Author's note: this is from Seraphina's point of view

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A man stood next to our desk and said something, and it seems that he was not alone, but neither Duke nor I acknowledged their presence as we stared at each other. Nothing could make us break eye contact and spoil the moment of the long-awaited reunion.

Eventually, people stopped approaching our desk and trying to engage Duke in a chit-chat.

How do I know they came for Duke and not for me, without hearing what they were saying? None of them ever cared about me so I knew that they came for Duke, yet his bewitching eyes were focused on me, like I'm the only person in the classroom. No, it was like I'm the only person in the world.

He always looked at me like that. No wonder I fell for him completely.

"You changed…", I broke the silence between us in a noisy classroom.

"You think so? I hope for the better." He ran his fingers over his sharp jawline, and I wished that those are my fingers touching him.

"Mhm…", I hummed in confirmation.

He inched closer and the scent of the pine trees mixed with the ocean intensified. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Intoxicating.

How is it possible that my dreams brought me exactly the same scent? Is that one more of my abilities?

"You are beautiful.", he murmured, and my eyes snapped open. Even his voice is the same!

"Thanks." Oh, crap! I'm blushing like a teenager, aren't I?

"Thank you for coming."

"Thank you for sending me the invitation." Why do I sound so cheesy? Say something smart, Serina!

His eyebrows twitched and I could see that he wanted to say something, but he pressed his delicious lips into a line and nodded.

Mr. Morris, our old homeroom teacher, entered, and the classroom turned silent while everyone looked toward the man who aged about two decades in seven years since I saw him the last time. Life was not kind to him.

I looked at the man for no more than one second when my eyes drifted back to Duke and met his gaze full of longing directed at me.

Breathe, Serina!

Mr. Morris gave a small speech which I didn't hear because my ears were buzzing as I drank Duke's perfect features. I never saw a man more attractive in my life.

I thought that Duke was handsome in high school, but he matured into an impeccable balance of masculinity and handsomeness with a pinch of mesmerizing cuteness.

Mr. Morris started calling out names one by one and asking everyone to say a few things about themselves.

I couldn't care less about their measly achievements. They all spoke like it was a competition of who has more.

My attention was completely on the impossibly handsome man who was sitting next to me and looking my way with a small smile lingering on his face.

I was trying to control the emotions that shook my insides and threatened to spill out of me.

"Sanya Bogdan…", I heard the call, but I didn't react to it. "Sanya Bogdan!"

Duke chuckled and leaned closer to me. "I think that's you."

"Oh…" I blinked myself into the present. This is the part where I share something about myself with the rest of the class.

My eyes swept over the space, and I saw many faces directed my way. None of them were friendly (Duke excluded), but I didn't give a damn.

Do they know that I can literally blow them out of this classroom? Of course, I would need to kill them all because Aldus said not to leave witnesses if I expose my abilities.

Calm down, Serina. No need to kill anyone, no matter how much they hate you. You don't want to harm Duke, do you?

I don't want him to think of me as some freak. I need to focus on answering the question so that people stop staring at me.

"Uhm… I finished college and I'm living in Italy." And that was it.

Was I supposed to stand up like everyone else before me? Ah, it's too late now.

I probably reinforced the old rumor how I found a sugar daddy and stayed in Italy with him, but I didn't care.

I balled my hands into fists and pressed them on my thighs, under the desk. Does Duke think I'm in Italy with a lover I picked up during a vacation? I thought I don't care about anyone here, but I care about his opinion. Will he think badly of me now?

My body stilled when I felt a warm palm covering my right fist a second before Duke gently took my hand into his and pulled it toward him.

What is he doing? Why is he smiling like nothing is going on?

If this was Sanya from before, I would explode into a nervous mess. The heat in my cheeks told me that I blushed, but I didn't pull my hand back.

Maybe because I grew braver over the years, or maybe because of many dreams in his embrace which got me used to his touch, my hand moved on its own and I extended my fingers, welcoming his to settle between mine.

His hand was warm and soothing, and I knew that my hand belongs with his. It always did.

His fingers laced with mine and he gave me a gentle squeeze. Did he know about my concern? Is this his way of telling me that things will be OK? He always had a way to calm my anxiety, but it was never this gentle.

Duke's thumb moved slowly over the back of my palm and my whole body tingled. How can such a simple action feel so intimate?

My hand in his felt so good and I relaxed. The only thing that would feel better would be if he holds the rest of me as well.

It never crossed my mind to take my hand back.

Without me knowing when or how, he claimed that hand as his… together with my heart.

"Drago Orsini!", Mr. Morris called.

Duke glanced at the old teacher who looked at him.

"I finished college and I'm living in London.", Duke responded without getting up.

I found it interesting that his answer matched mine.

I wondered if he stayed seated because of his rebellious nature or because he didn't want to disturb our hands that were connected under the desk.

Duke was never a troublemaker, but he wouldn't shy from breaking the rules if that meant spending time with me.

The enchantment he had over me cracked a bit when a question, which plagued me for years, broke through my haze: why did he leave?

We were so good together, and I thought that things were perfect, yet he left.

As our high school days were approaching their ending, I thought that since we will be older, maybe we could move on to the next level and start dating, but he left.

Will he leave now as well?

Stupid Serina. What did you think will happen? That you will reunite and live happily ever after?

I told myself to stop overthinking things and focus on now. The man from my dreams is right next to me, devouring me with his eyes and holding my hand. I should enjoy it while it lasts.

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