The moment Lynn entered the scene, it was like the room suddenly brightened. Her black dress shimmered as though she were glowing, and every eye in the room was instantly drawn to her.
She was breathtaking.
Her eyes were deep, like autumn nights, and her brows as elegant as mountain ridges. Her skin was flawless, with lips as red as fresh fruit, and teeth as white as porcelain. She rarely smiled, but when she did, it was enough to captivate anyone in her presence.
Even though the classmates had seen Lynn many times before, the sight of her now still left everyone stunned. It was like seeing her for the first time—every person there couldn't suppress their awe.
Ged was no exception. From the moment Lynn stepped into view, his eyes were glued to her. His gaze didn't leave her once, his entire focus locked onto her as though nothing else existed. He had seen many beautiful women, even met a few stars, but none compared to Lynn. She was something entirely different.
Despite his wealth and social status, Ged was still desperately trying to win Lynn's favor. He'd done everything he could over the years, but nothing had worked. It was like he was invisible to her. It was humiliating, but seeing Lynn now, he felt the old rush again, the hope that maybe—just maybe—he had a chance.
Suddenly, amidst the hushed admiration, Ethan spoke up, breaking the spell.
"Lynn, over here!"
Everyone turned in surprise. Ethan stood there, waving with a relaxed smile, clearly undeterred by the attention Lynn was getting. It was clear he was doing this intentionally.
This wasn't typical Ethan behavior. Normally, he wasn't the type to draw attention to himself. But today? Today, he was different. His appearance was sharp, confident. It was like he had undergone a complete transformation.
Ned, who had been standing next to Ethan, froze in place, wide-eyed. "Wait, what?" he muttered under his breath. "Is that really Ethan?"
Ned had been expecting a laid-back, casual Ethan—someone who'd never go out of his way to stand out. But now, standing beside a flashy Ferrari and dressed in a sharp suit, Ethan was almost unrecognizable.
Ethan had been the butt of their jokes for years. He and Ned had always been the outcasts—the "losers." But now, things were changing.
"How did this happen?" Ned whispered in disbelief. "Ethan's actually doing this? With Lynn?!"
As the other students processed what was happening, they couldn't hide their shock. The guy who used to hang around with Ned—who had no wealth, no connections, and didn't stand out in class—was now pulling up in a Ferrari, looking like he belonged at a different level.
Some of the more curious ones exchanged glances, clearly wondering if there was more to Ethan's sudden change than met the eye.
In contrast, Ged, who had been preparing to make his move on Lynn, felt his chest tighten. Watching Ethan casually call out to Lynn—so confident, so bold—felt like a slap in the face. He had always been the one who had tried so hard, but here was Ethan, in a Ferrari, doing what Ged could only dream of.
"Ethan, what the hell?" Ged thought, glaring at him. "Who does he think he is? How dare he…"
As Ethan called out to Lynn, she paused, momentarily caught off guard by the unexpected attention. She turned slowly, her gaze landing on Ethan. Her eyes flickered for a moment, and Ethan couldn't help but notice the change in her expression.
The look she gave him was almost unreadable. It wasn't surprise, nor disdain—it was something more neutral, like she was sizing him up.
Ethan felt a rush of excitement. Lynn was looking at him—really looking at him—for the first time.
After a beat, Lynn nodded slightly, then began walking in his direction, her steps deliberate. The crowd parted to make way for her as she moved through them, her presence magnetic.
The room fell silent.
Every eye was on her—on them.
"No way…" Ned muttered, his eyes nearly bulging out of his head. He watched as Lynn walked past Ged without a second glance, heading straight for Ethan. It was like a scene from a movie.
Ged stood frozen, his jaw tight, unable to believe what he was seeing.
"Is this a joke?" he whispered to himself. "This can't be real…"
But it was. Lynn walked past Ged, ignoring him completely, and approached Ethan. A ripple of disbelief ran through the crowd. Lynn, the ice queen, the unreachable one—she was walking right toward him.
Ethan, unfazed, smiled. "Hey, you made it."
"Yeah, I wouldn't miss it." Lynn replied coolly, though a glimmer of something softer was in her eyes.
The two walked side by side toward the entrance, and the crowd watched in stunned silence, unsure of what they had just witnessed. Ged stood frozen in place, unable to move, his thoughts racing as Lynn and Ethan disappeared into the hotel.
"Lynn, walking with him? That's insane..." one of the students whispered, still processing the scene.
Ned, still reeling, could only watch as Ethan and Lynn walked together into the party. "This is crazy. What just happened?" he muttered.
But Ethan wasn't bothered. If anything, he was enjoying the moment. The chance to stand beside Lynn, to be seen for who he had become, was more than enough for him.
And for the first time, Ethan felt like he truly belonged in this world.