A girl with dark black hair, dressed fashionably and carrying two paper cups filled with drinks, walked into her lecture—The Object and the Meaning of Artifact Life. Her hazel eyes swept across the room and stopped on Thea, who was sitting near the window with an old book in her hands. Thea had messily tied up her hair, wore reading glasses, and was seriously absorbed in her book.
The girl smiled, walked up to Thea, and politely turned down her other friends' invitation to sit with them, returning their smiles warmly.
"Morning, bookworm." She casually placed a cup of cappuccino in front of Thea.
Thea looked up, pushing her slipping glasses up her nose. "Morning, Selene." She caught a faint scent of coffee, milk, and chocolate. "Thanks, but… you keep buying me coffee every time we have a morning class together. Next time, I'll get you some juice."
Selene waved her hand dismissively, grinning brightly. "Don't worry about it." She slung her bag over the back of her chair, took a sip of her espresso, and glanced at Thea's book.
"Found another good one at the secondhand store?" Selene asked.
Thea nodded.
Selene didn't disturb Thea further, seeing how absorbed she was in her reading. She reached into her bag to get her laptop but frowned when she pulled out a card from her dad telling her to study hard.
"That old man… I'm not a kid anymore."
Thea looked up, having caught Selene's mutter. She smiled quietly at the card Selene had pulled out from her bag. The handwriting on it was rigid and stern—completely at odds with the card's sweet, flowery design.
"Your dad really cares about you," Thea said.
"Yeah, but I'm not a child anymore." Selene crumpled the card and threw it into the classroom's trash bin. "Only you would say something sweet about a card from my dad. My other friends would just laugh at me."
Thea tilted her head slightly. "Because… it is sweet. You said your dad's a busy man, but if he took the time to write a card, it means he really cares about you."
"Hah… enough about my dad." Selene snatched Thea's book and flipped through its pages without permission. "You know? I'm sure you'd love coming to my house. I have lots of novels in my room, and if you want history books, my dad's office is filled with them."
"You've told me that a few times."
"I have, but you still never want to come over. Come on, Thea, visit my house this weekend."
"..." Thea always hesitated when it came to visiting Selene's house. Selene was admired by many at university—not only because she came from a wealthy family, but also for her stylish looks, bold presence, and intelligence. Many students whispered about Thea being close with Selene, questioning how a quiet, bookish transfer student from Asterleigh—a remote village far from Cavenharlt—could possibly befriend someone like her. Thea simply wanted a peaceful college life, free from strange rumors.
"Maybe next time."
Selene let out a dramatic groan when Thea once again gently refused her invitation. "It's always like this."
But she didn't push any further, because Professor Aldwyn had entered their classroom. The half-bald old man, with all his remaining hair white and thick glasses perched on his nose, walked confidently to his desk, set down his books, and cleared his throat loudly, as though trying to draw everyone's attention.
Even though the room had already fallen completely silent the moment he walked in.
A few minutes later, students began studying in earnest—some taking notes, others opening their laptops—while a few struggled to stay awake. At the front of the class, the projector screen lit up with an image of a Greek god statue missing one of its arms, and Professor Aldwyn launched into his explanation for the day.
The lesson turned into a casual discussion as the professor began to ask questions. Thea occasionally raised her hand, answering with enthusiasm, and Selene smiled proudly, watching her friend spark such engaging conversation during their early morning class.
———
Thea waved her hand when she saw Selene enter the café. She had already ordered Selene's favorite apple juice.
"How was the meeting?" Thea asked as Selene flopped down into the seat across from her.
"Hmm, it went well." Selene sipped her apple juice and sighed in satisfaction as her thirst was quenched. She then began to talk about the meeting she had just attended, the events and booths that would be featured at the upcoming festival.
"There will be lots of food booths, games, cultural competitions, and a costume parade." Selene paused for a moment, chewing the cheesecake in her mouth. "By the way, I submitted your name earlier."
"Huh? Submitted for what?" Thea looked at Selene in shock.
