They walked side by side through the winding path that led from The Roost to the college residencies. The world was gentler now — the kind of hush that only came late at night when even the stars seemed to whisper.
Leo's hands were stuffed back into his coat pockets. Aurora held onto Mochii's carrier carefully, trying not to bump him too much as the little bunny let out the occasional huff of complaint.
"I think he's still mad at you," she said with a teasing glance toward Leo.
Leo smirked. "He'll come around. They always do."
"You make it sound like this happens often."
"Well, not always with bunnies."
Aurora rolled her eyes, but the smile stayed.
They walked a few more steps in companionable quiet, her heart still fluttering from the earlier conversation. As they turned onto the final street toward the residency, a question tickled at the edge of her thoughts — one she hadn't had the chance to ask yet.
"You know…" she began carefully, looking ahead as though the question might sound too forward if she met his eyes, "you never really said how long you've been living in the same building as me."
Leo tilted his head thoughtfully. "Ah, that."
Aurora glanced sideways, curious now.
"I moved in at the end of last year's semester," he said casually, kicking at a stray pebble on the path. "So not too long ago. But I'd been planning it for a while, and while we are on this topic, when exactly did you move in? Wait, yeah — I didn't see you around the building before… that lift encounter. And I definitely would've noticed you around the halls…""
Her brows drew together. "I think, I moved in a month or two ago."
He smirked. "You think?"
"You know what I mean." She gave a little shrug. "I kept it low-key. Didn't stay in much during the first few days. I was still settling in."
"To be honest, I wasn't really expecting to meet anyone interested in the building." He glanced at her meaningfully, and her stomach fluttered in response.
She tried not to let the heat rise to her cheeks.
"So… which floor are you on?" she asked instead, redirecting the topic with a practiced calm.
"Fourteenth," he answered easily.
Aurora blinked. "That's… right above mine."
Leo grinned. "Is it?"
"You knew that, didn't you?"
She couldn't be sure, but his smile had a hint of secret satisfaction- like he liked knowing something about how she knew it herself.
Leo kept his hands tucked into his pockets as they walked, casually in step with her. The silence wasn't uncomfortable; it was the sort that allowed the wind to talk.
A gentle breeze played with a loose strand of Aurora's hair, and Leo watched her absently tuck it behind her ear before finally breaking the stillness.
"Hey, I didn't say anything!" he said, raising his hands in a mock surrender. "You're the one who figured it out."
"I can't believe this," she muttered, laughing. "All this time you were just there — a floor above me — and I had no idea."
"I like to keep a little mystery," he said with a wink.
They were almost home now, the streets narrowing, quieter. The lamplight dimmed the closer they got to their residency — as if the world were slowly curling up to sleep. But her heart was still wide awake.
Mochii gave a loud thump from inside the carrier bag, as if to interrupt the flirtatious energy.
Leo leaned over; voice conspiratorial. "Your guard bunny doesn't seem too thrilled about this revelation. "
"He's extremely judgmental," Aurora said, shifting the bag playfully. "But he'll have to learn to deal with it."
They reached the entrance to the residency, the quiet brick building looming comfortingly in the dark, windows glowing like sleepy fireflies.
As Leo reached to open the door of her apartment for her, he leaned slightly closer, his voice softer now.
"Well, now you know where to find me," he said, "if you ever need anything."
Aurora stepped past him with a smile, heart fluttering with more than the night breeze.
"I'll keep that in mind… upstairs neighbours."
"So… what's the plan for tomorrow?" he asked, his tone light now but his eyes much too intent, watching her face for an answer. "Are you meeting anyone? Anyone… I should know about it?" The question seemed innocent but lingered strangely in the quiet.
"Or are you one of those 'go-with-the-flow' kinds?" He somehow read in between the lines and said shyly.
Aurora was taken aback but she chuckled in order to evaporate her doubts. "Me? Go-with-the-flow?" She shook her head. "I have three alarms and a planner that gets decorated like a scrapbook. No way."
Leo laughed. "Figures."
"Classes till late afternoon," she continued, counting on her fingers, "then shifted at The Roost again." She paused, her voice slowing. "And Wednesday…"
He raised an eyebrow. "Wednesday?"
Aurora was about to reply when he nudged her playfully.
"Don't tell me you've already filled that day too? I was hoping I'd get to steal a few hours." He shot her a grin. "Maybe help you tackle that nightmare project Vance dropped on you?"
That's when it hit her.
Like a stone skipping across her memory.
Elira.
Her breath caught.
"Oh crap—!"
She froze mid-step.
Leo turned to her. "What? What happened?"
Aurora fumbled for her phone, her fingers suddenly all thumbs. She yanked it out of her coat pocket and lit up the screen, squinting at the notifications. There it was.
A soft chime of dread rang in her chest as she read the message, clear and waiting.
Sister Elira: "Wednesday works perfectly. I'll be here all day. Looking forward to seeing you again, sweet child."
Her heart dipped.
How could I forget this?
Leo noticed the change immediately—the way her shoulders tensed, the flicker of her fingers gripping the phone too tightly.
He stepped closer, his voice low. "Hey. Everything okay?"
Aurora let out a breath that sounded more like a deflated balloon. "No… I mean, yes? I don't know. I completely forgot I texted someone about meeting up this Wednesday." She ran a hand through her hair. "I told Sister Elira I'd come visit her at the orphanage, and she already replied earlier, and I didn't even check—ugh."
Leo blinked. "Sister? Orphanage?"
She nodded, eyes still scanning the message. "Yeah. It's complicated."
"I've got time," he offered gently.
