He was coming closer, and she kept stepping back. His intense gaze locked onto hers, and she found herself unable to look away. She didn’t even realize when her back hit the wall behind her. He leaned in, so close that she could feel his breath on her skin. His deep voice rumbled as he said, “It’s not good to wander around freely in someone’s house without their permission.”

Her heart raced like crazy, and she was too stunned to respond.

Suddenly, she sat upright in bed, gasping. Oh my gosh!  she squealed, burying her face in her hands. The blush on her cheeks was as bright as a cherry. She rolled over, giggling uncontrollably, her thoughts racing back to her interaction with Aalaric the day before.

“How can someone be this handsome?” she said aloud, sitting cross-legged on her bed. She clasped her hands to her chest dramatically, her face dreamy. “He’s like… a Greek god or something! And that voice—ugh, it’s illegal to be this perfect!”

But then she frowned for a second. “He’s a little too serious, though,” she said, wrinkling her nose. A moment later, she sighed dreamily. “But, honestly, it suits him. It makes him so… mysterious.” She squealed again, covering her face with her hands and then falling back onto the bed, laughing like a lovestruck teenager.

Her mind replayed the way he had looked at her, the intensity in his eyes, and she couldn’t stop smiling. “Why am I acting like this?” she groaned, hugging her pillow tightly. “He probably thinks I’m so silly. But… I don’t care! He’s perfect!”

Flahsback:

"Hello, Iris," he said, extending his hand toward her. His voice was calm, deep, and carried a certain authority.

Iris shook his hand, her heart doing somersaults. As he let go, she clasped her hands over her mouth and whispered, “I can’t believe I’m this lucky!” Her cheeks were already turning pink.

“Come inside,” he said, stepping aside to give her space to enter.

“Sure,” she replied, her voice barely steady as she walked past him.

As soon as she entered, her eyes widened in awe. “Oh my gosh, how big your house is!” she exclaimed, turning in a full circle to take in the grandeur of his mansion-like home. The high ceilings, the intricate decor, the spotless floors—it all left her speechless.

He gave a small nod, unaffected by her excitement. “Your mom called. You sit; I’ll bring the keys,” he said and walked off down a hallway.

Iris sat on a plush couch, still marveling at her surroundings. “So… you’ve already talked with your mother-in-law?” she muttered to herself, immediately covering her mouth as her own words made her blush. A small laugh bubbled out, and she pressed her lips together, trying to calm herself.

Her gaze drifted to the direction Aalaric had gone. She kept glancing that way, waiting impatiently. “What’s taking him so long? Does he live here alone in this massive house, or do his parents stay with him?” she wondered aloud.

Bored of sitting in one place, she stood up and began wandering around the room. “How beautifully everything is arranged. Everything is so clean,” she mused, running her fingers over a perfectly aligned stack of books. “Will my house ever look this clean? Ugh, probably not!” she said with a laugh, imagining the chaos her things usually were in.

As she moved further, something caught her attention. Through a slightly ajar door, she noticed the corner of a freezer peeking out. “What’s that?” she wondered, curiosity pulling her closer to the mysterious room.

She was about to step inside when Aalaric appeared out of nowhere, blocking her path.

“Ah! Aalaric, you scared me!” she exclaimed, placing a hand on her racing heart.

He stood there, silent, his expression unreadable. His serious gaze locked onto hers, making her feel small under its weight.

The silence grew heavier, and Iris felt herself shrinking. “You… you brought the keys?” she stammered, hoping to break the tension.

He didn’t respond, just started walking closer to her, his eyes never leaving hers.

Iris felt her heart begin to race again, but this time, it wasn’t admiration—it was something between fear and confusion. She instinctively stepped back. “What’s going on? Why are you getting so close?” she asked nervously, her voice barely above a whisper.

He kept moving forward, his expression as serious as ever.

“W-what are you doing?” she stammered, now backing away faster. “Aalaric, say something!”

She felt the cold wall behind her before she realized she’d run out of room to retreat. Her palms flattened against the wall, and she looked up at him, her breath hitching.

He placed his hands on the wall on either side of her, trapping her in. Her eyes darted around nervously. “What’s he going to do? Why is he this close?”

Her heart thundered in her chest as he leaned in closer. Her mind raced. Oh my God, is he going to kiss me?

