I knew what Kael was thinking, but when I saw his pitiful expression, I couldn’t help but soften and play along with his act.
After all, he was under immense pressure. Facing a formidable opponent, could he hold onto the legend he built? Just thinking about it, I knew Kael must be feeling crushed.
Everyone was paying attention to his upcoming match with Briar. They all wanted to see if Kael would eventually be defeated.
But as Kael’s demands grew more unreasonable, I couldn’t help but call him out.
When he realized I had seen through him, his expression turned a little awkward.
“You’ve figured it out,” he said, his voice low. “But Seraphina, I don’t have any other choice. How I wish things could go back to how they used to be between us.”
“There’s no going back, Kael,” I replied with a sigh. “I think it’s best if you focus on your match instead.”
I didn’t know how to explain things to him. Every time I looked at his pitiful face, I felt a pang of guilt and an unwillingness to hurt him.
The truth was, the time I spent with him had been filled with joy. Kael had never truly hurt me, but no matter how I tried to rationalize it, there was no way for us to return to the past.
“I’ll try my best,” he said, holding my hand. “But Seraphina, can you encourage me?”
His eyes were like black holes, pulling me in. My mind became a whirl of complicated emotions.
After a long pause, I nodded. “Okay.”
The instant I agreed, Kael’s face lit up with a radiant smile. The heavy gloom that had hung over him seemed to vanish.
For some reason, seeing him so happy because of a single word from me made my heart race uncontrollably.
“Thank you, Seraphina! I knew you were the best,” he said, leaning down to kiss my forehead.
I froze, stunned, as he let go of me and left.
That guy! I anxiously looked around to make sure no one had seen us. The last thing I wanted was to reignite rumors about me and Kael.
After clearing my mind, I returned to work. Thankfully, the rest of the day passed peacefully. Kael didn’t come back to bother me, and I was able to finish everything I needed to do.
Just as I was about to leave, Evelyn sent me a message:
“Seraph, it’s Judy’s birthday today. Let’s go out and celebrate!”
“Sure!” I replied.
Since it was Judy’s birthday, I figured I should buy her a gift. Judy had a cool, edgy vibe, so I wandered through a few stores trying to find something that fit her style.
I eventually walked into a jewelry shop and found some earrings that caught my eye-skulls, crosses, and bone shapes. They seemed perfect for Judy, who had several piercings.
After picking out a few pairs, I headed to the register.
As I walked out, I bumped into Magnus.
“Seraphina, what a coincidence to meet you here,” he said, looking pleasantly surprised.
“Yeah, what a coincidence.”
He glanced at the store behind me. “What did you buy?”
“Oh, just a gift for a friend’s birthday,” I explained with a smile.
“So, you’re heading to celebrate your friend’s birthday now?”
“Yes.”
Magnus chuckled. “Mind if I join you?”
I thought about Evelyn and her initial crush on Magnus. But then again, the more, the merrier, right?
“I’ll ask them first,” I replied.
Magnus’s unexpected suggestion caught me off guard. Still, I messaged Evelyn and Judy to check, and they gave me the green light.
“Alright,” I told him. “You can join us.”
“Great,” he said, stepping into the jewelry shop to pick out a gift of his own.
Magnus’s choice was simple-books. Giving books as a gift was thoughtful and safe. But to my surprise, he handed one of the books to me.
“This is for you, Seraphina,” he said.
I glanced at the title. It was a psychology book.
“I know you’ve been feeling a bit drained lately,” Magnus said. “I thought this might help you deal with burnout.”
“Thank you,” I said, touched by his thoughtfulness.
We arrived at a nearby music bar, where bands performed live, and the food and drinks were plentiful. Evelyn and Judy were already there when we walked in.
Evelyn looked at us, smiled knowingly, and said, “Seraph, Magnus, you’re here. Looks like you two are getting along really well!”
Her gaze was filled with a teasing glint, and I couldn’t help but feel a little tense.
It was as if she thought there was something going on between Magnus and me.
I glanced at Magnus, worried he might feel uncomfortable, but he seemed completely at ease. He even smiled at me.
“Your friends are quite interesting,” he said, leaning close to my ear.
Lowering his voice, he whispered, “So, are they a couple?”
His breath tickled my ear, sending a shiver down my spine. My heartbeat quickened.
I nodded. “Yes.”
Magnus laughed. “That’s adorable.”
His laughter was infectious. The sound of it, coupled with his warm presence, made my pulse race even faster.
Get a grip, Seraphina! I scolded myself. It wasn’t like this was the first time I’d been around a man.
We sat down and gave Judy her gifts. She was thrilled.
The evening passed in a blur of laughter, food, and chatter. Evelyn and Judy were openly affectionate, feeding each other and leaning close. Their sweetness made me a little envious.
When would it be my turn for a love like that?
Lucian had been a disaster. And Kael? He made me hesitant.
All I wanted was a simple, normal relationship.
As I mused, Magnus slid a plate of macaroni and cheese in front of me.
“Your favorite,” he said with a smile. “Eat up.”
“Thank you!” I said, delighted by his thoughtfulness.
Magnus’s small gestures warmed my heart. Meanwhile, Evelyn and Judy kept exchanging knowing glances, their eyes full of mischief.
After dinner, Evelyn and Judy announced they were heading somewhere else to continue the celebration.
“Magnus, I’ll leave Seraphina in your hands. You can take her home, right?” Evelyn said with a wink.
I was caught off guard. I hadn’t planned on leaving yet.
Before I could protest, Evelyn nudged me toward Magnus.
“Don’t ruin our alone time,” she teased. “Magnus, make sure she gets home safely.”
Magnus chuckled. “Shall we, Seraphina?”
His blue eyes met mine, and I found myself nodding.
We walked slowly toward my apartment, the evening air crisp and soothing. The stroll felt peaceful, almost romantic.