"Wow, Rosie... you look breathtaking tonight,"
He stuttered.
"I haven't found a partner yet either. Would you mind accompanying me?"
Knowing him to be a kind and simple person with no hidden agendas, Rosalie accepted his offer. But as they entered the hall and the monitor stepped away to fetch some drinks, the air shifted.
Two of Ethan's lackeys emerged from the crowd, their eyes cold and calculating as they approached the lone Queen.
Ethan's lackeys cornered the unsuspecting class monitor, their voices low and menacing.
"Hey kid, show some respect to your seniors. Rosalie Violet is practically our boss Ethan's fiancée. You get what we're saying? Or do we need to make it clearer?"
Intimidated by the group's notorious reputation, the poor monitor could only stutter a quick
"I... I understand,"
before being shoved aside.
With the obstacle removed, Ethan sauntered over to Rosalie with a practiced, casual air.
"Ah, Rosalie, all by yourself? You look stunning tonight. Here, have a drink—don't worry, it's just juice,"
He said, handing her an orange juice with a smirk.
"Oh, and your friend? He said some other girl asked him to dance and told me to let you know he's occupied."
Before Rosalie could protest, the music swelled, and Ethan swept her onto the floor.
By the end of the night, when it came time to crown the Prom King and Queen, Rosalie was the natural choice for Queen. However, for the King, Ethan had used bribes and threats to ensure his own name was called, forcing a coronation that he had bought with intimidation rather than merit.
Despite feeling deeply uncomfortable throughout the ball, Rosalie maintained her composure until the very end. Claiming a sudden headache, she made a swift exit. Even as Ethan persisted, offering to drive her home, she declined firmly.
"It's fine, I've already called a car,"
She said, disappearing into the night. Outside the campus gates, Julian was already waiting.
As soon as they were safely inside the car, Rosalie reached out to cup Julian's face.
"Love... have you been waiting long? Have you eaten? Do you have duty today?"
She asked softly. Julian covered her hand with both of his, a protective warmth in his gaze.
"My little precious... I'm off duty today. I'm all yours. Just says a word, I'll do it right now. Now where to? You mentioned the equipment room before, so I came early—though I'm still a bit late."
Rosalie smiled, leaning into his touch.
"It's okay. Tomorrow is a holiday, so we have all day. Tonight, I just need to finalize the codes. Tomorrow, I'll start the first draft—a mini-model of you, Julian. Your little twin."
"Okay... As you wish, my lady,"
Julian whispered, smoothly navigating the car through the night. They picked up some late-night snacks before heading straight to the secret lab.
...
The race against the time....
Once there, Rosalie's mind went into overdrive. She was haunted by the fear that time was slipping through her fingers.
Looking back at her previous life, she noticed that events in this timeline were shifting—the butterfly effect was real, and the balance of fate was changing. She couldn't afford a single delay.
Her anxiety, however, made the process stubborn. The smooth logic she craved remained just out of reach, forcing her to postpone the physical drafting of the mini-model.
She dove back into the digital realm, meticulously refining her If-Else conditions and expanding her Variables. She mapped out every possible scenario with intricate Conditionals, ensuring that her creation wouldn't just follow orders but would understand the nuances of the world around it.
She was no longer just writing code; she was building an invisible fortress.
As Rosalie wrestled with her complex strings of code, Julian remained her silent sentinel on the nearby sofa, his eyes scanning medical texts while his heart remained tethered to her.
She was in a state of 'flow,' her mind a whirlwind of logic and desperation, driven by the singular goal of saving the man she loved.
Worried about her straining health, Julian finally intervened, preparing a light, nutritious snack to coax her away from the glowing screens.
"Rosie... my little one, please take a break,"
He murmured, gently pulling her up by her shoulders.
"If your mind burdens with stress, the errors will only multiply. Come... have some fruit and rest for a moment."
Overwhelmed and exhausted, Rosalie let out a heavy sigh and buried her face into Julian's chest, seeking solace in his steady heartbeat. Julian didn't press her for words; he simply stroked her hair with a calming rhythm.
"Everything will be alright, love. We have plenty of time. One day, the whole world will witness the greatness of your hard work,"
He encouraged, gently tilting her chin up to meet his gaze.
"Now, let me see that beautiful face of yours. Are you too tired?"
Rosalie looked into his eyes, her expression soft but resolute.
"I don't care if the world knows,"
She whispered.
"As long as the person who needs to be safe is truly protected... that is more than enough for me."
Julian gently soothed Rosalie's restless mind, leading her to the bedroom to rest. He sat beside her, tenderly brushing the stray strands of hair away from her face as he waited for her to drift into sleep. Believing she was finally submerged in dreams, he rose to leave, only for Rosalie's hand to shoot out and grasp his arm.
"Julian... don't go,"
She whispered, her voice laced with a lingering vulnerability.
He paused instantly, settling back down on the edge of the bed. He stroked her head with a calming rhythm.
"I'm not going anywhere, my love. Rest easy. Is the air conditioning too cold? Should I turn it down?"
Before he could finish, Rosalie shifted, seeking the warmth of his embrace as she curled against his chest to sleep. Julian remained perfectly still, a soft smile playing on his lips as he wrapped his arms around her small frame.
"Sleep peacefully, my sweet girl... I'm right here."
As Rosalie nestled deeper into Julian's embrace, she whispered a soft, haunting vow to herself.
"Just like we used to be, Julian... but this time, I'll make sure we are never parted again."
Her voice was barely a breath, filled with the weight of two lifetimes. Julian looked down at her, his heart swelling with tenderness, unaware of the past she carried but sensing the depth of her love.
"Of course, my little one,"
He replied, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead.
"Everything will turn out perfectly. Now, just close your eyes and let the beautiful dreams take over. Sleep tight."
With his words as her lullaby and his heartbeat as her anchor, Rosalie finally surrendered to a peaceful slumber, knowing that in this life, she held the power to change their destiny.