Chapter 8

That title of "Campus Most Wanted" couldn't be more well-deserved.

"Thanks, Ethan." Chloe turned down the offer with a polite smile. "I've got a new bag. It's just that this one is still usable, so I haven't bothered to replace it yet."

"You really should, though. Better to change it before you lose something important. That's just a headache waiting to happen." Ethan kept his tone light, throwing the advice out there as if it were just an afterthought.

He casually flipped open the documents on the table, shifting gears instantly. "I went through the digital copy, and something feels off about a few sections. Walk me through your rationale first? I want to make sure I'm not the one misinterpreting things."

"It's not a misinterpretation. There are genuine holes in that approach. It's going to take you and Professor Bennett hashing it out to fix it," Chloe said.

They were on the same wavelength. It took only a word for understanding to click. As they were immersed in the experimental details, the world around them faded into white noise.

In the corner, her phone screen lit up, then darkened, notifications popping up one after another, going completely ignored.

Across the room, the vibe was entirely different.

Alex asked, leaning in, "Hey Ryan, where are we heading after this?

"Haven't taken the car for a spin in ages. Up for it?

"Just got the tune-up done. Perfect time to test how she handles."

Alex chattered away, but when he got zero response, he finally jabbed Ryan with an elbow. "Hey, what are you staring at so intently?"

Ryan craned his neck, eyes glued to a spot hidden behind some greenery. He sounded unsure, but somehow also convinced. "I swear I recognize those two."

Alex straightened up, squinting in the same direction. On the other side of the foliage, a man and woman sat close together, leaning in, deep in conversation. They looked incredibly compatible.

Although he couldn't tell who they were, seeing how tense Ryan looked, Alex could tell something was up.

"No way, man. Other guys recognize girls by their perfume, but you? You spot your rival just from their back?" Alex joked.

Alex assumed Ryan was watching Ethan, but only Ryan knew his eyes were glued to the girl in the white shirt, her black canvas bag slung over the chair.

It was Chloe.

Just yesterday morning, she was curled up in his arms, looking all soft and peaceful as she slept. And now she was sitting this close to his rival.

Ryan slapped Alex's hand off his shoulder. The jealousy churned in his gut the longer he looked.

Damn, was she really crushing on Ethan, that phony?

No. Absolutely not. There was no way he was letting them get that close.

Stifled by the non-disclosure agreement, Ryan forced down the urge to rush over. Instead, he snatched up his phone and started a messaging barrage.

One text after another flew out, but Chloe's side remained stubbornly quiet.

Fine. Ignoring the phone, huh?

His patience snapped. Ryan hit dial. Unluckily for him, Chloe's phone was on silent; the screen flashed twice, and the call sank into the void.

Alex, bored out of his mind, was scrolling through his feed when his eyes suddenly lit up. He nudged Ryan. "Yo, check this out! Maya's at your family's restaurant right now. Want to go find her?

"Talk about a dropped opportunity. Could've been a candlelit dinner...

"Huh? Ryan? Where are you going? Ryan!"

Alex held up his phone, ready to show it to him, but Ryan didn't even glance at it. He made a beeline for the shielded corner.

Alex scratched his head, totally lost.

Since when did Ryan care more about his rival than Maya?

In a few long strides, Ryan was at Chloe's side. He feigned a stumble, bumping hard against her.

As their eyes met, he frantically pointed at his phone, his glare shouting, "Check your messages."

Ethan shot Ryan a glare, stood up, and said, "Ryan, don't start trouble."

Ryan made a show of rolling his eyes. He completely blanked Ethan, didn't even bother glancing at Chloe a second time, and simply spun on his heel to storm out of the restaurant.

He looked just like a needy puppy, hoping someone would come over and give him some attention.

Ethan turned his attention back to her, his tone remaining as gentle as ever. "It's getting a little too noisy here. How about we head back to the lab to continue?"

Only then did she reach for her phone. The screen was flooded with notifications from Ryan. Her fingers paused, hovering over the display. "I'm sorry, Ethan. Something's come up. Tonight..."

Knowing Ryan's volatile, argumentative nature, she had a feeling the lab session was a lost cause. "I won't be able to make it in tonight. Let's pick it up tomorrow."

Chloe had barely stepped through the exit when, just as expected, Ryan cornered her.

With arms crossed over his chest, he radiated the aura of a jealous husband catching a cheating wife in the act.

He glared at her, his brow furrowed tightly, and fired off a barrage of questions like a machine gun, "Explain yourself! What are you doing eating with him? And leaning in that close. Do you have a thing for Ethan or what?"

"Are my looks not enough for you? My body? And what about my abilities? My performance? Do those not measure up?"

Facing this aggressive onslaught, Chloe remained unfazed. Calmly, she reached out to loosen his grip where his fingers dug into her arm. "We were just discussing the experiment."

Ryan wasn't buying a word of it.

She pried one finger loose; he simply leaned in an inch closer, acting like a stubborn child who refused to yield.

Just like the countless times before, Chloe was the first to cave.

A helpless sigh escaped her lips. "I don't like him."

The fire in Ryan's eyes instantly died down, only to be replaced by suspicion. "Y-You don't like him?"

"I don't." Her answer was crisp and unequivocal.

That single, decisive affirmation cleared the storm clouds from Ryan's expression in an instant. The dark mood vanished, swept away by uncontrollable delight that made his eyes shine.

"Then swear it. Swear you'll never fall for Ethan as long as you live!" Ryan requested.

"I swear, I'll never catch feelings for Ethan," Chloe replied.

"And swear you'll never end up with him." Ryan pushed, not letting it go.

"I swear, I'll never end up with him."

Finally, Ryan was satisfied.

He trusted Chloe implicitly. If she said it, she meant it.

His familiar arrogance and confidence came rushing back. Ryan was fully revitalized, his tone lifting considerably.

Since things were going so well, why not make them even better?