Unable to handle the tension, she squeezed her eyes shut and whispered, “Oh my gosh…”

But instead of a kiss, she heard a soft clink. She opened her eyes to find him smirking as he took a set of keys off a wall hanger just above her shoulder.

The smirk faded almost as quickly as it had appeared, his face turning serious once more. He stepped back and looked at her. “It’s not good to move around freely in someone’s house without their permission,” he said flatly.

Her face burned with embarrassment. “I-I didn’t mean to… I was just…” she fumbled, words failing her.

“Keep that in mind for next time,” he added, stepping away and leaving her to catch her breath.

"I'm sorry," she mumbled softly.

He smiled slightly, trying to ease her discomfort. "Do you understand now?" he asked, his tone gentle.

"Yes," she nodded quickly, her cheeks turning pink.

Iris stood there, still leaning against the wall, her heart racing. “What just happened?” she murmured to herself, her cheeks still flushed.

"Here are your keys," he said, handing them to her.

"Thank you," she said, her voice a little higher than usual.

For a moment, she just stood there, looking at him. Finally, unable to hold it in, she blurted, "You’re even more handsome than you look on TV. It doesn’t capture your handsomeness perfectly."

He raised an eyebrow, amused by her sudden outburst, but said nothing. Instead, he simply smiled.

Realizing what she’d just said, Iris slapped her forehead lightly. "I mean—" she started, but he cut her off.

"Wanna drink something?" he asked casually, moving away from the awkward moment.

"Coffee, please," she replied quickly, eager to shift the topic.

"Alright, come," he said, leading her toward the kitchen.

She followed him, trying to keep her bubbling excitement under control. But as soon as they reached the kitchen, her mouth dropped open.

"Wow!" she exclaimed, spinning in place. "Your kitchen is… massive! And so beautiful!"

He chuckled softly at her reaction but said nothing, stepping inside to start preparing the coffee.

"You live alone in this big house?" she asked curiously, leaning against the counter.

"Any doubt?" he replied, glancing at her.

"Oh… okay," she said, biting her lip nervously.

As he worked on making the coffee, Iris couldn’t help but watch him. There was something mesmerizing about the way he moved—so calm, so confident. She rested her chin in her hands, smiling dreamily.

When he finally brought out two steaming cups of coffee, he set one in front of her. "Here you go."

"Thanks!" she said, her eyes lighting up.

Taking a sip of his coffee, he casually asked, "Your mom told me you're going to study at the same university I attend. Is that true?"

"All for you," she murmured under her breath, then froze when she realized what she’d just said.

"What?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I—I mean, yes! I'm going too… because I like…" She paused, scrambling for words. "…art!"

His lips twitched in amusement, but he didn’t call her out. "So, the same course too?"

She nodded quickly. "Hmm."

"What about your admission process? All done?" he asked, taking another sip of coffee.

"Actually, I got a scholarship, so the college handled everything. I just have to submit some documents," she explained.

"Impressive," he said, genuinely impressed.

She beamed at his praise. "Thanks!"

" I heard from my mom that you’re really good at art. I’d love to see one of your works sometime."He said

"Not as good as you think" she said modestly.

They laughed together, and the conversation flowed naturally after that, leaving Iris feeling more comfortable around him.

When it was finally time for her to leave, she stood at the door, hesitating. "Okay, bye. It was amazing meeting you," she said with a bright smile.

"Same to you," he replied.

She took a step toward the door but then turned back. "Honestly, I don’t even want to leave!" she said, her bubbly tone making him chuckle.

"You're cute," he said suddenly, his voice soft.

Her eyes widened, and her cheeks turned a deep shade of red. "Oh," she stammered, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

"Bye," she said in a flustered rush, waving at him.

As she reached the door, he called her name. "Iris."

She spun around instantly. "Yes?"

"You’re new here. Should I drop you at the university tomorrow?" he asked, his tone casual, but his words made her heart race.

"Really? You’d do that?" she asked, her voice brimming with excitement.

He nodded. "Be ready on time."

"I’ll be ready before time!" she promised, grinning from ear to ear.

"Bye," she said again, her face glowing with happiness as she stepped out.

He shook his head with a small smile, watching her leave. "Cute," he muttered under his breath.

