Chapter 1
What does it feel like to have a crush?
Of course, it’s a thrilling, slightly embarrassing, and delightful feeling—even if we can’t actually interact directly.
When we pass by each other and accidentally exchange glances. BAM! My chest feels like it’s struck by electricity. A little painful, but pleasant.
However, when I see him laughing from afar with his female friends. UKH! I don’t like it, it hurts. Even though it’s probably impossible for him to even know me.
Ah, whatever, we must continue living even if the person we like doesn’t know we exist.
By the way, my name is Mine Ellwood, a second-semester Forestry student at Linzoln University. And I—
“Hey, look in front of you!”
A shout followed by a small collision was unavoidable. I winced, feeling like I had just bumped into something very big and hard. But apparently, I wasn’t the only one groaning, because the thing I bumped into now looked at me with an annoyed expression.
“You should be more careful!”
A tan-skinned guy with a large build, thick eyebrows, and a scar-like mark on his left brow. His hair was short, buzz-cut style.
“S-sorry!”
He only sighed and brushed off a bit of dirt on the spot I had bumped into. Ugh, I scratched my nape awkwardly. Yeah... honestly, I’m a clumsy person. Even though I was the one who fell, he still stood firm like nothing happened.
Luckily, the campus corridor was still very empty because it was still very early in the morning.
Ah, whatever... just go quickly before someone sees me, I panicked inwardly because I was currently too embarrassed to stand up before he left. Of course it would look weird, but I felt too ashamed to even move a finger.
“Nike, you’re too rough.”
—Deg!
That familiar voice. Soft, like raindrops at dawn. It made me reflexively lift my head, and—blush!
“Are you okay?” Lumiel—my crush since school—reached out his hand to me. “Get up, you’ll get sick if you stay on that cold floor too long.”
“O-oh,” I froze for a moment before finally taking his hand, “T-thank you!”
Lumiel smiled kindly at me and added before leaving, “Don’t forget the afternoon class, there will be group assignments, Mine.”
Oh, right. I forgot that Nike was a friend who was often around Lumiel.
“You know her?” Nike glanced sideways. “She’s weird.”
So it wasn’t strange that when I bumped into Nike earlier, Lumiel wasn’t far away.
“She’s our classmate, Nike.” From afar, Lumiel lightly punched Nike’s shoulder. “Be polite.”
Oh my god. I just held hands with Lumiel! My mind was full from the sudden interaction. For five whole minutes, I walked toward the library with my head down, thoughts swirling everywhere.
Until I realized something.
“AHH!” I screamed unconsciously.
“OHH!??” And unintentionally startled the librarian who was just about to open the door, almost making her slip. “Miss Ellwood? What’s wrong, you scared me.”
There it was. My name is Mine. But people usually call me Ellwood. Moreover—HE KNOWS MY NAME!!!
I screamed loudly inside. The scream probably had no sound, but my face was in such chaos that the librarian stepped back nervously.
“You youngsters.”
“S-sorry, Ms. Hartley.” Once I regained myself, I scratched my nape. “May I come in now?”
The middle-aged woman nodded. “Of course, come in. You’re the only one who always arrives early even though your class starts much later.”
“Uh, yeah... thank you.”
“Enjoy your day.”
Of course I wanted to enjoy my day. Even when it was time to go home. But what is this?
I covered my mouth because I nearly screamed loudly, tasting a metallic tang on my tongue. Crap, I unknowingly had a nosebleed from spying on Lumiel too seriously.
But what is that? Why is he doing that here—arghh! WHAT IS THAT!!??
My face turned pale, unable to believe what I was seeing now.
W-wings???
