For half the day, Tristan stayed quiet.
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"Happiness..." he kept thinking to himself as he sat through class after class, turning that word over in his mind. It felt strange, almost like something he didn't fully understand.
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Tristan made sure to always sit in the back to avoid drawing attention to Loraura, but it didn't always work. Some teachers asked who she was, and one teacher kept giving Loraura a doubtful look.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8QF9Gc5vI8
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"This can't be good," Tristan whispered, glancing at Loraura. But she seemed too focused on the lesson to notice, which made Tristan smile a little.
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"Happiness, huh?" Tristan thought again, glancing at Loraura's smile.
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The bell rang, and as Tristan stood up to grab his bag, he noticed Mr. Samuel Fletcher, his stern-faced teacher, heading straight toward him. Mr. Fletcher's hands were clasped behind his back, and his expression was as serious as ever.
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"This really can't be good," Tristan muttered to himself. "Hello, sir. Thanks for the class," he added with a forced smile.
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"Gratitude?" Mr. Fletcher raised an eyebrow. "That's not something I'd expect from someone barely passing my class," he said, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.
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Tristan laughed nervously, feeling small under Mr. Fletcher's sharp gaze.
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"And who might this be?" Mr. Fletcheri asked, his eyes narrowing as they shifted to Loraura.
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Tristan quickly stepped forward. "Uh, this is my friend Loraura..."
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"Loraura? That's an unusual name," Mr. Fletcher remarked, his gaze never leaving her.
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"She's from out of town, just checking out the college to see if it's the right fit for her," Tristan said, trying to sound convincing.
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Mr. Fletcher turned his attention back to Tristan, then to Loraura. "Is that so... and what do you think?" he asked Loraura directly.
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Loraura's smile remained as she met Mr. Fletcher's eyes. "I had such a good time listening to your lecture and engaging in your class. It would be an honor to study here."
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"Oh, would you?" Mr. Fletcher replied, his tone tinged with skepticism as he studied her more closely.
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Mr. Fletcher turned back to Tristan and Loraura, his expression softening slightly. "Well, if you ever decide this is the place for you, young lady, you'll have to apply yourself just like everyone else. But if you do, I hope to see you in my class," he said with a nod before walking away, already pulling out a stack of papers to review.
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As Tristan watched Mr. Fletcher disappear down the hallway, he shook his head in disbelief. "I don't think I've ever seen that man smile," he muttered, slinging his backpack over his shoulder.
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Loraura glanced back at Mr. Fletcher, who was now meticulously going over his paperwork, each stroke of his pen deliberate and careful. "He's so dedicated to his work," she said softly, her smile growing even wider. "There's a quiet beauty in that kind of devotion. It's like he's creating something meaningful with every word he writes."
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As they walked out of the classroom, Loraura's gaze lingered on Mr. Fletcher for a moment longer. "It's amazing how much love he pours into what he does, even if it's not always easy to see," she added, her voice filled with admiration.
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"Did you say something, Loraura?" Tristan asked, turning his head slightly towards her.
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"No, not at all," Loraura replied with a light laugh, falling in step behind him as they made their way out of the classroom.
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The afternoon sun bathed the campus in a warm glow as they walked together, the chatter of students filling the air.
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The chatter around them made Tristan uneasy, his discomfort growing with each step. He couldn't help but notice how everyone seemed to stare at Loraura, their eyes drawn to her as if she were some kind of rare jewel. It wasn't just a passing glance; it was an intense, almost reverent attention that made him wish they could slip away unnoticed.
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Tristan began to hate walking on campus. Wherever they went, students were captivated by Loraura's otherworldly beauty, and it made him feel out of place, as if they were intruders in a world that wasn't theirs.
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"Tristan?" Loraura's voice broke through his thoughts.
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"Hm?" Tristan turned to face her, trying to push aside the unease gnawing at him.
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Loraura glanced around, her eyes wide with concern. "It seems we're receiving a lot of attention..."
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"Yeah, I guess we are..." Tristan replied, following her gaze to the groups of students whispering and staring.
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Suddenly, Loraura gripped Tristan's hands tightly, her expression shifting from curiosity to alarm. "Tristan! Do you think this strange phenomenon means something bad is going to happen to you?" she asked, her voice trembling with worry.
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"Uh, I think something is more likely to happen to you," Tristan said with a nervous laugh, trying to lighten the mood.
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Loraura looked at him, confusion clouding her features. The idea that the attention was directed at her seemed foreign, as if she couldn't comprehend why so many people would be so fascinated by her presence.
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Tristan gently placed his hand on Loraura's shoulder. "Don't worry about it, okay?"
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Loraura was quiet as she looked into Tristan's calm eyes, and after a moment, her smile slowly returned.
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"Uh..." Tristan suddenly jumped slightly, a chill running down his spine. Sweat started to form on his forehead, and deep down, he knew something was coming. "Oh no..."
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"Tristan? What's wrong?" Loraura asked, stepping closer.
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"It's her," Tristan said, his voice filled with dread.
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A collective gasp rose from the students around them, causing Tristan to turn his head.
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There she was—a woman with long blonde hair curled into two matching twin tails, wearing a green button-down top with a black bow tie, and a black skirt that flowed around her legs.
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"Oh great..." Tristan muttered as he watched the girl stand among a crowd of people swooning over her.
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"Who's that?" Loraura asked.
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"That's... the girl with all the looks, the Queen of Oakbury University, Christina August," Tristan said, rubbing his head in irritation.
***
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Author notes: Please support my work on Patreon for early access to new chapters. https://patreon.com/DarkMatteromniverse
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and then Add to home screen.