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

don't mind, could you help me

him and packed her long black hair

a choice in the matter?' Rey wondered

was really pretty, and her skin had a major

on the necklace. As he

He thought to himself as he did

a

delicate.' He found himself laughing internally until he

her hair back into place, using her fingers to push aside any stray hair that would

How do I

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

looks good

her face and she

Even though you didn't mean for something like

about that too?!' Rey wanted to pull his hair

he said nothing to confirm

this and giggled

meant for someone else. But since this isn't

she was

that fine by you?" She cocked

that point, Rey knew he was only

"Yes" and "Yes."

mind to come up with a third option,

took all he had, but Rey

"I guess so."

that response?" Esme nearly snickered as

until he heard her laugh

with one of the two

*********

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

his stomach disappeared, and he found himself enjoying her company

It felt amazing!

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

Alicia and I had books and a

was so

was what made things so