It was the next day. Cameron stepped into the lecture hall, the hum of chatter and the faint scent of coffee greeting her. Sunlight filtered through tall windows, casting geometric patterns on rows of sleek desks. Posters of famous designers and vibrant artwork adorned the walls, inspiring creativity and imagination. The air buzzed with the sound of laptops opening, pens scratching, and the soft tapping of keys. A large projector displayed the syllabus in bold, colourful fonts, while students shuffled, forming clusters of conversation. The room smelled faintly of paper and ink, a mix of anticipation and caffeine. Cameron found an empty seat, notebook ready, absorbing the energy of a space alive with ideas.
The professor's voice cut through the murmur, "For this project, you'll be working in groups of four. Pick your teams wisely." Cameron glanced around, scanning faces she didn't recognize. A few students whispered among themselves, then one of them, a girl with short curls and a bright smile, leaned toward her.
"Hey, do you want to join our group? We could use another person," she asked.
Cameron didn't think much of it and nodded. "Sure, I'd like that." They smiled, welcoming her into their circle.
After class, the group gathered in the lounge, settling onto worn couches around a low table. Laptops opened, notebooks spread, and pens clicked as they began sketching out ideas.
"So, what kind of designs do you usually do?" one of the girls asked, flipping through her sketchpad.
Cameron shrugged lightly. "Mostly digital illustrations. I like experimenting with styles."
The other girl nodded. "Cool! I mostly stick to typography."
One of the guys smirked, leaning back with his arms crossed, exuding a cocky confidence. "Hey, Cameron… why do you dress like a boy anyway?" His tone wasn't curious—it dripped with mockery.
Cameron blinked, unfazed. "That's just how I roll" she said simply, returning her attention to her sketches. The lounge buzzed around them, a mix of casual conversation and clattering keyboards.
The conversation shifted toward the assignment, and the group began dividing tasks. "I can handle the mood boards," one of the girls said. "I'll do the sketches," the other added. Cameron offered, "I can work on the digital layout and presentation."
The arrogant guy leaned forward, resting his chin on his hand, his smirk barely hiding his amusement. "Digital layout, huh? Seriously… why do you dress like a guy? It's… weird," he said, poking at her again, clearly unsatisfied with her earlier answer.
Cameron's fingers tightened around her pen, irritation sparking in her chest, but she kept her composure,"Maybe you should worry less about what I'm wearing and more about how you're acting," she said coolly.
The guy's smirk faltered for a second before he scoffed. "Wow, defensive much? Guess I hit a nerve. Doesn't change the fact you're trying too hard to be something you're not."
Before Cameron could respond, one of the girls snapped, "Enough. Who cares what she wears? Can we focus on the project?"
The other guy chimed in, "Yeah, cut it out, man. You're wasting everyone's time."
Cameron exhaled quietly, a small tension easing from her shoulders. The smug guy grumbled but fell silent, and the group returned to the work at hand, the lounge filling again with the low hum of collaboration and scattered laughter
The meeting wrapped up, laptops closed, and papers stacked. As the group stood, the cocky guy shot Cameron a disgusted look, lips curling in disdain. She met it with an unbothered shrug—she'd seen people like him before.
"See you around," she said lightly, gathering her things.
Outside, the campus sun warmed her back as she walked toward the gate. Suddenly, a familiar voice called, "Cameron!" She turned to see Corey jogging up, backpack slung over one shoulder.
"Well, look who decided to show up," he teased, smirking.
"Someone's in a good mood," Cameron shot back, arching an eyebrow.
"Always," he said with a wink. "How's your little empire of sketches and screens?"
"Thriving, obviously," she replied, nudging him lightly. "Not that you'd understand."
He laughed. "Hey, careful. I might surprise you one day."
"Doubt it," she said, grinning.
They walked together, trading playful jabs, the campus around them buzzing faintly. Cameron felt the earlier tension fade, replaced with the easy rhythm of teasing conversation that made the walk feel lighter and more alive.
