Chapter 2
As I was packing up my bag after class, getting ready to head out, a seriously good-looking guy suddenly struck up a conversation with me.
Wait, why does he look so familiar?
"Holy crap! Harrison!" I blurted out.
We'd never even spoken before, but I just called him by his full name without thinking. Maybe it was just my imagination, but in that instant, it felt like everyone around us was staring at me like I'd just committed a crime.
Seriously? Just saying his name, and everyone was staring? This was kinda intense.
But when I called out his name, Harrison looked like he was loving it, his eyes squinting with a laid-back grin.
"Got another class after this?" he asked.
"Nope, I'm done for the day..." I replied.
What was he up to?
Those charming, seductive eyes locked onto me, his gaze was bottomless—impossible to read. It made my skin crawl.
"Great, wanna grab something to eat and talk?" he said.
Harrison leaned in, closing the gap between us.
Whatever was going on in his head, I couldn't figure it out. That mysterious aura was honestly kind of scary. There was something behind that perfect smile, something he definitely didn't want anyone to know.
My gut was screaming at me not to go with him.
Seriously, I was a grown man. Why should I be scared?
"Uh, sure. Cafeteria?" I replied, a bit hesitant.
"Cafeteria works. I'll pay. After all, I invited you," Harrison said.
He was being really generous, but I didn't want to owe him a favor, so I quickly flashed a fake smile and politely refused.
"No need, let's go Dutch. I was heading to the cafeteria anyway," I said.
"Really?" Harrison said.
He looked a little bummed out.
"Hey, come to think of it, this is actually the first time we've ever talked!" I blurted out。
I deliberately raised my voice to make things less tense.
Harrison gave me a warm, gentle smile.
"Really? I don't feel that way at all. Maybe it's just because chatting with you feels so natural, Uriah," he said.
He squinted his eyes again. Those sharp eyes locked onto me, and cold sweat broke out on my back once more.
'Wait, did I ever tell him my name?' I thought.
Oh, right, my Instagram handle was literally my real name, and I followed him. So it was not surprising he knew.
I was just being paranoid again. Harrison might seem a little shady, but I couldn't just jump to conclusions about him.
I shook my head, trying to shake off those thoughts that had me spiraling into overthinking. But that uneasy feeling just wouldn't go away.
When we got to the cafeteria, the line was insanely long because we were late. Seriously, what a pain.
I was cursing under my breath when Harrison, standing next to me, suddenly pointed at the menu board.
"Hey, they've got curry today. You like that too, right?" he asked.
"Yeah," I replied.
Wait, did I ever tell him what I like to eat?
He must've caught the look on my face.
"Didn't you mention it in your Instagram post a few days ago, saying it's your favorite food?" Harrison said.
"Oh, uh... I guess I did," I replied.
I honestly couldn't remember. Maybe I just snapped a pic while out with friends, or when I was checking out some new spot.
Wait, he actually remembered something that pointless from my Instagram?
"I know a place that makes the best curry. Let's go together next time," Harrison said.
He made it sound so natural, like it was no big deal.
So it was just the two of us? Honestly, I really didn't want to go, but turning him down now would be way too awkward.
I just kept the fake smile plastered on my face.
"Yeah, sure," I said.
Harrison jumped on it like he'd been waiting for this moment.
"So, when do you wanna go? I think you're free on Friday, right?" he pressed.
"Uh... actually, I gotta work that day..." I muttered awkwardly.
Honestly, that was a total lie. I didn't even have a part-time job right now, so where would a work shift come from?
"Oh, really? Then when are you free?" Harrison asked.
"Probably not for the next few days, I've got some personal stuff going on..." I replied.
"I see. That's a shame," Harrison said.
He didn't seem to care, but for some reason, that smile made my skin crawl. I couldn't shake the feeling he already knew I was making things up.
"Sorry... Hey, Harrison, what do you like to eat?" I asked.
With nothing better to do, I pulled out my phone and saw a notification: "Harrison Wright followed you back." Felt kinda weird, but I just shrugged it off.
"Favorite food? Uh... I guess, tonkatsu curry?" Harrison said.
"Wow, that's such a cop out!" I teased.
"Haha, busted," Harrison laughed.
His answer was so obviously fake that I couldn't help but call him out, and Harrison just burst out laughing.
Turns out he was a lot more cheeky than I expected. I used to think he was just some stuck-up, aloof guy, but now I realized he was actually pretty normal.
Was it kind of rude to turn him down earlier?