Magnus’s words made my body tense up for a moment. Then, I smiled at him and said, “Yes.”
“Why?”
He seemed unaware of the details, so I briefly explained, “It might have something to do with Kael. Someone didn’t like me, so they fired me.”
“They can just do things so carelessly?” Magnus was visibly shocked.
“Not exactly carelessly. You know, Kael is a star player. They probably thought my involvement with him would affect him,” I said, nibbling on a chicken wing.
Even though it had been a few days since it happened, I had already come to terms with being fired. But when a close friend asked me about it, I still felt a pang of sadness.
“You’re great, Seraphina. It’s their fault for firing you over some lousy excuse,” Magnus said, his face showing clear annoyance. “I’m sorry I didn’t reach out to you sooner. I thought you weren’t happy at the Eagle Club and was worried I’d left a bad impression on you.”
“No, no, Magnus, you’re great. In my eyes, you’re the most gentlemanly guy in the world. Even if I hated everyone at the Eagle Club, I’d never have any bad feelings for you.”
Goodness, Magnus was so sensitive. He even managed to relate my situation to himself. I felt honored to have someone like him as a friend.
When Magnus heard my words, he seemed relieved.
“So, Seraphina, is there anything I can do to help? Have you found a job yet?”
I shook my head. “Not yet.”
“Let me keep an eye out for you. If something suitable comes up, I’ll let you know.”
“No need, I’ll find one myself,” I said. I didn’t want to owe anyone favors. Kael’s card was still in my backpack, and I definitely wasn’t going to spend his money. I needed to find a way to return it to him.
Magnus didn’t push further. After we finished eating, we headed back to the library to study. Having someone with me made me feel more focused. Maybe I was just influenced by his seriousness.
Magnus was incredibly studious. He kept his eyes glued to his textbook, completely absorbed in his work. He didn’t even glance at his phone. I sipped my water carefully, afraid of disturbing him.
I had planned to study until 9 p. m. and then head back to my apartment, but at 8:45, it started raining. The glass windows were quickly covered in streams of water, and it was clear the rain was heavy. I frowned. I hadn’t expected rain and hadn’t brought an umbrella. It seemed I’d have to get drenched on the way back.
Magnus noticed my concern. “Seraphina, it’s raining. How are you planning to get back?”
“It’s fine. I’ll just get a little wet,” I said. It wasn’t like I’d never been caught in the rain before.
“Maybe the rain will lighten up in a while.”
I nodded and continued reading.
By 9:30, the rain showed no signs of stopping, though it had lightened a bit. I was ready to leave, and Magnus stood up too.
“Maybe you should wait a little longer. The rain hasn’t stopped,” I told him.
“I don’t think it’s stopping tonight,” Magnus said, glancing outside with a smile. “It’s not that far, right?”
“Your apartment is actually quite far,” I pointed out.
“It’s fine. My car is parked outside. We just need to make it to the car, and we won’t get wet.”
That made sense. When we reached the library entrance and I was about to dash out, Magnus stopped me. He took off his jacket and handed one end to me. “We can use this to cover our heads. At least it’ll keep our hair dry and reduce the risk of catching a cold.”
“Wow, that’s so cool!” I said.
We each held a corner of the jacket, draped it over our heads, and ran through the rain. We were so close that our bodies brushed against each other. I was enveloped by Magnus’s fresh scent, and I could feel the warmth of his skin against mine. I could even hear his heavy breathing as we ran. The splashing water became our background music.
As we ran, I turned my head slightly and glanced at Magnus. To my surprise, he was looking at me too. Our eyes met in the rain, and my heart began to race.
“This is romantic, isn’t it?” Magnus asked with a smile.
I nodded. “Yes, very romantic.”
In that moment, I thought of the love stories I’d once imagined-a simple campus romance with an ordinary boy. We could walk, run, hug, and kiss on campus. And now, running with Magnus, I couldn’t help but think of those fantasies.
Was Magnus the kind of guy who could give me that ordinary love? But he was so handsome and talented-surely many girls liked him. Even if he wasn’t as popular as those boxers, I was certain he had his share of admirers.
Soon, we reached Magnus’s car. He opened the door for me, and I got in. He handed me tissues, and I thanked him, wiping the rainwater off my face. Thanks to Magnus’s jacket, only my cheeks were wet. My hair was dry, but my clothes were soaked. I’d have to change as soon as I got back to my apartment.
Magnus was in a hurry to drive, and I noticed he hadn’t wiped the rainwater off his face. “Can I wipe the rain off your face? Do you mind?” I asked cautiously, worried he might feel uncomfortable.
“Thank you, Seraphina,” he said with a smile.
I leaned over and carefully wiped his forehead and cheeks. To avoid blocking his view, I had to get even closer, avoiding his eyes. Just then, Magnus hit the brakes. The inertia threw me forward. Even with the seatbelt, it didn’t fully protect me. Thankfully, Magnus reached out and held my waist, preventing my head from hitting the windshield.
“Are you okay, Seraphina?”
I fell back into the passenger seat, but Magnus’s hand remained on my waist. He had unbuckled his seatbelt and leaned closer to check on me. When I turned my head, our noses brushed, and our lips were so close-almost touching.