Chapter Twenty One: A Cozy Room

Cara’s instincts flared as Vince offered her a place to rest in a private room. Her mind immediately began to draw comparisons to the time they had spent together in the secluded corners of the school theater. There had been something unsettling about that experience—the way the atmosphere felt charged, as though something was always just on the edge of happening. The tension had lingered long after their encounter, and now, as she stood in front of Vince again, the same uneasy sensation began to bubble to the surface. She couldn’t help but notice that, just like in her dream, Vince seemed to embody the mysterious figure that had been haunting her thoughts lately. The figure in her dream had been elusive, a shadowy presence, but in this moment, Vince felt too familiar, and her instincts told her to be cautious.

Her mind raced as she evaluated the situation. “I’m fine. Don’t worry about it,” she quickly responded, trying to downplay her discomfort and ignore the rising thoughts from her subconscious. She didn’t want to seem paranoid, but the warning bells inside her head wouldn’t quiet down. She had to stay in control, even if something felt off about the whole situation.

"If you ever need to rest in the library, you can hide in that room where no one will disturb you," he persisted, his smile dazzling her once again. She could feel herself waver under the power of his gaze, unsure whether to give in or resist.

"Even you?" she thought, her mind questioning her sudden shift in stance.

"Where is it?" she asked aloud, her curiosity finally outweighing her hesitance.

"Follow me, and no more questions. Only the librarian and I know about this place. It’s a secret between us, okay?" He flashed her another entrancing smile, his gaze locking with hers as he led the way.

She reluctantly followed, almost as if she were a puppet on a string, trailing behind him through the winding halls of the library. The vastness of the place made it seem plausible that there could be a hidden room tucked away somewhere, and now, her curiosity was piqued.

They reached the far end of the library, where there was no visible sign of a hidden room.

“There’s no room here. How am I supposed to rest?” she joked, teasing him as she glanced around, but he didn’t respond to her playful remark. Instead, he remained focused on his task, scanning the area for something she couldn’t quite see.

She observed him closely, his features tense, his brow furrowed in concentration. He looked so serious, so different from the playful tone he usually carried. She tried not to stare, turning her gaze to the pile of books in the corner that caught her attention.

After a moment, she heard a faint creak as he pushed aside a stack of books, revealing a hidden door.

“This is incredible,” she whispered to herself, her voice filled with awe as she stepped into the room behind him. The space was cozy, almost intimate, and there was something about it that made her feel at home.

Books lined the walls, and the dark black and carnation pink color scheme added to the sense that this was a space for someone with a distinct personality—a girl’s room, perhaps. The lighting was simple yet stylish, highlighting the modern ceiling design in a way that gave the room a unique, comfortable charm.

"Who owns this room? I mean, who sleeps here?" she asked, after taking a moment to admire the surroundings.

“You can sleep here anytime you want,” he answered, brushing off her direct question. “The librarian’s the only one who knows about this room, and she entrusted me with the key. I’ll give you a spare, too.”

She frowned, still not satisfied with the answer. “That’s not what I asked. Who’s the owner of this room?”

“The director’s daughter,” he finally admitted. “She’s abroad right now, so the librarian takes care of it. As a part-time student here, I’m the one with the master key, and I’m responsible for keeping it clean and maintained.”

“Oh, I see. What if the librarian catches me sleeping here? How will you explain it?” Her mind wandered to all the possible consequences. She couldn’t help but wonder how it would look if anyone found her here.

“You’re my girlfriend. She won’t mind as long as we pretend we’re together. No one will know because we’re the only ones with the key,” he said, his voice smooth as he added a teasing grin.

Her thoughts froze. What? Pretend?

“No way!” she thought, her mind screaming in protest.

“We’ll pretend for now, but what if it affects our dignity as students?” she blurted out, suddenly feeling self-conscious about the idea. She hated the idea of becoming the subject of rumors.

“If you don’t want to pretend, then we could make it real,” he said, with a playful edge to his words. “Our relationship could be legitimate if you want it to be. There’s no need to worry about your dignity as a student.”

Her thoughts raced. This guy is something else. How dare he say that?

“What? In your dreams! Are you flirting with me?” She couldn’t hold back the words, surprised by her own reaction.

“What if I am?” he shot back, his tone smooth and confident.

She was left speechless, her mind going blank in the face of his boldness.

Before she could gather her thoughts, he took a step closer to her, his hand reaching toward her face in a way that made her heart race. He leaned in, as if he were going to kiss her, but at the last second, his lips moved toward her ear instead.

“What would you do if I am?” he whispered, his voice low and teasing.

Then, almost as quickly as it had started, he bounded onto the bed like a child, turning away from her as if nothing had happened, leaving her caught in the aftermath of his teasing.

“What an ass,” she thought, glaring at him with furrowed brows.

“You know, you're not funny! And I’m not the girl you think I am,” she shot back, trying to regain her composure.

“Of course you are,” he replied, smirking. “I’m thinking you’re a decent, kindhearted, well-mannered Psychology student. You don’t think so? Come, sit next to me and prove it.”

“What am I supposed to prove?” she asked, annoyed yet oddly intrigued.

“That you’re not the kind of girl I think you are,” he said, a teasing glint in his eyes. His serious expression faltered, and she could see the amusement dancing behind his façade.

She was about to walk away, but before she could take a step, he grabbed her hand with surprising strength, pulling her toward him. In an instant, she found herself closer to him than she had expected.

She closed her eyes, bracing herself, but then he did something she wasn’t prepared for.