Aurora looked up at him, startled by how easily the words had come out of his mouth. "You… do?"
He shrugged, as if the very idea of making time for her wasn't even a question. "Sure. We can still work on your project — we've got Tuesday evening after your shift, and if you're busy on Wednesday, I'll just drop you off."
"You'd… drop me off?" she asked, hesitantly.
"Why not?" Leo forced a smile, but there was a sharpness in his eyes. "It's good I'm going with you, you know- I'd hate for people to get the wrong idea about you. Or me.
Aurora's throat felt tight in the most inexplicable way. Like something kind and unexpected had just landed quietly in her chest and was taking root.
It wasn't just the words. It was the lack of hesitation.
The ease in his offer.
The absence of why?
She looked at him — really looked at him — and saw more than just the flirtatious grin and bad boy bravado. There was something steadier underneath. Something patient.
"I… I really appreciate that," she said quietly.
He smiled, softer now, his usual mischief tucked away for the night. "I got you. Besides," he added with a wink, "Mochii needs time to plan his next attack. I'll be on guard."
Aurora laughed, the sound brighter than the distant corridor bulbs.
Mochii shifted grumpily in the bag, clearly not amused by the continued jests at his expense.
"Good night, Mademoiselle. And you too, Mr. Bunny," He lingered for a moment at her door, gaze traveling over her as if memorizing something only he was meant to keep. Then, with a strange little smile, he walked away- his presence leaving a shadow behind, not just warmth
"Silly" Aurora let out a chuckle which was mixed with the click of the door behind her.
And somewhere between the low glowing bulbs, footsteps and unanswered messages, Wednesday which was still about to come already had begun to feel a little less daunting.
The hallway was quiet, save for the soft click of Aurora's room door as she entered, balancing her bag, her phone, and an indignant Mochii who had refused to sit still in his carrier the last few minutes of the walk.
"Alright, alright, we're home," she whispered with a smile, gently setting the carrier down and unlatching the little gold clasp. Mochii hopped out, nose twitching like he was ready to file a complaint about his extreme disapproval of Leo.
Aurora chuckled softly and sank onto the edge of her bed, slipping her shoes off, her fingers automatically going to the zipper of her hoodie. Her muscles were tired, her shift long, and her feet aching — but none of it mattered. Not really.
Because her heart was still dancing.
A soft sigh escaped her lips as she lay back, long hair spilling across the pillows, one arm draped over her eyes as her mind wandered through the evening. The way Leo leaned in when he teased her. That little smile he gave when she asked him how long he'd been her upstairs neighbour. The way he watched her — like she was something important. Something worth noticing.
She turned her head to look at Mochii, who was now sitting on his hind legs at the foot of her bed, glaring.
"Oh, don't look at me like that," she murmured.
Mochii tilted his head, clearly unimpressed.
"I know, I know," she said, flopping onto her stomach, muffling her face in her pillow. "It's too fast. I don't even know him that well. But… it just feels—" She sat up slowly, brushing her hair from her face. "—it feels like someone finally sees me."
Mochii twitched his ears.
Aurora smiled gently. "Not just sees me. Like... really knows me. Or wants to. And it's terrifying, okay? Terrifying and thrilling and all sorts of other confusing words. But I don't feel invisible around him."
Her voice softened. "I've always been the one watching from the side. The quiet one. The 'we'll call if we need you' one. But he… makes me feel like I'm not an afterthought."
A little lump caught in her throat, but she swallowed it back and sighed, hugging a pillow close to her chest.
"I know you don't trust him yet," she whispered to Mochii. "But I think he's kind. Somewhere beneath all that smug, ridiculous flirting and mysterious energy — I think he's good."
Just then, her phone vibrated violently on the nightstand.
She reached over and saw it flash: 7 Missed Calls – Rhee 😱, 3 Missed Calls – Van ☕, 15 New Messages – "The Pact💅☕🐇"
Her eyes widened.
"Oh no."
She unlocked it to a bombardment of chaotic texts:
Rhee: HELLO, WHERE R U HOW WAS HE 😭😭😭
Van: We need tea. Right now. Hot, steamy, straight-from-the-pot tea.
Rhee: If you DIED, I would resurrect you just to ask if he SMELLED GOOD 😤
Van: This is worse than waiting for exam results.
Rhee: Tell me you kissed him. No. Don't. Wait. TELL ME. 😩
Van: I'm lighting my gossip candle.pro
Aurora covered her mouth, laughing into her palm, cheeks warming.
"I might've… mentioned the not-so-coincidental hangout during lunch," she murmured to Mochii.
He gave a thump of disapproval.
She rolled onto her back, typing quickly with thumbs that could barely keep up with the incoming storm of best-friend energy.
Okay, okay! I'm alive and I have NEWS.
Also yes, he smells stupidly good.
And no we didn't kiss! But he called me interesting and Mochii tried to assassinate him.
Three dots immediately appeared from both Rhee and Van.
Her smile softened again as she set the phone down for a moment, watching the ceiling fan spin lazily. Her body was tired. Her emotions? A whole symphony. But for the first time… she wondered if she was just another chapter Leo wanted to claim- stamp his name upon, and close shut if she didn't behave the way he liked.
For a long time, she felt like she belonged in her own life. Like things were… shifting.
Unfurling.
Maybe even beginning.
And as the night cocooned around her in soft silence — save for the thudding paws of Mochii hopping off the bed dramatically — Aurora allowed herself to close her eyes and rest in the strange, beautiful newness of it all.
Tomorrow could come later. For now, she was exactly where she was meant to be.