Chapter 10 – Close Enough to Ruin Me

(Astria's POV)

I told myself I wouldn't think about her.

That after I walked into my dorm, I'd leave last night—and this morning—behind.

But here I was, twirling my phone in my hands, staring at her contact like an idiot.

Morana.

The last person I ever expected to be stuck in my head.

There was a knock at my door.

I almost jumped out of my skin.

"Astria!" Hael's voice called. "Open up!"

I exhaled sharply, shoving my phone under a pillow before opening the door.

Hael strode in like he owned the place, flopping onto my bed.

"Where were you last night?" he asked, staring at the ceiling.

I tensed. "Nowhere."

"Uh-huh. And 'nowhere' had you ignoring my texts all night?"

I opened my mouth—then closed it.

Because how was I supposed to explain Morana?

The rescue. The rain. The way she held me, just for a second.

I rubbed my arms, suddenly way too warm.

"Whatever," Hael sighed. "At least you're not dead."

I rolled my eyes, sitting next to him. "You're so dramatic."

"Says the girl with 'mystery night adventures.'" He wiggled his brows. "Unless it was… a date?"

I nearly choked. "What? No!"

His eyes narrowed. "Astria…"

"Drop it!" I threw a pillow at him.

He caught it, grinning. "Fine. For now."

But I could feel it—he wasn't letting this go.

And worse?

Neither was I.

---

Campus – The Encounter I Didn't Expect

I should've known the universe would screw with me.

Because after spending all day trying not to think about Morana…

I ran straight into her.

Literally.

I turned a corner too fast, and suddenly, I crashed into someone solid, smelling like coffee and faded rain.

Hands gripped my waist, steadying me.

I looked up.

And there she was.

Morana.

Too close.

Her hands burned through my shirt. Or maybe that was just me overheating.

"Whoa," she muttered, smirking down at me. "You always this clumsy, princess?"

I scowled. Tried to step back.

Her grip tightened.

And suddenly…

I felt it.

The second she realized it too, her smirk faltered.

Neither of us moved.

Neither of us breathed.

Because for the first time, standing this close, with my pulse pounding and her hands still on me…

I knew.

I felt it.

This wasn't hate.

This was something worse.

"Let go," I whispered, but it came out way weaker than I wanted.

Morana's eyes flickered to my lips—for just a second.

Then, slowly, she let go.

I stumbled back, heartbeat out of control.

She shoved her hands into her pockets, jaw tight. "Be more careful next time."

And then she walked away.

Leaving me standing there, breathless, completely ruined.

Chapter 10 – Close Enough to Ruin Me

(Astria's POV)

I told myself I wouldn't think about her.

That after I walked into my dorm, I'd leave last night—and this morning—behind.

But here I was, twirling my phone in my hands, staring at her contact like an idiot.

Morana.

The last person I ever expected to be stuck in my head.

There was a knock at my door.

I almost jumped out of my skin.

"Astria!" Hael's voice called. "Open up!"

I exhaled sharply, shoving my phone under a pillow before opening the door.

Hael strode in like he owned the place, flopping onto my bed.

"Where were you last night?" he asked, staring at the ceiling.

I tensed. "Nowhere."

"Uh-huh. And 'nowhere' had you ignoring my texts all night?"

I opened my mouth—then closed it.

Because how was I supposed to explain Morana?

The rescue. The rain. The way she held me, just for a second.

I rubbed my arms, suddenly way too warm.

"Whatever," Hael sighed. "At least you're not dead."

I rolled my eyes, sitting next to him. "You're so dramatic."

"Says the girl with 'mystery night adventures.'" He wiggled his brows. "Unless it was… a date?"

I nearly choked. "What? No!"

His eyes narrowed. "Astria…"

"Drop it!" I threw a pillow at him.

He caught it, grinning. "Fine. For now."

But I could feel it—he wasn't letting this go.

And worse?

Neither was I.

---

Campus – The Encounter I Didn't Expect

I should've known the universe would screw with me.

Because after spending all day trying not to think about Morana…

I ran straight into her.

Literally.

I turned a corner too fast, and suddenly, I crashed into someone solid, smelling like coffee and faded rain.

Hands gripped my waist, steadying me.

I looked up.

And there she was.

Morana.

Too close.

Her hands burned through my shirt. Or maybe that was just me overheating.

"Whoa," she muttered, smirking down at me. "You always this clumsy, princess?"

I scowled. Tried to step back.

Her grip tightened.

And suddenly…

I felt it.

The second she realized it too, her smirk faltered.

Neither of us moved.

Neither of us breathed.

Because for the first time, standing this close, with my pulse pounding and her hands still on me…

I knew.

I felt it.

This wasn't hate.

This was something worse.

"Let go," I whispered, but it came out way weaker than I wanted.

Morana's eyes flickered to my lips—for just a second.

Then, slowly, she let go.

I stumbled back, heartbeat out of control.

She shoved her hands into her pockets, jaw tight. "Be more careful next time."

And then she walked away.

Leaving me standing there, breathless, completely ruined.