Chapter 26

Happiness POV

A sharp jolt of panic shoots through me, and I freeze in Mason’s arms. My head snaps toward the source of the sound, and my worst fear materializes, a glaring Martha and Ash looking at us like we’ve committed a heinous crime.

“Happy. We've been looking for you.” Ash exclaimed, her voice low but laced with amusement. Her eyes flicker between Mason and me, lingering on my flushed face.

I quickly step away from Mason, attempting to fix my skirt and look as composed as possible. My mind races, trying to think of an excuse, but words fail me. My cheeks burn hotter than ever, and I’m sure I look as guilty as I feel.

Mason, on the other hand, seems utterly unbothered. He straightens up, tucks his hands into his pockets, and flashes them a polite smile. “We were just... catching up on some reading,” he says smoothly.

Martha raises an unimpressed brow. “With your tongue in her throat? In the African Indigenous Languages section? Hardly anyone comes here.” She narrows her eyes. “And certainly not for... that kind of catching up.”

I felt the weight of her judgment like a boulder pressing on my chest. “I-I didn't know how I got here,” I stammer, my voice barely above a whisper. “Mason came to look for me. It won’t happen again.”

Ash waved her hand dismissively, Martha is clearly debating whether to lecture us further or let it slide.

“That’s fine. We have been waiting for…” Martha started.

“Wait, what? Mason? Like The Mason?” Ash interrupted, screaming. Martha nudged her to keep quiet.

Mason raised his brows at me questioningly, and I shook my head in embarrassment. “You told them about me? Good things, I hope.” He whispered, amusement in his eyes, and I blushed.

I sighed, “Yes. He's Mason. Mason, this is Ash and Martha.” I introduced them.

Mason’s smile doesn’t waver, but his voice takes on a slightly apologetic tone. “Of course. It won’t happen again.” He glances at me, his eyes softening. “Come on, Happiness. Let’s go.”

I nod, unable to meet their gaze as Mason gently takes my hand and leads me out of the section.

“Wait, you can't just go like that. What about the project?” Martha called behind us, but we didn't wait to hear her or give a reply.

My heart pounds in my chest, partly from the humiliation and partly from the lingering thrill of what just happened. I sneaked a glance at Mason, who looks calm and composed, as if nothing out of the ordinary occurred.

Once we’re out of earshot, I exhale shakily. “That was so embarrassing,” I whisper, my face still burning.

Mason stopped walking and turned to face me, a mischievous glint in his eyes. “Embarrassing? Maybe. But was it worth it?”

I hesitate, my lips twitching upward despite myself. “You’re impossible,” I mutter, though I can’t hide the small smile that escapes me. “Do you think they know?” I whispered.

He leans closer, his voice dropping to a husky murmur. “About the kiss? Yes. You’re worth the risk, Happiness. Always.”

My breath hitched, and for a moment, I forgot the world around us. “Let’s just... get out of here before Martha comes to her senses, and decides leaving us to ourselves is a bad idea.”

Mason chuckles, his hand slipping into mine as we head toward the library exit. Despite the mortification still gnawing at me, I can’t deny the warmth spreading through my chest. As much as I want to scold him for his recklessness, a part of me relishes the way he makes me feel, so alive, desired, and completely out of my comfort zone.

And maybe, just maybe, that’s exactly what I need.

We stepped outside the library, and the cool breeze brushed against my flushed skin, a stark contrast to the warmth Mason’s touch left behind. I take a deep breath, grateful for the fresh air and the relative quiet.

“I can’t believe you did that,” I muttered, though my voice lacks the unbelievable edge I intended. My fingers twitch in his hand, but I don’t pull away.

Mason grins down at me, his dark eyes gleaming with amusement. “What can I say? You inspire me to break the rules.”

I rolled my eyes, though the faint smile tugging at my lips betrays me. “Well, next time, try not to break them in a library. And definitely not in Martha's presence.”

“Noted,” he replied, his tone teasing. “Next time, I’ll find a more suitable place to... catch up.”

I groaned, covering my face with my free hand. “You’re impossible.”

He chuckled, the sound low and warm, and I felt his grip tighten slightly. “And yet, here you are, holding my hand.”

I glanced down at our intertwined fingers, a strange mix of shyness and comfort settling over me. “Don’t read too much into it. I’m just making sure you don’t cause any more trouble.”

“Huh.” His smirk deepens, but he doesn’t push further. Instead, he leads me towa tord the courtyard, where a few students are scattered across benches and picnic tables, absorbed in their own worlds.

We walked in silence, and I found myself stealing glances at him. Mason has this effortless confidence about him, as if nothing can touch him. It’s infuriating, but also... magnetic.

He suddenly stops, turning to face me, his expression softening. “Hey, are you okay?” he asks, his voice gentler now.

I blink, caught off guard by the sudden shift. “Yeah, why wouldn’t I be?”

“You just seem... tense,” he says, studying me. “If this is too much… If I’m too much, just say the word.”

His sincerity threw me off balance. For all his playful arrogance, there’s a vulnerability in his eyes that makes my chest tighten. I shake my head, a small laugh escaping me. “You’re not too much. I just... wasn’t expecting any of this.”

“Any of what?” he asked, tilting his head slightly.

“You,” I admit quietly, my gaze dropping to the ground. “You’re different from what I thought. And it’s... overwhelming sometimes.”

He stepped closer, his voice low but steady. “Good different or bad different?”

I bit my lip, feeling the weight of his question. My heart raced, the answer teetering on the tip of my tongue. Finally, I looked up at him, meeting his gaze. “Good different,” I whisper.

His lips curve into a slow, satisfied smile, and he leans in, his forehead almost touching mine. “Good,” he murmurs. “Because I’m not going anywhere, Happiness.”

The way he said my name sends a shiver down my spine, and for a moment, I let myself believe him. Let myself believe that this could be something more.

I stepped back, putting some distance between us, though my hand remained in his. “We should head back. Ash and Martha are probably waiting. Tomorrow is the project's deadline.”

He nodded, his expression unreadable, and we started walking again. The silence between us is comfortable now, filled with unspoken words.

As we approached the campus quad, I caught a glimpse of Ash and Martha sitting on a bench, their heads close together in what looked like an animated discussion. They saw us almost immediately, Ash waving us over with a grin that made my stomach flip.

“Great,” I muttered under my breath. “Let the interrogation begin.”

Mason chuckles beside me. “Don’t worry. I’ll take the heat.”

Somehow, I know he will. And as much as his boldness unnerves me, it also makes me feel... safe. Maybe that’s the scariest part of all.

We reach them, and Ash wastes no time. “So,” she begins, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “Did you two get lost, or were you too busy... catching up?”

Martha sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. “Ash, please.”

I open my mouth to respond, but Mason beats me to it. “We were discussing linguistics,” he says smoothly, his tone completely serious. “Fascinating subject.”

Ash bursts out laughing, and even Martha cracks a reluctant smile. I, on the other hand, glare at Mason, who looks entirely too pleased with himself.

“Linguistics, huh?” Ash says, still laughing. “Is that what they’re calling it these days?”

I groaned, wishing the ground would swallow me whole. But then Mason’s hand brushes against mine, grounding me, and I realize something surprising.

For all the embarrassment and teasing, I wouldn’t trade this moment for anything.