Chapter 3

Yet this time was different.

I thought my previous warning had been enough to remind Xavier to draw boundaries.

Unexpectedly, on my birthday—the day he’d promised to spend entirely with me—

he hurried back to campus for Lilian.

That day, sunlight streamed softly through the window into the carefully decorated room.

Colorful balloons swayed in the breeze; the table was laden with all my favorite food.

But the person who should have been by my side was gone.

“There is a problem in Lilian’s project data. I have to go check.”

That single hurried sentence was all he left before hanging up.

When I woke, there was only his apology message:

“I’ll make it up to you next year.”

A simple line, unable to fill the emptiness in my chest.

It was the first birthday without Xavier.

The room felt desolate.

He seemed to forget that I, too, was competing in the same research contest.

I had spent nights in the lab wrestling with complex data and instruments.

One dataset had resisted me for days—each attempt ending in failure, drowning me in frustration.

My roommate Yara, also in Xavier’s team, burst in one afternoon, phone in hand, eyes alight with excitement.

She sent me a video and a screenshot.

In the video, the lab was brightly lit, everything neatly arranged.

Lilian was adding reagent drop by drop, hands trembling, eyes fixed on the tube.

Xavier stood behind her, slightly leaning forward, arms at his sides ready to assist.

His voice was low and gentle—unmistakably clear in the quiet lab.

Suddenly, smoke rose from the tube with a sharp chemical odor.

Startled, Lilian stepped back straight into Xavier’s arms, face full of fear and dependence.

“Oh! So scaring!”

Her voice held a spoiled sob.

Xavier patted her shoulder gently.

“Don’t be afraid. I’ll teach you.”

His eyes were full of patience and concern.

He took the tube and demonstrated, each motion precise and practiced.

Lilian covered her face, eyes shining with admiration—looking at him as though he were a hero.

“Xavier, you’re amazing! Nora must be so happy to have you as her Mate.”

Her expression was innocent, smile sweet.

Xavier tilted his head, gave a faint smile, and didn’t refute her—

though a trace of complexity flickered in his eyes.

The screenshot was Lilian’s Facebook post:

a selfie with Xavier in the lab, the two standing close, his hand resting lightly on her shoulder.