Selene grinned. "You'll be one of several people from our department who'll parade around in costume at the festival."
"Costume?"
"Yup, maybe you could wear something like a Greek goddess? Or a princess from an ancient kingdom?"
"Selene, I'm sure I'm not suited for that. I mean… wouldn't you be more suitable?" Thea shook her head in refusal. Selene had jet-black hair, hazelnut eyes with a bold gaze, and a tall, statuesque figure.
"You're right." Selene flipped her hair back, confident as ever. "But I'm part of the festival committee, remember? I'm too busy to walk around in costume during the festival with all the tasks piling up."
Selene looked at Thea earnestly. "Come on, I really think you'd be perfect for this."
Thea still looked uninterested and hesitant. She pretended to open her textbook. Selene rolled her eyes in exasperation and snatched the book from Thea's hands. "Hey…" Thea protested.
"Just listen to me."
"Aren't we here to study? Why are we talking about the festival?"
"This conversation is way more interesting. Besides, I'm tired of talking about schoolwork every time we're at a café like this." Selene pouted. "Come on, Thea, you'd look so beautiful in that costume. Your small figure, wheat-colored hair, and those mysterious gray eyes of yours… it's perfect for a goddess."
"Sel, I'm not fit for this. I just want to be that passive person in class, better known as a bookworm than an active student."
"Boring," Selene scoffed. "But don't you want to step out of your comfort zone? Just once, try being more active in campus events than usual." Selene cupped Thea's cheeks with both hands. "People should know how beautiful Theavine Elwood is."
"You're exaggerating." Thea brushed Selene's hands off her now-blushing cheeks. "What kind of costume would I have to wear if I joined?"
Selene smiled wide, finally getting Thea at least slightly interested. She opened her bag and pulled out a sketch. "I'm sure you'd look perfect in a Greek goddess gown. You'll be Persephone, and I'll find you a Hades."
Selene giggled as she presented the costume sketch she had planned for Thea. A long gown made of layered chiffon, soft rose pink at the top gradually darkening into deep purple at the bottom, symbolizing Persephone, the goddess of spring who slowly descends to the underworld—Tartarus. The cut flowed gently to the ankles with one shoulder bare, revealing an arm that would be adorned with a gold bracelet. Thea would wear a crown shaped like golden leaves and pomegranate flowers, a garnet pendant, and a slim belt around the waist embroidered with floral patterns.
"See… you'd look beautiful wearing this." Selene explained her sketch enthusiastically.
Thea's brow furrowed. "But this sketch doesn't seem complete."
Selene scratched her cheek, chuckling awkwardly. "You're right, there's still a lot to add—accessories, the crown, and all that." She handed a copy of the sketch to Thea. "You're good at this kind of thing, right? You handle the headpiece, I'll do the rest. Please..." She looked at Thea with doe eyes—something Selene, a girl usually brimming with confidence and too proud to beg, rarely did.
Thea sighed in resignation. "Alright, I'll just help with the headpiece and...Selene If I trip and fall on the fabric, you have to help me, and scream if I faint from exhaustion."
Selene laughed, imagining the embarrassing scenario. "Deal. I swear I'll help you if anything embarrassing happens."
Their conversation was interrupted when Selene's phone rang. She looked at it and pouted. Without asking, Thea already knew—it must be a message from Selene's father.
"He's asking why I haven't come home yet," Selene explained without being prompted. Suddenly, she pulled Thea's shoulder close to hers and quickly took a photo of the two of them.
"Hey…" Thea protested. Her face looked silly with a surprised expression.
"Sorry. My dad doesn't believe I'm out with a friend." Selene sent the photo of her and Thea to her father.
Thea sighed, tucking her hair behind her ear. "Alright, if that helps convince your dad, but you have to delete it later."
"Why? You look cute here." Selene giggled. "Oh right, Thea, this weekend you have to come over to my house. I want to discuss the costume again."
Thea rolled her eyes. "You never give up trying to get me to come over, do you?"
"Because I want to show you my bookshelf collection."