An Extra’s POV

"It's fine if you don't want to talk about it."

Esme's voice woke Rey up from his drawn-out thoughts.

He turned behind and saw her slowly rising to a seated position too, a friendly smile written on her face as she rose.

"A-ah, it's—!"

"I understand. It's about a girl, right?"

"W-what? How can you be so sure!" As soon as Rey said this, and also saw Esme's smile widen, he realized the ugly truth.

'I've been tricked! Damnit!'

It was too late to realize it at that point, though. He had been careless, and now the price had to be paid.

"I just made a guess. But it seems like I was spot-on."

Rey wanted to ask Esme for the reason behind her guess this time, but before he could say anything, she told him.

"That man… Asher… he referred to you and I as a couple the last time."

Rey remembered how he noticed Esme's face twitching back when it was mentioned.

She didn't say anything after then, but since she was mentioning it now, Rey knew he had to vindicate himself.

"I told him we weren't a couple. No, it wasn't even that! It was—!"

"This isn't meant for me, is it? It's meant for the girl you're thinking of." Esme brought out a necklace from her pocket.

There was a ring at the center of the silver-like chain.

It was the White Ember—or, something similar.

The ring this time still had a frosty white surface, but the gem at the center peered more aqua than ember.

It was a glowing blue gem.

"They designed something a little different for me. It matches my eyes, don't you think?"

"Y-yeah…" Rey managed to say.

as well as the

you don't mind, could you help me put

packed her long black hair

the matter?' Rey wondered as he stole a good look at her delicate,

skin had a major

it, he was helping her to put on the necklace. As he did so,

soft…' He thought to himself as he

forehead had a pink shade despite his knock being

she's very delicate.' He found

flailed her hair back into place, using her fingers to push aside any stray hair that would block the necklace from

How do

him—a dozen inches apart maybe—and her surprisingly stoic face as

good on

her face and she nodded

you didn't mean for something like this to be made for me, I still

too?!' Rey wanted to pull his hair out with the way the girl pulled at his

he said nothing to confirm her

noticed this and giggled a

isn't a gusss. I know the White Ember was meant for someone else.

again, she was

cocked her

Rey knew he was only presented

"Yes" and "Yes."

to come up with a

took all he had, but Rey figured out the perfect response

"I guess so."

Esme nearly snickered as she covered

he heard her laugh at him that he realized the

have just gone with one of

*********

a bit of time passed, and Rey found himself slowly getting more comfortable

stomach disappeared, and he found himself

It felt amazing!

people, they couldn't be any different, yet they got along

Alicia and I had books and a bunch of other things in

everything was

made things so much