Everything that happened tonight felt utterly insane to me. Magnus was unlike any boy I had ever met before. He wasn’t like Lucian, whose secrecy had caused me so much pain, nor was he like Kael, whose physical allure I couldn’t resist, even though I didn’t want to be with him. With Magnus, I felt completely at ease, unburdened by any constraints. I never imagined I could feel so relaxed around someone I had just met. It was incredible.
But as a friend, shouldn’t we maintain some distance? When he leaned in close, an uncontrollable thought flashed through my mind-was he going to kiss me? Should I pull away? But Magnus simply reached out and pressed gently on my bandage.
“It’s a bit loose. Let me get you a new one,” he said, standing up to fetch the first aid kit. He carefully replaced the bandage, and my initial tension slowly eased. Damn it, what had I been thinking? Magnus would never be like that! I wasn’t usually like this, either. Ever since breaking up with Lucian, I had felt like some kind of loose woman, constantly fantasizing about men being attracted to me. My sense of shame had all but vanished.
Yet, I couldn’t help but think that Magnus was a genuinely good man. I wondered what kind of girl he would end up with someday. Surely, many girls liked him. What kind of woman did he prefer?
“Seraphina?” Magnus’s soft voice brought me back to the present. He shook a can of Coke. “Want some?”
“Sure,” I nodded.
He took ice cubes from the fridge, dropped them into a clear glass, and poured the Coke over them. Finally, he added a sprig of mint as a garnish. Placing the glass in front of me, he gestured for me to drink.
“Thank you,” I said. “Wow, that’s so thoughtful.”
“It’s how I like to drink it,” he replied, pleased with my compliment.
The meal was incredibly satisfying. Magnus and I chatted as we ate.
“At the last party, I didn’t get a chance to really get to know you before you left. Now, I think it’s time we properly introduced ourselves,” Magnus said, placing a fried chicken wing in front of me. “I’m a junior at Mountaindusk College, studying clinical medicine. I’m also working part-time at the Eagle Club.”
“Is this… a matchmaking session?” I teased.
“I remember Evelyn, your friend, mentioned you study animal science?” Magnus ignored my jest.
“Yes. Evelyn has mentioned you too. Did you two have fun that night?”
“She’s an interesting girl,” he said, and I realized he didn’t seem particularly interested in Evelyn.
“In a way, our fields overlap,” he continued, steering the conversation back to me.
“Haha, you study humans, and I study animals. From a certain perspective, they are similar,” I replied.
Since we attended the same school and shared similar lifestyles, the conversation flowed naturally.
“By the way, since you’re new to the Eagle Club, I should warn you-don’t get too close to Kael,” Magnus suddenly said, his tone shifting.
“Why?” I asked, puzzled.
“He’s a popular figure at the club, and many girls chase after him, especially Vivienne. She’s not someone to mess with, and I’m worried she might do something to you.”
So he knew! My heart skipped a beat, and for a moment, I couldn’t breathe. It felt like my carefully hidden secret had been exposed. My earlier suspicion was correct-he seemed to understand me too well, and it was unsettling. I instinctively grew wary.
Magnus had asked me about this several times. He was gentle and attentive, but what did he really want? Would he treat me like a toy, just like Kael and Lucian had? I was already disillusioned with men, and even as a friend, I feared being hurt.
“So you’ve known all along. Did you enjoy watching me make a fool of myself?” I asked coldly, my body tensing up. I needed to protect myself.
“No, no, Seraphina, don’t worry. I won’t hurt you,” Magnus said, his bright blue eyes fixed on me, filled with gentleness. “I admit I had some suspicions, but they were just guesses. It would’ve been rude to bring it up directly if you weren’t ready to talk.”
“I guess I wasn’t being honest enough,” I said, feeling slightly more at ease. Perhaps I had misjudged Magnus. Maybe he had overheard something about Kael and Vivienne, but I didn’t know how much he knew.
“Thank you for your concern, but I’ll handle it.”
“You’re right to be cautious. It’s good to stay alert,” Magnus said, raising his glass and clinking it against mine. The sound of the glasses colliding seemed to lighten the mood.
“Actually, when I first saw you at the party, your unique aura caught my attention. You’re different from the other girls. I wanted to ask you to dance, but you seemed upset.”
“Evelyn told me you had a breakup. Your ex slept with Vivienne,” Magnus said, taking a sip of Coke, his tone relaxed.
“She told you that?” I was surprised. Why would Evelyn share so much with him?
“Sorry, Evelyn didn’t want to say anything at first. I was the one who asked.”
No wonder Evelyn had hinted that Magnus had a special interest in me. He had inquired about me.
“Seraphina, you’re a special girl. You’re stronger than anyone else. You should be more confident and brave,” Magnus encouraged me. “If Vivienne tries to hurt you, stand up to her. Or, if you need help, I’m here.”
I was speechless. At that moment, I felt a wave of emotion. He was the first boy to compliment me like this, making me feel that maybe not all boys were terrible. He was nothing like Kael or Lucian. Lucian had liked my obedience, and Kael had desired my body. But Magnus saw through to my soul, understanding who I truly was.
Yes, even if I appeared weak on the outside, deep down, I longed to be a brave girl. Magnus had uncovered that desire and seen my vulnerability. Tears welled up in my eyes, blurring my vision.
“I’m sorry, Magnus. I know I shouldn’t cry, but I can’t help it,” I said, embarrassed, smiling through my tears. I wasn’t a fragile girl, but now I was crying.
It was as if I had been shivering in the cold of winter, barely enduring the chill. But then someone handed me a cup of hot cocoa, and suddenly, the cold didn’t seem so unbearable. Magnus’s kindness made me feel all the more vulnerable.
Crying in front of someone I barely knew felt inappropriate. It must have been troubling for Magnus, such a good person, to see me like this. But I couldn’t hold back. All the emotions I had suppressed since breaking up with Lucian came pouring out. No matter how hard I tried to control myself, it was impossible. My tears flowed like a stream, unstoppable.
I curled up, hugging myself. Then, I felt someone embrace me. Magnus pulled me into his arms, and I could feel the warmth radiating from his body. He warmed me, easing the cold inside.
“Seraphina, it’s okay. Cry if you need to. Let it out. Don’t keep your emotions bottled up,” Magnus said softly, his hand gently patting my back. His voice was soothing, and I leaned into him, drawing strength from his presence.
Gradually, I felt my emotions settle. When I finally stopped crying, I noticed Magnus’s shirt was damp with my tears and snot. I felt terribly embarrassed.
“I’m sorry. I’ve ruined your shirt,” I said, sniffling as I grabbed a tissue to wipe his chest. His shirt was wrinkled from my crying.
“It’s fine. You didn’t mean to. Do you feel better now?” Magnus asked with a smile.
I nodded. Indeed, the weight in my chest had lifted. No wonder people always say it’s important to let out your emotions instead of keeping them locked inside. I felt much better now.
“A good girl like you deserves a better man,” Magnus said, taking a tissue to wipe away my tears. It was only then that I realized how close we were.