longer than necessary.
Then he straightened.
"You have a beautiful smile, Lily."
He said it casually.
Like it was just a simple observation.
Then he walked ahead.
Leaving Lily completely frozen.
Her face heated instantly.
"What…?"
Her hand touched her cheek.
"He said my name…"
She swallowed.
"And… beautiful smile?"
Her heart beat loudly in her chest.
She could feel it in her ears.
"This is normal," she told herself.
"He probably says things like that to everyone."
But the thought didn't convince her.
A shy smile appeared on her lips anyway.
Then she hurried after him.
The art supplies were placed near the wall.Large brushes.Pencils.Charcoal sticks.Paint trays.
Lily reached for a box.
But Aiden gently stopped her.
"Wait."
He lifted the supplies himself.
"I've got it."
He carried everything easily, placing the boxes near the wall.
Two boys nearby came to help move the rest.
Soon the area looked like a small working station.
Aiden and Lily stood in front of the huge wall together.
They discussed the idea slowly.
A campus story.
The journey of students.
On one side of the mural—
New students entering the university gate.
Backpacks on their shoulders.
Faces filled with nervous curiosity.
In the middle—
Students sitting under trees.
Laughing.
Reading books.
Riding bicycles along quiet paths.
Moments of friendship and youth.
And on the far side—
Graduating students throwing their caps into the air.
A celebration.
A new beginning.
At the center of the mural—
Two small figures quietly painting together.
A symbol.
Of creativity.
Of friendship.
Of memories created during university years.
Lily stared at the sketch concept.
"It's beautiful," she whispered.
Aiden watched her reaction quietly.
Then he handed her a pencil.
"Winslow."
His voice was gentle.
"I think you should draw the people."
Her head snapped up.
"The figures?"
Her voice carried disbelief.
"But… that's the most important part."
She looked directly at him now.
His gray eyes were calm.
"Yes."
"That's why I want you to do it."
He smiled slightly.
"I've done things like this before."
"They always call me for these projects."
He paused.
"But this time I want it to be different."
His gaze rested on her again.
"I want you to lead."
"I'll follow."
Lily's breath caught slightly.Her fingers tightened around the pencil.
Why…?
She didn't say the word out loud.
But the question echoed in her mind.
Why do you believe in me this much?
She looked at him again.
His expression didn't change at all.
Calm.
Patient, like he had all the time in the world.
Waiting for her decision.
Slowly Lily took a breath.
Then she nodded.
"Okay."
Her smile returned.
"Let's do this."
Aiden smiled too.
They stood side by side near the wall.
Lily lifted the pencil slowly.
Her hand touched the white surface.
For a moment she hesitated.
Then the first line appeared.
Soft,Careful and Alive.
And strangely—
Her fear began to fade.
Because somehow…
Standing there beside her—
Aiden made the huge empty wall feel a little less frightening.
End of chapter 30