Elysia leaned against the cold wall outside the room, clutching her phone tightly. Her heart was a mixture of relief and determination. I'll show him I'm worthy, she thought, unaware of the sinister plans forming behind the door she had just closed.
While waiting for Zane to text her, she returned to her dome. She had thought about messaging him first before leaving the stadium but stopped herself. She didn't want to seem desperate or risk making him uncomfortable. Instead, she resolved to wait—patience was her only option.
Upon arriving at her dome, she hesitated before the door, her hand hovering over the handle. Is Celestine inside? The thought unsettled her. Facing her best friend now felt impossible. Deep down, she knew she had gone too far this time.
She wasn't supposed to hurt Celestine—not someone who had always stood by her. But when the fear of losing Zane crept in, it eclipsed everything else. Her guilt wavered under the weight of her obsession. She hated that he consumed her thoughts, yet she couldn't stop herself.
I'll fix things with her… later, she told herself, clinging to the fragile excuse. For now, her mind could only focus on one thing: Zane.
She pushed the door open and stepped into her room. Celestine wasn't there. Her gaze wandered around, noticing how clean and tidy everything was. It hadn't been like this when they left—the room had been a mess, abandoned in their rush to make it in time to see as much of the match as they could.
A pang of guilt struck her as she realised Celestine must have cleaned up while she was away. Despite everything, her best friend had taken care of things, just as she always did. The thought made her chest tighten. She's too good to me, she thought, the weight of her earlier actions pressing down on her even more heavily.
Just as she was about to call Celestine, her phone buzzed. She looked down and saw a message from Zane, instructing her to meet him at a nearby restaurant. He had shared the location with her, and the simplicity of his words made her heart race.
She was stuck in the middle. Part of her wanted to reach out to Celestine first to smooth things over before diving back into whatever Zane had in store for her. But the urgency in Zane's message pulled her in. I can talk to Celestine later, she thought, quickly typing a reply to confirm.
With a deep breath, she set her phone down and grabbed her backpack and sweater. Whatever happened, she couldn't afford to keep Zane waiting.
She chose to take a taxi instead of walking, even though the restaurant was only about a 15-minute walk away. The short distance didn't matter to her—she'd always been willing to spend money she didn't have if it meant making an impression on Zane. Her financial situation wasn't great, but in moments like this, she'd sacrifice anything, even what little she had, just to ensure Zane was happy. The thought of walking seemed too insignificant when compared to the effort she was willing to put in for him.
She arrived at the restaurant in about five minutes. Taking a small mirror from her backpack, she quickly checked her appearance. She adjusted her glasses and tidied her hair, ensuring everything was in place. She applied a generous layer of lip balm to her lips, hoping to add some colour to her pale complexion. Even though her skin wasn't as flawless as the other women she saw, she never neglected her appearance. To her, a woman should first learn to love herself; only then could she share that love with others.
With a confident step, she entered the restaurant. A waitress approached her and guided her to the table where Zane was seated.
He wore a new suit from a famous brand. Although he didn't need the suit, as his striking looks made even simple clothes appear stylish, there was no denying that he looked even more handsome when dressed in it. The suit transformed his appearance, adding a layer of maturity and sophistication. It made him seem more polished and refined, enhancing his natural charm and giving him an air of confidence that made him appear even more unattainable.
He stood from his seat and walked toward her, holding a bouquet of white roses, her favourite flower. The white roses symbolized purity, loyalty, and sincere emotions in relationships, qualities she valued deeply. As he approached, the delicate fragrance of the flowers filled the air, making the moment feel even more meaningful.
She couldn't believe what she was seeing. The man she adored stood before her, dressed in a suit. It felt like the dream she had always imagined, a moment that seemed too perfect to be real. She was caught up in the beauty of it all, her heart fluttering with excitement, unaware of anything else but the man before her.
"Is this for me?" Elysia couldn't hide her bright smile as she accepted the white roses from Zane.
