Cocky Drae, to shy Drae

Drae shook his head lightly, running a hand through his hair as they strolled out of the lab building.

"I don't really see him as competition," he said calmly, referring to Hyron. "If anything, I appreciate him as a scientist. His work is solid, even if he's an ass."

Yven's mouth dropped open, and he let out a loud scoff before slapping Drae's head lightly. "You're acting all cool and mighty again, you bastard. Can't you at least pretend to be bothered for once?"

Rhydan started cackling, but Yven quickly lowered his voice, leaning in close. "Anyway… forget that icy Hylon for a sec. Bro, you might have stolen someone's heart today."

Drae's brow furrowed. "Huh?"

Yven leaned closer, almost whispering. "That girl in your group… she was looking at you like you were some damn star crystal. I swear she had sparkles in her eyes."

Rhydan burst into laughter, nodding enthusiastically. "For real! Our man Drae, finally becoming the colony's top heart-throb scientist, huh?"

Drae shot them both a dark glare and moved to slap them each on the head again ,

"Which girl?" a sharp voice cut through the hallway.

All three froze on the spot, turning their heads like synchronized machines.

Standing there with her arms folded firmly across her chest was Rhydan's girlfriend. Her brown hair fell in glossy waves just past her shoulders, her eyes a striking emerald green that seemed to glint even brighter under the corridor lights. Her figure was impossible to ignore tight waist, shapely hips, and a generous chest that her crossed arms only accentuated more.

Rhydan's playful smirk vanished in a millisecond. His whole posture transformed, shoulders dropping as he stepped forward, hands up.

"B-babe! Love, it's not what it sounds like! We were just messing around, you know… my moonbeam, my star-flower"

"Star-flower?" Yven gagged loudly, pretending to wretch as he bent forward. Drae covered his mouth, trying to hold back a laugh, but his eyes bulged in shock at just how quickly Rhydan had crumbled.

The two friends barely got their greetings in, each muttering a polite "Hey" before Rhydan started fussing around her like a frantic pet droid.

A moment later, two other girls approached from behind her.

The first girl, with warm blonde hair that curled naturally to her shoulders, had a gentle softness to her frame not overly curvy but still feminine and balanced. Her eyes, a bright ocean blue, gleamed with warmth. She wore a casual fitted jumpsuit that highlighted her natural beauty without trying too hard. She laughed easily as she reached out.

"Hey Drae, long time no see!" she said brightly.

Drae's expression softened immediately as he scratched behind his head. "Yeah… it's been a while, Mira."

Mira had been his friend since they were young childhood neighbors before her family moved deeper into Aserin. They'd grown up climbing metal scaffolds together, sneaking snacks from street vendors, and chasing each other around campus gardens. Though they ended up in different majors at the university, they still crossed paths often enough to keep the bond intact. Mira now studied biotech, one of the most competitive and innovative programs on Vorn.

Before Drae could say more, his gaze was drawn to the second girl stepping forward beside Mira.

She had a grace that seemed to slow time for a moment. Her hair, long and shimmering silver, cascaded like liquid moonlight, perfectly framing her delicate yet strong features. Her eyes glowed a deep violet, almost crystalline, hinting at depth and curiosity. Her figure was slender yet captivating, an almost ethereal elegance that made her stand out effortlessly even next to the stunning Mira.

Drae felt his chest tighten, his breath catching in his throat.

"Hi," she said softly, her voice like a quiet breeze that somehow still cut straight through him.

Drae instinctively reached out, shaking her hand. But his mind blanked completely as he found himself holding her soft hand a little longer than necessary, staring at her as if in a daze.

For a moment, he felt a pulse a strange mix of warmth and electricity shooting straight up his arm, pounding in his ears. His heart thumped so loud he was almost sure she could hear it.

The girl tilted her head slightly, a small frown flickering across her face, but she said nothing, allowing the moment to stretch awkwardly.

Only when Drae realized he was still holding her hand did he snap back, pulling away quickly, his face turning red.

Meanwhile, Yven and Mira, caught up in a lively catch-up about a shared professor, missed the entire silent exchange.

Drae swallowed hard, taking a small step back as he forced himself to breathe normally again. The girl's violet eyes lingered on him for a second longer before she shifted her focus elsewhere, politely pretending nothing had happened.