CPT 6

Episode 6

For a brief moment, Yuha considered how best to strike back at that catlike, finicky boy so the rumor mill would say she’d handled it well—but decided to be the bigger person. Judging by his expression, he hadn’t said what he did to pick a fight anyway.

“Why do you believe me?”

What a strange place to get curious. Yuha arched one eyebrow.

“Do you have any reason to lie to me?”

“No.”

“Then I believe you. Satisfied? How long will it take?”

“…Ten minutes.”

Ten minutes—too short to grab a coffee, too long to just stand around. She had to meet Rashid and Daisy at the college gate at six sharp.

Yuha cautiously approached the end of the alley to peek toward the dormitory. As Geoffrey Hester had said, a small crowd had gathered there—
and when she spotted the police officers in their black uniforms, her eyes widened.

“Wow, even the police showed up? Then they’ll clear out in five minutes.”

The voice came from directly above her head—so close that her scalp prickled.

Not because she disliked him, but because his voice was far too near.

She swallowed hard, trying to convince herself she was overreacting. No way was he standing that close behind her… right?

But when she turned her head lightly—
he was.

Jeffrey Hester was right behind her. Close enough that his shadow completely swallowed hers. He didn’t touch her, yet she could feel him everywhere, his presence so tangible it filled the air.

The scent that clung to him drifted through the cool air and filled her nose—sharp, distinctive, as striking as its owner.

“…Not something I needed to know.”

She could almost feel his hand brush hers—
and the instant it did, she stepped forward quickly, putting distance between them.

Only when she was clear of his radius did her tension ease. She didn’t even realize how blatantly she’d avoided him.
But Jeffrey Hester did.

“Aren’t you going to ask what happened?”

His dry voice made her glance up.

“I already did, remember? So—what happened?”

“…”

“Hey?”

“…”

“Hey.”

So he told her to ask, and now he wouldn’t answer? What kind of logic was that?

“My mistake for expecting anything.”

As she muttered under her breath, he finally turned to the dorm building.

“I’d rather not say it myself.”

“…”

“You’ll find out soon enough anyway.”

“Wow, this guy’s impossible.”

Absolutely not her type. Yuha mentally shoved their emotional distance all the way from the Milky Way to Andromeda.

Roughly seven minutes later, the crowd dispersed. With Jeffrey Hester trailing behind her, Yuha entered the dorms—only to be met by the disapproving face of the porter, Alec.

“Hello, Alec.”

“Hi, Eve. Hi, Geoffrey.”

A gleam of meaning flashed in Alec’s eyes as he looked at Geoffrey.

“I knew things would get noisy when they said a celebrity was enrolling, but I didn’t think trouble would start this soon.”

Since Jeffrey kept quiet, Yuha asked instead,

“What happened?”

“Didn’t the ‘star’ behind you explain? A paparazzo and a groupie followed him all the way into the dorm. They tailed another student to sneak in. Honestly…”

“Oh…”

“You be careful too, Eve. If you see anyone suspicious, call us right away—and don’t tell anyone Jeffrey Hester lives here.”

“I won’t.”

Satisfied, Alec nodded approvingly.

“Now, Geoffrey—want to switch rooms?”

“…Do you have any open ones?”

“No. That’s the problem.”

Alec clicked his tongue.

“Can’t have him living off-campus, either… what a mess.”

It was a headache. An intruder breaking into a dorm warranted police, panic, and now administrative chaos. But if Jeffrey swapped rooms, someone else would be inconvenienced instead.

“Quite a dilemma.”

Yuha glanced over her shoulder—and froze. For once, Jeffrey Hester looked… small. His usual sharp arrogance had melted into quiet discouragement.

When their eyes met, she spoke without thinking.

“Why the long face? It’s not like any of this was your fault.”

“…”

“…”

“If you want to keep living here, then do it. I’ll cooperate. The others are adults—they’ll understand.”

Both Alec and Geoffrey stared at her in silence.

“It’s not like I said anything wrong—so why do they look at me like that?”

The longer the silence stretched, the more awkward she felt.

Alec eventually looked away, shaking his head with a faint smile.
Jeffrey, on the other hand, kept staring—his unreadable gray eyes locked on her until she wanted to squirm.

To cover her discomfort, Yuha fished out her phone and checked the time.
If she didn’t hurry, she’d be late meeting Daisy and Rashid.

“Um, if I said something weird, sorry… Anyway, I’ve got somewhere to be. Have a good evening, Alec!”

“You too, Eve.”

She didn’t even bother saying goodbye to the guy downstairs and darted into the building.

“Let those two chat it out. I’m escaping!”

She sprinted up the stairs, tossed the package onto her desk, and dashed right back down, crossing the courtyard in record time. Jeffrey was still talking to Alec when she passed—and she didn’t so much as glance his way.

At the college gate, Yuha met Daisy and Rashid, and together they headed for a pub.

Peter, Daisy’s “college brother,” was running late after attending the Freshers’ Fair, so he planned to meet them there.

When they reached The Whale’s Head, Yuha couldn’t hide her fascination.

Gray stone walls, an old fireplace flickering dimly, glass mugs hanging from the ceiling, shelves stacked high with bottles behind the bar—every inch of the place exuded cozy history.

“The Whale’s Head is the oldest pub in Dunfield,” Daisy explained. “A local legend—and their dark stout is the best.”

“Exactly. Coming here and not having the stout? Unforgivable.”

“It’s really good,” Yuha admitted after her first sip.

“Right?”

Daisy raised her mug, and they clinked glasses in a cheerful toast.
The beer was smoother than she’d expected; Yuha drank half in one go.

“You drink well, Eve! Like it?”

“Yes. It’s my style.”

“Great! Let’s go all night! Oh—there he is! Peter!”

Daisy waved wildly toward the entrance. Yuha and Rashid turned to see a tall man walk in, smiling brightly enough to light the whole room.

Maybe it was that radiant grin—but Yuha suddenly, guiltily thought, He might be a bit of a lunatic too.

And she wouldn’t be wrong.

Once the introductions began, she learned her “college brother” was Peter Brooks, a tall, lanky Welshman majoring in History.

“Why didn’t you come to the Freshers’ Dinner yesterday?” Rashid asked.

“I was busy spending some quality time with my darling,” Peter said with a shrug.

“Ah, so things are good with your girlfriend.”

Yuha replied naturally—until Peter tilted his head and smirked crookedly.

“Not girlfriend. Boyfriend.”