I didn't mean to see them.
That was the worst part.
I was walking down the hallway, looking for Calvin, when I noticed Xavier near the front steps. He wasn't alone. A girl stood beside him—close, familiar, laughing softly as she nudged his arm.
She was pretty.
Too pretty.
My steps slowed without me realizing it.
Xavier smiled at her.
Not the small, quiet smile he usually wore—but an easy one. Comfortable. Natural. Like it belonged there.
My chest tightened.
"Oh," I whispered, stopping just out of sight.
So that's it.
The thought came uninvited, sharp and sudden. Of course he has a girlfriend. Why wouldn't he? He was kind, calm, attentive—everything people fell for without trying.
I felt foolish for letting my feelings grow. Foolish for thinking those moments meant something more.
Calvin found me a few minutes later. "There you are—what's wrong?"
"Nothing," I said quickly. Too quickly.
He followed my gaze and raised an eyebrow. "You mean Xavier and that girl?"
My heart dropped. "They're… together?"
Calvin blinked. Then laughed. "What? No."
I stared at him. "What do you mean no?"
"That's his sister," Calvin said. "You didn't know?"
"…His sister?"
"Yeah. She transferred last week. They're close. Always have been."
Relief hit me so hard my knees almost gave out—followed immediately by embarrassment.
"Oh," I muttered. "I feel stupid."
Calvin smirked. "You feel jealous."
"I do not."
"You absolutely do."
Before I could argue, Xavier noticed us and waved. The girl beside him turned and smiled brightly, walking over.
"You must be Hinata," she said. "I've heard a lot about you. I'm Mira—Xavier's sister."
I blinked, then smiled back. "Nice to meet you."
Xavier glanced at me, noticing something on my face—something softer now. "You okay?"
I nodded. "Yeah. I just… misunderstood something."
Mira laughed lightly. "That happens a lot."
As they talked, I realized how wrong I'd been. The way Xavier stood beside her wasn't romantic—it was protective. Familiar. Safe.
And as he looked back at me—really looked at me—I felt my heart settle.
The jealousy faded.
But the realization stayed.
I cared more than I'd been ready to admit.
And now that I knew the truth…
my feelings for Xavier felt clearer than ever.