"Of course. It's for you, my lady. White roses really suit you," he said, his words smooth and confident, though they were a lie. He fought to keep his composure, but the urge to turn away and hide his disgust was overwhelming. He couldn't stand being near her, and the effort to mask his irritation made him feel like he might actually be sick.
He moved behind her to pull out the chair, allowing her to sit.
"Hehe. Thank you," Elysia said, reaching out to take Zane's hand. However, Zane quickly lifted his hand to glance at his watch. Though his movement seemed casual, it was a deliberate attempt to avoid her touch. As usual, Elysia didn't notice the rejection, thinking there was nothing strange about his reaction.
Without thinking further, she said, "If I knew we would have a candlelight dinner…" Her words trailed off as she noticed Zane suddenly choke on his wine.
"Candlelight dinner?" Zane thought, his disgust barely hidden. Who would want a candlelight dinner with a stupid and ugly girl like you? If it weren't for needing to use you to get what I want, I wouldn't even want to know you, let alone have dinner with you. The thought made him feel sick, though he hid his feelings behind a calm exterior.
"Zane, are you alright?" Elysia asked, her face filled with worry. She went to check on him, but he quickly stopped her. Reluctantly, she sat back down.
"Sorry. What were you saying?" he asked, lying smoothly, his outward concern a mask for the irritation brewing beneath the surface.
"Ah, I said, if I had known we were having a candlelight dinner, I would have prepared something for you and worn something nice," Elysia said, her voice filled with self-doubt. She couldn't shake the feeling that she had somehow failed to meet his expectations.
Zane remained silent for a moment, his eyes narrowing slightly as he listened to her. He then gave a small, almost imperceptible smirk.
"You didn't need to do that," he replied coolly, his voice laced with false warmth. "You look beautiful as always."
His words were carefully chosen, masking his true feelings, but Elysia, completely unaware, smiled shyly back at him, thinking he was genuinely complimenting her.
"Waiter?" Zane called out.
"We're ready. You can bring the food now," he added, his tone firm and dismissive.
"We should eat first before we discuss what you promised me. What do you think?" Zane asked, his tone straightforward. Though it sounded like a question, it was more of an order.
"Yes, I agree. I have no problem with that," Elysia responded, unaware of the subtle shift in power as she eagerly accepted his suggestion.
They ate their food in silence, the atmosphere thick with unspoken thoughts. Elysia couldn't help but sneak glances at Zane, carefully watching his every movement. She noticed how he picked a few vegetables before reaching for his wine, drinking it effortlessly. It was clear that he had a high tolerance for alcohol, a detail she mentally noted as she tried to understand him better.
Feeling her gaze on him, Zane became aware that he was being secretly watched. A flicker of irritation passed through him, and he decided it was time to shift the focus. He needed to stop this pointless observation and get straight to why he had invited her for dinner.
He set his wine glass down and took a napkin to wipe his mouth.
"So, can we discuss it now?" he commanded, his tone cutting through the silence.
Sensing the sudden shift in the atmosphere, Elysia paused, setting down her fork and spoon. The tension between them was palpable.
"Yes, I'm ready," Elysia said, a hint of regret in her voice. She wished they could just have a normal dinner, but she knew the reason for their meeting was to discuss what she had promised him—doing whatever it took to make him happy.
"Do you know Lilith Sinclair?" Zane asked without hesitation.
Of course, Elysia knew who she was. Everyone talked about her. Lilith was seen as the perfect dream girl, and there were rumours that Zane admired her. Students often said the two were made for each other.
At first, Elysia didn't want to believe it. But hearing him ask about her personally made her heart sink.
"Yes, of course, I know her. Who doesn't recognize the most perfect girl in our university, right?" Elysia said, her words laced with bitterness.
"Yeah. She is. That's why I'm trying to pursue her," Zane said, locking eyes with Elysia.
Elysia felt her heart break with his words. Hearing him confess his feelings for Lilith was more than she could bear. She fought to hold back the tears threatening to spill, torn between her feelings for him and the crushing reality of his feelings for someone else. She had always hoped for a chance with him, but now that hope felt shattered. She was embarrassed to show her vulnerability, especially before him, and didn't want to appear weak or insignificant. Despite the pain, she tried to keep her composure, clinging to the small piece of pride she had left.
