Her fingers slid along his back, tracing lightly as she leaned closer.

"If I didn’t know better... I’d think you wanted a taste of me."

Lucian felt a wave of disgust rise from deep within him, but he forced it down, his expression remaining composed.

’Endure it... this is necessary...’

He allowed her touch, his hand slowly lifting to rest on her head as he began to gently massage her scalp.

Thessy’s breath hitched slightly, a soft, involuntary sound escaping her lips as she leaned into his touch.

Encouraged, she relaxed further, but the next second, Lucian’s fingers tightened abruptly, gripping her hair just enough to make her wince.

A sharp gasp escaped her.

Lucian leaned closer, his voice dropping into a slightly raspy whisper.

"Control yourself," he murmured. "Did you forget... I already like someone?"

With that, he pushed her away without hesitation and turned to leave.

Thessy stood there for a moment, stunned by his sudden shift between warmth and coldness.

Yet instead of anger, a thoughtful expression crossed her face.

’So that’s how it is...’

To her, this felt like nothing more than a common push-and-pull game, the kind of emotional teasing popular among young couples.

’He does have feelings... he just doesn’t want to admit it yet.’

Her lips curved into a satisfied smile.

The way he had held her just now, that brief moment of control and intensity, had already given her the answer she wanted.

’As long as I can keep him... I won’t have to worry about Lana at all.’

With that thought, she turned and walked away, her steps light, her mood noticeably lifted.

Meanwhile, Lucian finally allowed his expression to harden once he was out of her sight.

He had been collecting what he needed.

To completely sever the connection between Thessy and Lana, he required something extremely specific: hair.

Not just a few strands, but an amount equal to the number of days their connection had existed.

That meant thousands.

’Four thousand... five thousand... maybe even ten thousand strands...’

He exhaled slowly.

So far, he had only managed to collect around five hundred. At this pace, it would take far too long.

’I need another method...’

Lost in thought, he returned to his room.

The moment he entered, he headed straight to the bathroom, washing himself thoroughly, scrubbing away the lingering scent of the party as if trying to rid himself of everything unpleasant.

’Lana...’

Without wasting another moment, he moved to the bed and sat down, closing his eyes as he focused.

Slowly, carefully, he reached out through the invisible connection, trying to draw her closer.

Meanwhile, Lana, who had been cultivating, began to feel a wave of drowsiness wash over her.

Her eyelids grew heavy, and eventually, she lay down on her bed, drifting into sleep.

Soon, she found herself in that familiar dream-like space.

As always, she moved instinctively toward Lucian’s presence, but this time, she stopped a short distance away, her gaze fixed on him without approaching further.

Lucian, though aware of her arrival, remained still, waiting.

’Why isn’t she coming closer...?’

The change didn’t go unnoticed.

Yet he didn’t dare break the pattern too abruptly. In this dream-like world, he had to act naturally, without revealing too much awareness.

So instead, he subtly signaled, creating an opening for her to approach.

After a moment of hesitation, Lana finally stepped forward. Her movements were slower than usual, her expression unreadable.

She stopped in front of him, leaning slightly closer, her voice quiet.

"Is there... someone you like?"

Lucian turned toward her, meeting her gaze directly.

"There is," he replied softly.

His hand slid around her waist, pulling her just a little closer.

"It’s you."

But instead of reacting the way she usually did, Lana remained still. No smile, no warmth, just a calm, almost distant look in her eyes.

"If that’s true..." she murmured, "then who was the woman with you... When I was on a video call that day?"

Lucian froze.

The memory struck him instantly.

Before he could respond, Lana let out a quiet sigh and stepped forward, wrapping her arms around him.

"Forget it," she whispered. "You wouldn’t know anyway... you’re not the real one."

Her words carried a faint bitterness that lingered in the air.

Then she leaned in and pressed her lips against his.

The kiss wasn’t filled with joy or excitement; it carried a deep, aching longing, tinged with sadness.

Lucian’s heart clenched. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

’Why does it feel like she’s... hurting...?’

He responded, pulling her closer, deepening the kiss as if trying to erase that sadness, his emotions finally breaking through the restraint he had held for so long.

Their closeness deepened, their breaths mingling as the space between them disappeared entirely.

........

Lana opened her eyes.

She was back in her room, staring at the ceiling.

For a moment, she lay still before suddenly turning to her side, burying her face into the pillow.

"Why...?" she muttered, her voice muffled. "Why am I dreaming about him...?"

Frustration and confusion twisted inside her.

"He already has someone... and I’m still..."

She pushed herself up abruptly, her expression hardening. "No."

Her voice was firm now. "I won’t become that kind of person."

Taking a deep breath, she made her decision.

"If he can have someone... then so can I."

With that resolve, she immediately arranged for someone to act as her date.

And the person she chose... Was none other than Quinn.

The reason behind her decision was simple.

She had already noticed that day Lucian had a particular dislike for Quinn.

’If I use that... he won’t be able to ignore me.’

As long as she managed to take a few ambiguous photos with one of them, something suggestive yet unclear, she was certain it would draw his attention.

With that thought lingering in her mind, she finished getting ready, adjusting her clothes in front of the mirror.

Just as she was about to leave for the university, her phone suddenly buzzed.

At first, she ignored it, brushing it off as just another notification. But the sound didn’t stop.

Annoyed, she finally picked it up.