Break time—
Nolan hurried down the corridor after hearing that Julian had ended up in the same class as Elara.
It wasn't because he was worried or anxious. Nolan was simply curious to see what the meeting between the two of them would be like after three years without seeing or even speaking to each other.
Three years ago, Julian had decided to leave without saying goodbye. He had suddenly vanished just like that, as though the earth had swallowed him whole. Elara, who had come to regard Julian as a sibling and, after Nolan, the person she trusted most, was naturally furious.
To make matters worse, Julian hadn't contacted her at all. Elara had been looking forward to hearing from him. It wasn't until after two years of disappearing that Julian contacted Nolan. He only said that he was fine and that Elara didn't need to worry.
But by then, it was already too late for Julian. Elara no longer cared whether he was alive or dead. To her, there was no difference anymore.
Nolan finally reached Elara's classroom, but there was no one there.
Elara wasn't in class. That wasn't a good sign. His cousin almost never left the classroom except to use the bathroom or when school let out. She even deliberately brought lunch every day so she wouldn't have to leave the classroom when she got hungry.
If Elara wasn't in class, there was only one place at school she was likely to go.
The rooftop.
A cool wind blew softly beneath a sky that looked exceptionally clear today. At the edge of the rooftop, Elara sat swinging both legs through the air. As though being in a five-story building posed no problem for her.
Her expression remained blank as usual. However, her eyes couldn't hide that something was weighing on her mind.
What else could it be but Julian?
Why had he come back?
Why had he chosen this school?
Why did he have to show up again when Elara didn't even want to know him anymore?
Elara didn't know why Julian had disappeared for three years. She also didn't know why the man had suddenly reappeared like this.
All of it irritated Elara.
Very much.
Elara's reverie was shattered when she heard footsteps drawing closer. She let out a rough breath.
“Looks like I'll have to find a new place to escape to.”
Elara assumed the person approaching was Nolan. She was sure of it because Nolan was the only one who knew about this strange habit of hers.
“Are you deliberately avoiding me?”
Elara immediately knew it wasn't Nolan. That voice was clearly different.
She instinctively turned around.
Julian was already standing there, staring at her with an unreadable look.
Elara turned her gaze back to the vast sky. She tried not to care about Julian's presence.
“Go away. I don't feel like talking to a stranger.”
“Elara—”
“I said I don't feel like talking to anyone.”
“Elara, let me explain everything,” Julian pleaded hopefully.
Elara rose from her seat. Her cold gaze fixed on Julian's stern face. Then she slowly walked toward him.
“Julian Reid Walker, I don't need you to explain anything. Just—”
“—stay away from me.”
After saying that, Elara intended to leave the rooftop. But one question from Julian stopped her in her tracks.
“Dominion. Are you sure you're going to do this?”
“None of your business,” Elara replied coldly, staring at Julian with an equally icy gaze.
“Elara, think it over one more time before you regret it.”
“Whether I regret it or not has nothing to do with you.”
“I just don't want anything to happen to you.”
Elara scoffed.
After leaving without even saying goodbye, Julian was now acting as though he cared. How ridiculous.
“I can take care of myself. Just worry about your own life, Julian.”
“Elara, I know you're disappointed. I know you're angry. But please, listen to me just this once.”
“You have no right to control my life, Julian,” Elara said firmly once again. “You have even less right after leaving just like that without saying goodbye.”
“Ra, I—”
“Why did you come back?”
That question had filled Elara's thoughts from the moment Julian first appeared before her.
And now, she had finally asked him directly.