Cassian's mind raced faster than his pulse. No way. No way, no way, no way.
He whispered under his breath, voice trembling, "I… I never wanted to meet this guy. And I hated him in the series too…"
The memory hit him like a punch to the gut. The smug smirk, the way he always barged into scenes uninvited, the dangerous glint in his eyes whenever he made someone flinch… it all came flooding back.
Leonel's stepbrother. The one who had always caused chaos. The one who had… tried to assault Aiden.
And now, he was staring at him.
Cassian's stomach turned. Why me? Why now? He had kept his head down, stayed out of the way, and yet somehow somehow he'd caught his attention.
Leonel let out a slow sigh, the kind that felt like it could cut steel. Then, with a controlled motion, he glanced at Aiden, his expression unreadable.
"Take him back to your dorm. It's late," Leonel said, his voice calm but carrying that unmistakable edge of authority.
Aiden nodded immediately, concern flashing across his face. He placed a steadying hand on Cassian's shoulder. "Don't worry. Let's get you back safely."
Cassian hesitated, glancing back at Leonel. His chest tightened. That smoldering gray gaze still lingered on him, and he felt as if the man could see every secret he'd buried every fear, every lie, every plan to stay invisible.
The walk back to the dorm was quiet. Aiden tried to lighten the mood, but Cassian's thoughts were a storm he couldn't escape. He replayed Leonel's expression over and over, searching for a clue. Was it recognition? Amusement? Or something… darker?
By the time they reached their room, the city lights flickered against the windows, painting the room in soft gold and shadows. Cassian leaned against the wall, finally allowing himself to breathe, but the tension didn't leave.
Aiden frowned, noticing his friend's pallor. "Hey… you okay?"
Cassian managed a shaky nod, but his mind was elsewhere. He replayed the scene outside the café one more time, each detail sharp and terrifying in his memory.
Finally, he let out a slow breath. "Yeah… I'm fine," he muttered, though even he didn't believe it entirely.
The night felt heavier now, the weight of unspoken recognition and impending danger pressing in. Cassian realized with a sinking heart… nothing was going to be simple from here.