(Author’s POV)

After a few minutes of awkward silence, Nora decided to speak, "Wendy," she started. "I heard that Brother Dion is teaching temporarily in the arts department. So~ ... how is he as a lecturer?" She was curious to know.

Wendy thought for a while, then went on, "Prof. Everests, he is really great. Very patient and supportive of us, students. No one could tell that it’s his first time teaching. I was shocked too when I got to know that. He is quite knowledgeable. You can even call him an expert in the field. And whenever he talks about any artwork, he explains the history, the technique, and the thought process behind it so well, so passionately that even a non-art student would fall in love with the subject." She praised Dion to the nines.

"Haha~ ... isn’t it a bit too much buttering, hmm, Wendy," Dion remarked playfully.

"No~ ... not at all. If you don’t trust my words, ask my sister. She, as a non-art student, has taken your class as well. She would tell you honestly whether she liked it or not." Wendy spoke, turning the attention towards Myra.

Dion flashed a smile at Myra and asked, curiously, "Myra, did you like me~ ...." He paused for a brief moment, then added, "as a professor. I mean, my lecture. How did I do in that? Did you enjoy that?"

Myra was left speechless at his provocative words. Mingling with her wild thoughts, her face getting red as a tomato. Fumbling initially with her words, she replied, her voice low, "It was~ ... alright. For your first time, you did really well." Honestly, she couldn’t even remember what he said that day or what he taught. After all, she was busy hiding from Dion. She just said whatever came to her mind.

’Would you look at that? That’s some god-level flirting skills right here. As expected of a charmer. Haha~ .... Fabian, you have got a really tough competition, *phew*," Yelena’s brows were arched as she couldn’t help but marvel at Dion’s wordplay.

Nora glanced at her brother and made a teasing comment, "Brother Dion~ ... woah, even here, in Esteria, you are quite popular, hahh."

"Yeah, Dion. You are quite something. Even the people in my department kept praising you," Yelena said. Then she coyly added, "Especially the girls. They keep talking on and on about you in every possible way. Your girlfriend must be on her toes all the time. Seeing that you are so admired."

"That’s quite a bold claim. What made you think I have a girlfriend, Ms. Yates?" he asked, lifting his eyes indolently to meet her gaze.

"You~ ... single? Ohhh~ .... ph~aleeezzzzz~ .... I don’t buy it. Your face, coupled with your personality, there is no way you aren’t committed," Yelena commented. "And~ ... what’s with this formal address. Ewwww~ .... it makes me sound so old. We are just three years apart, you can call me by my name," she made a jab at him.

"Hahahaha~ .... But I am committed," Dion replied straightforwardly.

"See, just like I said," Yelena was quick to say. But Dion added, "I am committed~ .... but also single, at least for now. I have someone I like dearly and is devoted towards this person, but she~ ...." His eyes lazily darted to look at everyone’s face, but they landed on Myra. They stopped for a while, then averted, his tone casual, "She is a tough nut to crack, hard to please. She is the one keeping me on my toes. But~ ... no worries, sooner or later, she will see my heart and eventually take me in as her man. For now, ... you could say, I am in a one-sided relationship with her and quite happy in it. Did that ease your curiosity a bit, Yelena?"

"A lot. So, you are a simp. Never expected that from you," Yelena chimed, her tone teasing.

"Being a simp for my girl isn’t problematic at all," Dion winked while replying. He was the master of playing these word battles.

Nora recalled something and asked, "Brother Dion, is it the same girl you told me about a year ago?" Saying this, she looked at Myra. When Myra visited Kimberg, she and Dion had a conversation at the pack house’s terrace garden, where he had told her that he liked Myra. So, she wanted to make sure whether he was talking about her friend or someone else.

"It’s the same person," Dion gladly replied.

Elio felt really iffy about the whole exchange. He hadn’t participated at all and was just reading the room. Even Leo felt something was wrong: ’The whole thing sounds so precarious.’

Myra, hearing Dion’s heartfelt confession towards this unknown girl, felt a pang in her heart. The feeling of sudden discomfort made her clench her fists on either side. Even she couldn’t pinpoint whether she was envious of the said person or if it was because of something else. ’Envy? Why will I be envious of someone I don’t even know? Ohhh~ ... gosh~ ... it’s all because of the weird dream.’ She blamed it on the dream once again.

"Now I am getting really curious to know about the identity of Prof. Everests’ secret crush. Sis Nora, do you know who it is? What’s her name? Have you seen her? How does she look? Is she pretty?" Wendy barged into Nora with questions.

Myra’s grip even tightened, turning her knuckles almost as white as a sheet. Before anyone could say something, the sound of the doorbell chimed once again. She quickly got up on her feet, saying, "I will go," and walked briskly in that direction. It felt more like she was running away.

When she opened the door, Brave was standing there. After much contemplation, he was now in a solid black shirt with its sleeves rolled up, with the top two buttons open, pairing it with beige, double-pleated trousers. His long hair was done in a man bun. Giving her an alluring smile, he uttered, "Hi, Myra," his voice gentle as a breeze.

Myra’s eyes flickered as she kept on gazing at him. The fresh smell of shampoo mixed with cardamom and musk evaded her senses, as she stood rooted to her spot and even forgot to give a reply.

To Be Continued . . . . . . . .