Chapter 13 – What Are You Doing, Astria?

(Astria's POV)

I told myself I wasn't going to look.

That I didn't care.

But my eyes kept drifting back to them—Morana and that girl.

Still laughing.

Still too close.

Still looking like they had nothing better to do than make my stomach twist into knots.

It was annoying.

And stupid.

Because why the hell did I care?

I took a sip of my coffee, gripping the cup way too tightly.

I should leave. Go back to my dorm, forget this ever happened, and move on.

That would be the rational thing to do.

So naturally, I did the complete opposite.

Before I could stop myself, I was already moving.

Straight toward them.

A Not-So-Casual Interruption

I didn't even have a plan.

I just walked right up to their table, stopping in front of Morana like I had every right to be there.

She looked up, brow raising. "Well, well. To what do I owe this pleasure?"

The other girl glanced at me, curious but unimpressed. I hated her already.

I crossed my arms. "I need to talk to you."

Morana leaned back in her chair, smirking. "Oh? I thought 'nothing happened.'"

My jaw clenched. Not the point.

"It's important," I said, ignoring her teasing tone.

Morana studied me for a moment.

Then, to my absolute rage, she turned to the girl and said, "You mind giving us a sec?"

The girl sighed but got up, tossing me an unimpressed look before walking off.

I barely held back an eye roll.

Morana turned back to me, still annoyingly amused.

"So," she drawled, "what's so important that you had to—"

"Who is she?"

The words left my mouth before I could stop them.

Morana blinked. Then, slowly, a grin spread across her face.

"Oh?" she said, voice dripping with mockery. "Are you… jealous, Astria?"

I scoffed. "No."

She tilted her head, so obviously enjoying this. "Then why are you acting like you are?"

I had no answer.

Because I didn't know.

I didn't know why I hated the way she smiled at that girl.

I didn't know why my chest felt tight.

I didn't know why I couldn't just walk away.

Morana watched me, waiting.

But I couldn't say anything.

Because if I admitted it, then it'd be real.

So instead, I did the only thing I could.

I turned and left.

And this time, she didn't stop me.

I walked away.

I should've kept walking.

But my feet slowed as I stepped outside, the cold air doing nothing to cool the heat creeping up my neck.

What the hell was that?

Why did I go over there?

Why did I care?

Why did Morana look so smug about it?

I groaned, rubbing my temples.

This was exactly why I didn't want to get involved with her in the first place.

She was unpredictable. A walking contradiction.One second, she was being a complete jerk. The next, she was—

"Leaving so soon, princess?"

I froze.

Slowly, I turned.

Morana stood just outside the coffee shop, hands in her jacket pockets, head tilted like she was studying me.

Like she knew something I didn't.

I straightened. "I told you—it was nothing."

She hummed. "Hate to break it to you, Astria, but normal people don't storm up to someone's table for 'nothing.'"

"I didn't storm."

She grinned. "Oh, you definitely stormed."

I clenched my jaw. I was not doing this.

"I don't care who you hang out with," I said, voice firm. "It has nothing to do with me."

Morana stepped closer, her smirk never fading. "You sure about that?"

I didn't move. "Yes."

She leaned in slightly, lowering her voice just enough to make my pulse jump.

"Then why are you still here?"

My breath caught.

For a second—just a second—I almost said something I couldn't take back.

But I didn't.

Instead, I scoffed and turned away.

"Goodnight, Morana."

I walked off before she could say another word.

And this time, I kept walking.

But even as I got farther away, my heart wouldn't stop pounding.

And I knew—this wasn't over.

Not even close.