Chapter 8 His Hands, My Fall

• Each step Aura took on the shiny floor echoed softly, but the sound wasn't alone. Whispers followed he, some full of awe, mostly from boys whose eyes widened like they’d just seen a goddess. Others, especially from the girls, held a touch of jealousy. But Aura didn’t flinch. Her face stayed calm, cold even, like nothing could touch her.
• “Wait… Where’s my class?” The question hit her mind all of a sudden, and her eyes, usually sharp and unreadable, softened a bit as she looked around.
• That was when she noticed something, or rather, someone.
• A small girl stood a few meters away, at the base of a wide arch. She was on a shaky ladder, struggling to hang a long banner. It wasn’t the school map that drew Aura in. It was the girl. She had dark hair, soft features, and something about her felt… familiar.
• “Where have I seen her before?” Aura’s eyes narrowed slightly as her thoughts searched. Without even realizing it, she changed direction and walked toward the archway.
• As she got closer, the girl had already come down. Her arms dropped to her sides, and her eyes stared up helplessly at the lopsided banner.
• “I can’t do this alone,” the girl muttered to herself, letting out a tired sigh.
• “Maybe I can help.”
• The voice that answered her was calm, smooth, like soft music in the morning. The girl jumped a little, turning quickly.
• Standing tall in front of her, glowing with confidence and beauty, was Aura La Rosa. Though both wore the same uniform, Aura’s presence felt like royalty. The way her body curved, the way she held herself, everything about her screamed grace.
• “You… you want to help me?” the girl asked, blinking fast.
• Aura nodded and smiled lightly. “I do. Can I?”
• The girl smiled back, blushing. “M-my name’s Marsha. Marsha Petrov.”
• Aura shook her hand gently. “Nice to meet you, Marsha. I’m Aura.”
• With that, Aura stepped onto the ladder. As she climbed, her eyes wandered, not on purpose, to the courtyard. The flowers looked so alive. The soft hum of chatting students filled the air. Everything felt so peaceful for a second.
• “Please be careful,” Marsha said, her voice soft but full of concern.
• Aura glanced down with a smile. “I will, Marsha.”
• She turned back to the banner, but then… she froze.
• Across the courtyard stood a boy.
• He wasn’t like anyone else here.
• His broad shoulders, sharp jaw, and calm posture made him look like he had stepped out of a painting. His gray eyes were intense, too intense, like they could look straight into her thoughts. But it wasn’t just that.
• His pupils…they weren’t normal.
• Were they…slitted? Like a cat’s?
• His hair was slicked back cleanly, not a strand out of place. Every part of his face looked perfect, but it was the cold stillness in his expression that sent a shiver down her spine.
• Even though they were far apart, he turned, directly toward her.
• “He saw me,” Aura whispered, heart skipping.
• Their eyes locked. Her breath hitched. Her legs trembled.
• “Aura! Are you okay? Aura!” Marsha’s voice suddenly became loud in her ears.
• She blinked, but her body had already leaned the wrong way. The ladder shook.
• “No—!” Aura gasped as her foot slipped. She lost her balance completely.
• Everything blurred. Her scream echoed as she fell.
• The ground rushed toward her, and she shut her eyes, waiting for the pain…
• But it didn’t come.
• Instead, strong arms caught her midair, firm, warm, steady.
• She landed not on the floor, but against someone’s chest. A heartbeat thudded beneath her ear.
• Aura opened her eyes.
• He had sandy blond hair this time, and his face was breathtaking. But what truly held her in place were his eyes, intense and unreadable, like a calm storm.
• For a second, the world just stopped. Students whispered around them, but neither moved.
• “Wh-who…” Aura started, her voice barely there.
• He stared down at her like he already knew every inch of her soul. Something dark flickered in his gaze, something deep, almost… dangerous.
• And then the whispers around them began:
• “She’s in the arms of Cassius Blackwood?”
• “Isn’t he the Capo of the Stray Dogs?”
• “The crazy Capo from that underground gang?!”
• “She got caught by a Capo on her first day?!”
• “Lucky girl…”
• Aura blinked, dazed. She didn’t fully understand what they meant, but the boy, Cassius, never broke eye contact.
• He slowly set her down. His hands stayed a little longer on her waist than necessary, then he finally let go.
• But the space between them stayed small. Too small.
• He leaned in just a bit, and his lips brushed her ear.
• “Be more careful next time, apple.”