End of flashback
---

Iris glanced at the clock, her heart racing with anticipation. "I can’t wait for tomorrow," she whispered to herself, clutching her pillow. "I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep tonight."

Her cheeks burned as she replayed their conversation in her mind, especially the moment when he had called her cute. She buried her face in her hands, kicking her legs excitedly under the blanket. "How am I supposed to sleep when tomorrow is going to be the best day ever?"

On the other side , Aalaric wasn’t faring any better. He sat in a dimly lit room, leaning against the wall, speaking aloud sitting right beside his girlfriend. His eyes gleamed with a strange light, and a crooked smile lingered on his face.

"Did you see her?" he muttered. "I can’t believe how lucky I am. Iris… her name is as beautiful as she is." His voice was low, almost reverent.

"She’s grown up now," he continued, a soft chuckle escaping his lips. "But still just as gorgeous… no, even more so. And you know what? She told me she’s my fan!" He laughed, the sound echoing eerily in the empty room. "I never thought I’d hear those words from her. She… my fan… she has no idea."

He stood abruptly, pacing the room with restless energy. "She’s going to the same university as me," he said, his voice rising in excitement. "The same course! It’s like fate is handing her to me on a silver platter. God must truly love me to give me such a gift."

Stopping suddenly, he turned his gaze downward to the frezer where a figure lay lifeless, . His expression shifted, a mix of mockery and cold indifference.

"You were right, you know," he said, crouching down to look at her face. "She is better than you. So much better. She makes me laugh, smile… things you could never do." His tone was filled with disdain as he leaned closer.

"You thought you could keep me from her, didn’t you?" he said, his voice dropping into a menacing whisper. "But look at you now."

---

Flashback:

Aalaric stood in his living room, his girlfriend grabbing his arm forcefully, spinning him around.

"Why are you acting like this?" she demanded, her voice trembling. "You can’t break up with me!"

"I can," he said coldly, shaking her grip off his arm. "And I’m doing it." He turned to leave, but her next words stopped him in his tracks.

"It’s because of that girl in the painting, isn’t it?"

He froze, his jaw tightening. Slowly, he turned back to face her.

"It is, isn’t it?" she accused, her voice growing shrill.

"You don’t even know her," she continued, her tone desperate. "Beauty fades, Aalaric! But we’ve known each other forever. We were best friends. How can you leave me for her?"

He smirked, his gaze icy. "I’ve always wanted to do this," he said. "She just gave me the courage and a valid reason to finally end things with you."

Her face twisted in anger. "That b*tch can’t take you away from me," she spat.

His eyes darkened, and he stepped closer, his voice low and dangerous. "Don’t disrespect her."

"What will you do if I don’t?" she taunted, defiance flashing in her eyes.

Without another word, he grabbed her arms, dragging her toward the front door. She struggled, clawing at him, but he didn’t loosen his grip.

As they reached the door, she yanked her arm free with such force that it slipped from his grasp. She staggered backward, her voice rising. "I won’t le—" Her words were cut off as her head struck the wall behind her.

The sickening sound of the impact echoed in the hallway. Blood trickled down her temple, pooling on the floor as she slumped down, barely breathing.

Aalaric crouched beside her, tilting his head as he studied her pale face. "It’s better this way," he murmured, standing to leave. But before he could take a step, her bloodied hand grabbed his wrist weakly.

"Please… don’t leave me," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

He knelt down again, staring into her fading eyes. "Alright," he said softly, almost mockingly. "I won’t leave you."

But as her hand fell limp, her breaths ceased, and her body grew still. He sat there for a moment, watching her lifeless form with an unreadable expression.

End of Flashback

.......

Aalaric’s crooked smile returned as he gazed at the couch. "See? I kept my promise. I didn’t leave you. You’re still here, staying with me." He let out a short, hollow laugh.

"Your death saddened me a little, I’ll admit," he said, his tone light, as though discussing something trivial. "But in a way, it’s good. No more drama. Now, I can pursue Iris all I want without you in the way."

He leaned closer to the couch, his voice dropping to a whisper. "You thought you could stop me? Look at where that got you."

Standing up, he began pacing again, his movements erratic. "Iris," he muttered, the name dripping with obsession. "Tomorrow, she’ll be with me. Tomorrow, everything begins."