"My family didn’t want me coming alone, so my brother came with me."

Talia said it lightly, almost casually, but there was a trace of helplessness beneath her calm tone. Her gaze lingered on Marcus as they walked, soft and steady, as if she were trying to memorize him all over again.

They had not seen each other for more than a year. The moment she returned to Crestwood, the first person she wanted to contact had been him. She had imagined that reunion countless times during sleepless nights, replaying conversations that never happened, rehearsing smiles she never got to show. Coming back as a teacher had not been an accident either. She had fought her family relentlessly for the chance to return, disguising her true reason behind career ambitions and practical excuses.

The truth was far simpler, and far more dangerous.

She wanted to be close to him.

But her brother could never know. Her family absolutely could not know. If they discovered how important Marcus was to her, they would shut everything down without hesitation. They would pull her away from Crestwood, remove her from his world entirely, and she would lose even the possibility of staying near him.

So she endured. Waited, and played the obedient daughter. Only today, when her brother finally left, did she dare make the call.

And now, seeing how genuinely happy Marcus had been to hear from her, all the patience and sacrifice suddenly felt worthwhile.

"Where’s your brother now?" Marcus asked, glancing around instinctively. He had met the man once before and remembered him clearly. Proud, confident, the kind of older brother who carried himself like he was evaluating everyone around him.

"He didn’t come?"

"He’s busy, he already left."

She reached over and took his hand, giving it a small tug as if the gesture came naturally.

"Come on. Let’s go to the supermarket. I still need a lot of things for the apartment, and we can decorate together."

"Alright."

Marcus matched her pace easily, falling into step beside her as though this rhythm between them had never disappeared.

"Left already? That was fast."

He muttered the thought half to himself, still slightly bothered.

"Look, Talia, I get that your brother helped you settle in," he added after a moment, "but leaving me completely in the dark this long? That’s not cool. Not even a little."

"Yeah, yeah."

Her smile bloomed instantly, warm and disarming, the kind that softened every edge of his annoyance. She nodded obediently, almost like she was surrendering.

"I hear you. Next time, Marcus, I promise I’ll call sooner."

"Seriously?" he asked, squinting at her. "There’s going to be a next time?"

He could not tell if she was teasing him or genuinely promising something more. For a moment, he simply stared, caught between suspicion and reluctant amusement.

Watching him complain, watching the familiar way he frowned when he felt left out, something inside Talia loosened. Her eyes softened, turning bright with emotion she barely managed to hide.

"Marcus."

Just saying his name grounded her. Being back here, walking beside him again, suddenly felt real.

A fragile side of her surfaced quietly. The confident, untouchable Talia that everyone admired was only half the truth. Beneath that reputation lived someone far more vulnerable than anyone imagined.

"Unbelievable," she murmured. "Did I owe you something in a past life?" 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

She leaned closer as they walked, pressing lightly against his arm, holding onto him without hesitation.

At that exact moment, Marcus turned his head forward, distracted by something ahead. He never noticed the way she looked at him then. He missed the warmth, the longing, and the faint shimmer of unshed tears in her eyes. Had he seen that expression, it might have shaken him more than he was ready to admit.

Behind them, the freshmen near the gate were in chaos.

"That’s Talia Quinn?"

They turned again to the graduate student who had identified her earlier, disbelief written all over their faces. The legendary campus queen who supposedly left countless admirers heartbroken now looked gentle, almost clingy, walking arm in arm with a guy like it was the most natural thing in the world.

"Yeah," the graduate student said with a resigned sigh. "That’s Talia Quinn."

"But that guy... he feels kind of terrifying."

"Terrifying?"

The freshmen stared at him, confused.

"That’s Marcus."

"Marcus?"

The name stirred faint recognition.

"Wait... Marcus from Crestwood?"

"Oh, right! The basketball guy!"

"My GOAT!"

Excited whispers spread instantly.

"No wonder he looks so good next to her. They actually match."

"That’s Marcus, the basketball killer!"

The nickname spread among freshmen who only knew him through highlight clips and campus rumors. By the time they craned their necks for a better look, Marcus and Talia had already disappeared into the crowd.

The graduate student gave a quiet, bitter smile before walking away. At Crestwood, Marcus carried a different reputation.

