The autumn evening draped the university campus in a hushed stillness. Rain had fallen earlier, and the streets still shimmered with puddles that reflected the golden glow of streetlamps. The library’s towering windows cast long beams of light across the stone steps outside, and Jade lingered there, clutching the leather-bound notebook Adrien had given him.
It was ridiculous how something so simple could make his chest tighten. Every time Jade looked at the gift, he remembered Adrien’s voice low, smooth, disarming. “For your essays. You see the world differently, and that’s worth recording.”
Jade hugged the notebook closer, his cheeks warm despite the night air.
“Daydreaming again?”
The familiar voice startled him. Danielle leaned against a pillar nearby, his posture casual but his eyes sharp. His hands were shoved deep into the pockets of his jacket, but the faint crease in his brow betrayed his unease.
“D-Danielle,” Jade stammered, adjusting his glasses. “I didn’t see you there.”
“Yeah,” Danielle muttered, stepping closer. “I’ve noticed that a lot lately—you not seeing things. Not noticing. Especially when he’s around.”
Jade tensed. “If you’re talking about Adrien”
“Of course I’m talking about Adrien,” Danielle interrupted, his voice harder than usual. “Jade, I’m not trying to be a buzzkill here, but that guy… he’s too smooth. Too perfect. Doesn’t that bother you even a little?”
Jade opened his mouth, but Danielle didn’t give him the chance to answer.
“I’ve watched the way he looks at you. The way he always says the right thing. People don’t work like that. Nobody’s that flawless unless they’re hiding something.” Danielle’s gaze softened slightly, though his jaw remained tight. “I just don’t want you to get hurt.”
Jade’s grip on the notebook tightened. He wanted to protest, to defend Adrien’s kindness, but a sliver of doubt wormed its way into his mind. Adrien’s charm was almost uncanny. Still, the warmth in his chest when Adrien smiled at him couldn’t be ignored.
“You don’t know him like I do,” Jade murmured, more defensive than he intended.
Danielle sighed, running a hand through his messy hair. “Maybe not. But I know you, Jade. And I can tell when you’re… when you’re getting pulled into something you’re not ready for.” His tone dropped, softer but more urgent. “Just… promise me you’ll be careful.”
Jade swallowed hard, unable to meet Danielle’s gaze. “…I promise.”
But the promise felt thin on his tongue.
Later that night, Adrien invited Jade to a quiet café tucked into the corner of the city, far from campus. The windows fogged with steam, and the hum of soft jazz filled the air. Adrien was already there when Jade arrived, seated at a table near the back with two mugs of hot chocolate waiting.
“You made it,” Adrien said warmly, his smile lighting up his face in that effortless way that made Jade’s pulse jump. “I was worried you’d be buried under your books again.”
Jade laughed softly, sliding into the seat across from him. “Danielle says the same thing.”
Adrien’s brow arched slightly at the name but he let it pass, his charm never faltering. “Then maybe Danielle and I agree on at least one thing.” He leaned forward, resting his chin on his hand. “But I’d rather talk about you.”
The conversation flowed like water. Adrien had a way of drawing Jade out, coaxing stories from him about his childhood, his passions, his dreams. He listened intently, laughing in all the right places, offering thoughtful remarks that made Jade feel seen valued.
Yet there was something beneath the warmth, an intensity in Adrien’s gaze that both thrilled and unsettled Jade.
“You have this light in you,” Adrien murmured after a pause, his eyes never leaving Jade’s. “Like you don’t even realize how rare you are. People don’t often surprise me, Jade. But you do.”
Heat surged through Jade’s cheeks, his chest tightening. He opened his mouth to respond—but the words caught when Adrien’s hand brushed across the table, fingertips grazing his. The touch was fleeting, electric, and Jade’s breath hitched.
Adrien smiled faintly, as if he’d felt the spark too. “I like this. Us. Talking. Being here.”
Jade’s lips parted, his heart racing. “I… I do too.”
The café door jingled, breaking the moment. Danielle stepped inside, shaking the rain from his jacket. His eyes scanned the room—and landed on Jade and Adrien.
Jade stiffened, guilt flooding his chest for reasons he couldn’t quite name.
Danielle’s jaw clenched, but he forced a half-smile as he approached. “Funny running into you two.” His tone was casual, but the edge was unmistakable.
“Danielle,” Adrien greeted smoothly, his charm never faltering. “Care to join us?”
“Don’t mind if I do.” Danielle slid into the seat beside Jade, his presence immediate and grounding. He didn’t touch Jade, didn’t say anything overt, but the way he sat close enough for their shoulders to brush made the message clear.
Adrien, unbothered, leaned back in his chair. “We were just talking about how brilliant Jade is. His insights into history are… honestly impressive.”
“Yeah,” Danielle said, his gaze steady on Adrien. “I already know that.” He turned to Jade, softer now. “He doesn’t need anyone else to tell him what he’s worth.”
Jade blinked, caught between them. The tension was palpable, like two storms colliding.
Adrien’s smile curved, subtle but sharp. “Of course. I just enjoy reminding him.”
Silence hung, thick and charged. Jade’s pulse hammered in his ears.
For the rest of the evening, conversation was clipped, layered with unspoken barbs between Adrien and Danielle. Jade sat in the middle, his emotions torn, his loyalties fraying.
When they finally left the café, the city was hushed, rain falling in delicate threads. Adrien walked Jade to the corner, pausing under the glow of a streetlamp.
“Don’t let him scare you off,” Adrien said softly, his voice low, coaxing. “I know he means well, but… people like Danielle don’t always understand. They don’t see the world the way you and I do.”
Jade’s heart twisted. “He’s just… protective.”
Adrien’s hand reached for his, warm and certain. “I don’t want to share your attention, Jade. Not with him. Not with anyone.” His eyes bore into Jade’s, dark and magnetic. “I want you to trust me. Only me.”
Jade’s breath caught, his mind spinning. Before he could answer, Adrien leaned closer, his voice a whisper against the rain. “Think about it. You know how it feels when we’re together. Don’t let anyone take that from you.”
Adrien pressed a soft kiss to Jade’s temple before pulling away, his smile lingering as he vanished into the night.
Jade stood frozen, heart pounding, fingers trembling around the notebook pressed against his chest.
From across the street, Danielle watched, his fists clenched, his expression shadowed with worry.
He could see it happening Adrien weaving his web, pulling Jade deeper. And Danielle knew if he didn’t act soon, Jade might not find his way out.
The storm was no longer distant. It was here.
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and then Add to home screen.