"Oh. Why are you telling me this? If you like her, you should confess your feelings to her, right?" Elysia said, trying to sound casual, though it was hard even to speak the words.
"I know. The problem is she doesn't like me." When Elysia heard this, a small spark of hope flickered inside her. Perhaps there was still a chance, however faint, that things might not be as hopeless as they seemed.
"That's why I need your help. I want you to get close to Lilith and praise me in front of her so she would like me," he suggested, watching Elysia's face closely to gauge her reaction and thoughts.
Seeing Elysia remain silent, he added, "I know you're in love with me."
Elysia was taken aback, shocked by his words. She hadn't expected him to say that, and the sudden realisation left her speechless.
"I know you're so obsessed with me. Who wouldn't be? With my face and background, I can't blame all the girls attracted to me. And as for you, it was so easy for me to figure out," he said proudly, oblivious to Elysia's growing discomfort. She was dying of embarrassment, her feelings for him exposed in the most humiliating way.
Elysia couldn't bring herself to look directly into his eyes. Her gaze dropped, and she nervously fiddled with the napkin in her lap, trying to steady her racing heart. Each beat felt louder in her chest as the embarrassment and anxiety washed over her.
"So, as you promised, I want you to do exactly as I said. Stay close to Lilith and befriend her. Make sure she starts noticing me," he said firmly, his tone sharp and unyielding. "I'll give you a month to complete this mission. After that, I plan to ask her to be my girlfriend before we graduate."
Zane's eyes bore into Elysia, his intense gaze pressing her for an answer. The weight of his expectations hung heavy in the air, making her feel even smaller under his scrutiny.
Elysia swallowed hard, trying to muster her courage as she looked up at him. "What if I don't want to?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly but steady enough to challenge his command.
"You dare?" Zane shot back, his tone cold and sharp as he stood abruptly. He leaned closer, his hand reaching out to grip Elysia's jaw firmly, forcing her to meet his piercing gaze. "Then stay away from me," he warned, his voice cold and firm, making it clear that he meant every word and wasn't willing to negotiate.
Releasing her jaw, he straightened and turned as if ready to leave without another glance. But before he could, Elysia's voice cut through the tense silence. "And what if I do help you?" she asked quickly, her tone laced with a mix of desperation and hope. "Will you at least consider my feelings?"
He turned back slowly, his eyes narrowing as he scrutinized her. The audacity of this naive girl to even suggest negotiating with him was almost laughable. A smirk played on his lips, though it didn't reach his eyes.
"If you do a good job, but Lilith still doesn't fall for me," he said with a smirk, "then maybe I'll give you a chance." His words were calculated, a manipulation to make Elysia believe there was hope, even though he never intended to follow through.
"I want your decision before midnight," he said, his voice cold. "If you don't want to help, stay away from me starting tomorrow." He gave her one last warning before buttoning up his coat and turning to leave.
But Elysia stopped him.
"There's no need to wait until midnight," she said, her voice steady. "I agree. I'll do my best to help you. I promise."
A wicked smile spread across Zane's face as he realized he had finally gotten Elysia to comply with his request.
Zane stood in front of Elysia, his grip firm on her jaw as he leaned in close to her ear. His breath was soft against her skin as he whispered, "Thank you, my good girl." He pressed a brief kiss to her cheek before pulling away. He placed some money on the table alongside the bill, then, without glancing back, he walked away and left the restaurant.
Elysia couldn't feel excited after being kissed on the cheek by Zane. She was absentmindedly seated on her chair until the waiter informed her to leave the restaurant as it would close in 5 minutes.
She stood by the side of the road, her gaze fixed on the dark, gloomy sky. The clouds hung heavy above, and no stars could be seen. The night was still damp from the rain that had just stopped falling.
"Oh God, what should I do? Am I making the right decision?" she whispered, her voice full of doubt. With the weight of her choice pressing down on her, she wondered if she could complete the mission, torn between her promise and the conflict in her heart.