The heartbreaker.

"Marcus? Where?"

A group of freshman girls rushed out from campus buildings the moment they heard his name, spinning around excitedly, searching for him. Many of them had followed his games since high school, watching videos of his performances online. Coming to Crestwood meant one thing to them: maybe seeing the legend in person.

They were a few minutes too late.

---

What began as shopping slowly turned into wandering through familiar streets. Wandering became dinner. Dinner led to a movie, and by the time they finally reached the supermarket to buy the supplies Talia needed, the sky had already begun to darken.

It was past six when they finished.

Marcus assumed they would eat outside and then drop off her groceries, but Talia stayed close beside him the entire time, gentle and affectionate in a way that felt strangely natural.

"You worked hard today," she said softly. "Let me cook for you. Think of it as a reward. And a celebration for us finding each other again."

"Deal."

He agreed immediately. The idea of Talia cooking intrigued him more than he expected.

"Come on," she said brightly, grabbing his hand and leading the way. "I’ll show you what I can do."

When they arrived, Marcus instinctively offered to help in the kitchen, only to be firmly pushed out.

"No," she insisted. "You’re the guest. Just wait."

He laughed and surrendered, wandering further into her apartment while she began preparing dinner.

The word that came to mind was simple.

’Luxury.’

Marcus had recently renovated his own place, and he considered it comfortable, even impressive. But Talia’s apartment existed on an entirely different level. Located in Crestwood’s new faculty housing complex, the space stretched well over a hundred square meters. Every detail screamed quality. The furnishings were tasteful rather than flashy, but unmistakably expensive.

He mentally calculated the costs without meaning to. The renovation alone had to exceed three hundred thousand. The wall-mounted television alone could easily hit five figures. The kitchen equipment looked like something pulled straight from a high-end design magazine, probably costing as much as a small car. Even the bedroom radiated quiet extravagance.

He had always known Talia came from wealth. Her elegance, her upbringing, her mastery of dance all hinted at privilege. Still, seeing it firsthand surprised him.

"Talia," he said honestly, "this place is incredible."

"My brother came two weeks early to handle the renovation," she explained quickly, watching his reaction carefully. "When I arrived three days ago, everything was already finished."

She did not want him misunderstanding her. Within her family, this level of spending was ordinary, almost modest. But she knew how it might appear to others.

"Got it."

Marcus nodded. After four years of friendship, he knew she was not someone who flaunted wealth. Still, he realized he had underestimated just how powerful her background must be.

Back home, she was probably treated like royalty.

"Go relax," she said gently. "I’ll start cooking."

While she worked in the kitchen, Marcus called Lily and the others to let them know he would not be home for dinner.

The aroma drifting from the kitchen soon filled the apartment. When the dishes finally appeared on the table, Marcus took one bite and paused in genuine surprise.

"Wow. This is actually really good."

There was a clear difference between someone who could cook casually and someone who truly understood food.

Talia belonged closer to the second category. Maybe not quite at Lily’s level, but undeniably skilled. More importantly, every dish felt oddly familiar, perfectly suited to his taste.

"Talia," he said between bites, "how did I never know you could cook like this?"

She lifted her chin slightly, pleased.

"Of course I can."

Watching him eat enthusiastically, she kept adding food to his plate without asking.

"If you like it, I can cook for you more often."

"Like it?" he laughed. "These are literally my favorite dishes. And the flavors are perfect."

"Then you’ll have to come over more."

Her smile widened, bright and satisfied.

Over the past year, while confined at home under her family’s watchful eye, Talia had spent countless hours learning to cook. She knew one simple truth: if you wanted a place in someone’s heart, understanding what comfort meant to them mattered. She already knew Marcus’s preferences better than almost anyone. Every recipe she practiced had been chosen with him in mind.

Seeing him enjoy the meal now made that entire year feel worthwhile. She simply watched him eat, quiet happiness settling in her chest.

After dinner, they went out again for a short walk and picked up a few remaining household items. By the time Marcus finally returned home, it was nearly ten o’clock.

Time had slipped by unnoticed.

Lily and the others were already logged into the game when he arrived. He greeted them briefly, took a quick shower, and climbed into his gaming pod.

It was time to return to the Mystic Turtle’s tomb.