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.

the

could you

to him and packed her long

me a choice in the matter?' Rey wondered as

her skin had a

realized it, he was helping her to put on the necklace.

soft…' He thought to himself as

forehead had a pink shade despite his

found himself laughing internally until he

her hair back into place, using her fingers to push

How do

face as she asked the question made his heart nearly

good on you.

small smile formed on her face

for something like this to be made for me, I still appreciate the

hair out with the way the girl pulled at his

he said nothing to confirm her

this and

someone else. But since

again, she

cocked her head to the

point, Rey knew he was only presented

"Yes" and "Yes."

his mind to come up with a third option, until

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

"I guess so."

What's that response?" Esme nearly snickered as she covered her mouth and laughed out

was only until he heard her laugh at him

with one of the

*********

Rey found

and he found himself

It felt amazing!

they couldn't be any different,

all over again. No… Alicia and I had books and a bunch

Esme, everything was so strange

that was what made