The Student Innovation Pavilion was now a thriving hub of creativity and enterprise. Even after the grand opening, the energy never wavered. Students from different colleges displayed their innovations daily—pitching ideas, refining prototypes, and capturing the interest of visiting companies.
But behind every successful exhibit, the Hillwood Investment Club remained its quiet but tireless force.
Each day, after classes, the members gathered at their HQ—a modern room nestled at the back of the Pavilion. There, plans were drafted, pitches prepared, and friendships strengthened.
Selene was always the first to arrive.
Her course load this year was lighter, thanks to the credits she earned from Central City University. She had long completed the major subjects required for her final year, so the extra time gave her more room to breathe—and more time to think.
That afternoon, she was sitting alone on the couch, scrolling through a digital blueprint of a smart irrigation system submitted by a sophomore engineering student, when the door opened.
Sebastian entered.
As always, his eyes went straight to her, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
He didn’t say anything at first, just walked over and sat beside her, casually leaning back like he had done so many times since they returned from Grandbay.
It had become his spot. Beside her.
It wasn’t official, not in the way other people might define it. But it wasn’t nothing either. Other students had noticed—how he opened doors for her, carried her things, shielded her from nosy strangers at events. The way he looked at her, too—it wasn’t subtle.
Even the club members had their questions, but no one dared ask.
Selene had questions of her own, and today, she wasn’t going to let them linger any longer.
She closed the tablet and turned to him. “Just one question, Sebastian—what are we?”
He looked at her, puzzled. “What do you mean? I guess we’re humans.”
She gave him a blank stare. “No. I mean like this. You casually talk to me like we were never rivals. You care for me, stay close in public… people think we’re together.”
Sebastian tilted his head, then smiled—a rare, genuine curve of his lips that softened his usually guarded face.
Selene blinked. “See?? That’s what I mean.”
“Mean what?” he asked, smiling again.
“That,” she said, almost exasperated. “That smile—the one nobody else sees. The way you treat me, like I’m someone special, but you’ve never explained it. Even the club doesn’t get that side of you.”
He didn’t speak immediately. Then, without warning, he reached out and gently held her hand.
Selene stiffened.
“It just happened,” he said quietly. “Every time I saw you—focused, working so hard, determined to build something—I felt something shift in me. Maybe that’s why I started changing the way I treated you.”
Her gaze dropped to their hands, warm and steady.
“And everything I’ve done… everything you’ve noticed… I want to keep doing that. Legally.”
“Legally?” she echoed, eyes narrowing in confusion.
“Yeah,” he chuckled. “I mean like… without you questioning me, without boundaries. Like I’m allowed to care for you—not just quietly or from the sidelines, but openly. Every day.”
She didn’t say anything. Her heart was thudding too loudly in her ears.
He looked at her directly now, voice firm but gentle. “Be my girlfriend, Selene. This is the first time I’m asking someone that.”
“Why?” she whispered.
“Because I’ve never needed to ask before,” he admitted. “Girls usually ask me. But you… you made me experience a lot of firsts. First time getting kick in my face because of that legendary back kick of yours. First time being outmatched duting the recruitment trials, you know I always gave an very hard trials every recruitment of new club members and lastly first time feeling this… this need to protect and be near someone.”
Before Selene could form a response, the sound of approaching footsteps and loud chatter echoed down the hallway.
Sebastian sighed, then smiled again, releasing her hand with care and placing it gently back on the couch between them.
“I’ll wait for your answer,” he said softly.
The door burst open seconds later as the rest of the club spilled into the HQ, filling the space with laughter and casual chaos. Bags dropped, snacks were opened, stories were told.
Selene and Sebastian joined them, slipping back into the familiar rhythm of teamwork.
But amid the banter and energy, a silent question still hung between them—unanswered, but not forgotten.
They both knew: there were things left to settle, and feelings left to define.