As they strolled through the campus, Corey's grin softened slightly. "Hey… about the other night," he started cautiously. "You weren't answering any of my calls or texts? Were you okay? What exactly happened?"
Cameron hesitated, chewing the inside of her cheek. "I… uh, I didn't really know how to explain," she said, shrugging. "I guess I just got caught up with stuff." The excuse sounded lame even to her, but she pushed on.
"I mean… I was a bit shaken up," she admitted, her voice quieter, more honest. "It was a lot to process all at once."
Corey nodded, his usual playful tone fading to something softer. "I get it," he said. "You don't have to explain everything, but… I was just worried."
Cameron gave a small, fleeting smile. "Thanks. I appreciate that."
The air between them shifted, lighter now but with a hint of tension. Corey fell silent for a moment, walking beside her, letting her words settle without pushing further, giving her the space she needed.
As they continued walking, Corey glanced at her, a curious glint in his eyes. "Do you know this Reis guy? And… what were you two talking about that night?"
Cameron shrugged lightly, exhaling softly. "I work with him," she said, keeping her tone casual. "He's the one who offered me the job as an illustrator for his book." She paused, remembering the unexpected encounter. "I was surprised to see him there. I mean… I work there too, and I'd never noticed him before."
Corey raised an eyebrow, frowning slightly. "Really? He's been a regular for a very long time."
Cameron's expression grew tense, her voice dropping lower. "When I was there as Camielle, it felt like he was seeing right through me. I don't think he knows it's me, and I'm hoping he didn't recognize me that night. The thought of him connecting the two…" she trailed off, shaking her head. "It was… unsettling. I'd rather he never does."
Corey nodded, his expression softening. "I get that. That must have been strange for you."
Later that evening, Cameron and Corey found themselves walking toward the bar, the air cool and crisp as the campus faded behind them. "I think we both need a break," Corey said, glancing at her. "How about we head to the bar tonight? Just… blow off some steam."
Cameron raised an eyebrow but smiled faintly. "You mean watch Katie working her ass off and forget about classes… or random drama?"
"Exactly," Corey replied, a small grin tugging at his lips. "No lectures, no projects. Just a normal night, at least as normal as it gets around here."
Cameron nodded, a small sense of relief washing over her. "Alright. Let's do it. Might as well unwind a little before the week drags us under."
The two of them fell into an easy stride, the evening stretching ahead like a promise of distraction and laughter. Cameron felt the tension from the day begin to fade, replaced with a quiet anticipation for a night where she could just be herself—even if only for a little while.
They pushed open the bar's heavy door, and the familiar warmth and dim glow of neon lights washed over them. The low hum of chatter and clinking glasses filled the air as they made their way through the crowd toward the counter.
Cameron's eyes flicked toward the lounge area, and her breath caught. There, sitting casually on a plush leather sofa, was Reis? A woman leaned in close, her hand brushing his arm in a deliberately flirty manner, her laugh soft and teasing. Reis didn't pull away; he leaned in slightly, a faint smile tugging at his lips, clearly going along with her advances.
"Oh, he's here again?" Corey muttered, noticing him too.
Cameron turned her head sharply. "Again? How come I've never seen him here before?" she asked, still confused.
Corey shrugged, his voice carrying a note of warning. "He's been coming here a long time. That's just how he is—with women. Flirty, shallow, always chasing attention. Trust me, you don't want to take a guy like that too seriously."
Cameron's jaw tensed as she followed Corey's glance. She'd worked enough nights here to know the regulars, yet she had somehow never noticed Reis until recently. Seeing him now—so easily drawn into someone else's orbit—left her unsettled, unease twisting inside her.
Cameron sat at the counter, her drink untouched, eyes drifting back to the lounge. Reis laughed at something the woman whispered, leaning closer. A knot formed in her chest. How could someone writing an entire book to honour his wife act like this? When he'd spoken of Emilia, his voice had carried devotion so deep it seemed unshakable—like she was the only woman he'd ever loved, the kind of love that would never falter. Yet here he was, letting another woman's touch linger as if fidelity had never been part of his story.