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 the ring attached to

don't mind, could you help me put

to him and packed her long black

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

pretty, and her skin had a major role to play

realized it, he was helping her to put on the necklace. As he did so, his fingers brushed

thought to himself as he

her forehead had a pink shade despite his knock

He found himself laughing internally until he was

was done, she flailed her hair back into place, using her fingers to push aside any stray hair that would

do

dozen inches apart maybe—and her surprisingly stoic face as she asked the question

good

smile formed on her face and she

you didn't mean for something like this

pull his hair out with the way the

though, he said nothing to confirm her

and giggled a

a gusss. I know the White Ember was meant for someone else. But since this isn't that, I think I'll be

she

you?" She cocked her head

that point, Rey knew he was only presented with two words

"Yes" and "Yes."

his mind to come up with a

took all he had, but Rey figured out the perfect

"I guess so."

nearly snickered as she covered

laugh at him that he realized the honest

should have just gone with one of the two

*********

Rey found himself slowly getting more comfortable

in his stomach disappeared, and he found himself enjoying her company so

It felt amazing!

people, they couldn't be any different,

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

Esme, everything was so strange and

was what made things so