Lena tried not to think about him.
She really did.
But it was hard when the entire campus seemed to revolve around one person.
Adrian Voss.
"Okay, seriously," Lena said, dropping her bag onto the table in the cafeteria. "Why is everyone acting like he owns the place?"
Maya leaned forward, lowering her voice.
"Because… he kind of does."
Lena blinked. "What?"
"His family funds half this university," Maya said. "Buildings, scholarships, events… everything."
Lena scoffed. "So that gives him the right to act like that?"
"No," Maya said. "But it gives him power."
Lena glanced across the room.
And there he was.
Sitting alone.
Like always.
No friends. No laughter. No distractions.
Just him… and silence.
Yet somehow, people still gravitated around him—watching, whispering, staying just far enough away.
"He looks miserable," Lena muttered.
Maya nearly choked. "You are insane."
"What?" Lena shrugged. "He does."
"Lena," Maya said slowly, "people don't say things like that about AdrianVoss and walk away fine."
Lena rolled her eyes. "He's just a person."
But even as she said it…
She didn't fully believe it.
Later that day…
Lena sat in her lecture hall, trying to focus.
Trying to forget.
Trying to act normal.
Until—
The door opened.
And the room went quiet.
Again.
Adrian walked in late, like he didn't care about rules—or anyone in them.
The professor didn't even question it.
Didn't say a word.
Lena frowned.
Who is this guy?
He took a seat in the back.
Far away.
Detached.
But for some reason…
Her eyes kept drifting toward him.
And once—
Just once—
His eyes met hers.
And didn't look away.
After class, Lena packed her things quickly.
She just needed air.
Space.
Distance.
But as she stepped outside—
"Lena."
Her name.
She froze.
Slowly… she turned.
Adrian.
Standing behind her.
Watching her.
Her heart started beating faster.
Why is he here?
"What?" she asked, trying to sound calm.
He stepped closer.
Too close.
"You talk too much."
Lena blinked. "Excuse me?"
"In the cafeteria," he said. "You shouldn't do that."
Her eyes narrowed. "So now you're listening to my conversations too?"
A pause.
"I notice things," he said simply.
"That's not creepy at all," she muttered.
His jaw tightened slightly.
But instead of getting angry—
He stepped even closer.
"Stay away from me."
Lena stared at him.
Confused.
Annoyed.
"…You came to tell me that?" she said.
"Yes."
She let out a small, disbelieving laugh.
"You're unbelievable."
"Take it seriously."
"Or what?" she challenged.
Silence.
Then—
His voice dropped.
Low.
Warning.
"You won't like what happens if you don't."
Her heart skipped.
Not from fear.
From something else.
Something dangerous.
"Maybe I don't scare that easily," she said.
Another pause.
Then—
That same faint smirk.
"You will."
And just like that…
He walked away again.
Leaving her with more questions than answers.
That night…
Lena couldn't sleep.
Her mind replayed everything.
His voice.His eyes.That warning.
Stay away from me.
She stared at the ceiling.
Then whispered to herself—
"…Why does it feel like he doesn't want me to?