The next day, Cassian and Dylan woke up simultaneously, just moments before their alarm were set to ring. Startled by the coincidence, they exchanged a glance before Cassian spoke first, shaking off his surprise.
"Good morning. You can go ahead and freshen up. I'll meditate for a bit."
Dylan, taken aback by the revelation that Cassian meditated, wondered if he was serious. Meditation? Like an old man? Nevertheless, he nodded and headed to the bathroom.
Cassian, meanwhile, put on his headphones and started a soothing meditation playlist. He settled cross-legged on the balcony, facing the rising sun. The fresh, cool breeze from their third-floor room invigorated him as he recited his affirmations.
Dylan, efficient as always, finished his wash-up quickly and called out, "You can go now."
When he received no response, he turned to see Cassian deep in meditation, headphones softly playing tranquil music. Not wanting to disturb him, Dylan began organizing his materials for the day in silence.
After about fifteen minutes, Cassian, now in a positive mood, walked back into the room. He placed his headphones on the study table and retrieved his clothes, heading into the bathroom.
As Dylan inadvertently glanced at Cassian's wardrobe, he noticed a pattern: plain, simple clothes in muted colors. Not a single bright item in sight, even the boxers in the drawer were dull. For some reason, he found this endearing but quickly dismissed the thought, focusing instead on preparing to go out for breakfast.
Cassian emerged from the shower, making Dylan feel a bit awkward.
"Want to grab breakfast together?" Dylan offered after a moment's hesitation.
To his surprise, Cassian shook his head. "I usually skip breakfast," he replied, thinking to himself that eating together would only draw unwanted attention. It wouldn't be beneficial.
Dylan, unaware of Cassian's thoughts, simply nodded and left the room alone. Cassian spent a few more minutes preparing his materials before heading out himself. He wasn't planning to eat but wanted to familiarize himself with the grounds, taking a leisurely walk to orient himself with his new surroundings.
It was only 7:30 a.m., so Cassian figured that sitting here for thirty minutes wouldn't make him late. Without hesitation, he took a seat.
However, he quickly felt a piercing gaze. Glancing up, he saw a young man with brown hair and striking cyan eyes glaring at him with unmistakable hostility. Cassian was puzzled. Did he know this person? He sifted through his memory but found no trace of the man's face. Deciding to ignore it, he looked down at his notes.
Suddenly, the man approached and stood before him. Cassian looked up, still confused, but before he could react, the man swung his fist. The punch seemed slow to Cassian, who effortlessly dodged it.
"What are you trying to do?" Cassian asked calmly, his voice void of emotion.
The man hesitated, momentarily stunned, before gritting his teeth in anger. Cassian could see the fury in his eyes but couldn't fathom the reason behind it.
"Huh, you don't know me?" the man spat out hatefully.
Cassian shook his head, genuinely baffled. He studied the man's attire—a mix of bare skin and flashy clothing, almost as if he were half-dressed.
Without warning, the man attempted to slap him, but Cassian swiftly grabbed his hat to keep it from flying off and jumped back to avoid the blow. He didn't wait for another attack and spoke firmly, "If you have a problem, just tell me. If not, don't bother me for fun. I don't like my time being wasted."
With that, Cassian walked away from the spot. The man stood there, momentarily stunned, before glaring angrily at Cassian's retreating figure, his fists clenched in frustration.
He murmured with hatred in his eyes, "Very good! He doesn't know me, the great young master of the Nolan family! I'll make you regret it, you little shit!"
Scanning the area, he realized Cassian had disappeared. Furious, the young master of the Nolan family started throwing punches in the air. "That bastard doesn't know me. Very good. I'll make him know me very well by next week," he muttered with a wicked smile.
This was Karl Nolan, the younger son of the prestigious Nolan family and former roommate of Dylan Reid. Despite his privileged background, Karl had little interest in academics, preferring to spend his time playing games. Living with Dylan had been convenient; Dylan's meticulous notes allowed Karl to pass his courses without any effort.
Everything had been fine until yesterday. When Karl returned to his dormitory, he was shocked to find another person in Dylan's place. After inquiring with the college staff, he learned that Dylan had changed rooms and was now staying with Cassian Hart.
Rage boiled within Karl. He blamed Cassian entirely, even though common sense would suggest Cassian had nothing to do with Dylan's decision. To Karl, Cassian was the main obstacle. Dylan had been a crucial support, and now Cassian had taken him away.
All Karl wanted now was to confront Cassian. His frustration was palpable. While anyone else could see that Cassian wasn't responsible for the room change, in Karl's mind, Cassian was the root of the problem. He was determined to make Cassian pay for what he perceived as a grave injustice.
Dylan, on the other hand, was eating his breakfast in peace, completely unaware of Karl's crazy idea. After finishing his meal, he placed his plate with the others at the designated spot and left for his first class.
As for Karl, Cassian didn't have the slightest worry about him. He was fine with Karl being dramatic or whatever, as long as it didn't bother him too much. Cassian calmly stepped into the classroom, which was still mostly empty. There were plenty of seats, and he chose one in the middle. He had no intention of drawing attention to himself. All he needed was a place to sit and listen to the lecture. Throughout the class, he maintained a low profile, and no one really noticed him.
On the other hand, Dylan was also trying to stay under the radar, but his classmates couldn't contain their excitement. They started bothering him with simple questions they could have easily answered themselves, all for the sake of gaining attention. He already felt drained but managed to escape their clutches and focus on the lecture, blatantly ignoring them.
Anyone if noticed could see that both Dylan and Cassian walked alone all the time. These two dark horses from different semesters were a mystery to everyone, and their presence wasn't something people could easily overlook.