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

mind, could you help

handed the necklace to him and packed her long

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

and her skin had a major role to play

he was helping her to put on the necklace.

He thought to himself as he did

a pink shade

He found himself laughing internally until he was

fingers to push aside any stray hair that would block the necklace from being

do

was right beside him—a dozen inches apart maybe—and her surprisingly stoic face

good

her face and she

you didn't mean for something like this to be made

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

he said nothing to confirm her

and

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

she

that fine by you?" She cocked her head

only presented with two words as a

"Yes" and "Yes."

his mind to come up with a

had, but Rey figured out the perfect response to

"I guess so."

response?" Esme nearly snickered as she covered her

until he heard her laugh at him that he realized the honest

with one of the two options I

*********

of time passed, and Rey found himself slowly getting more

he found himself

It felt amazing!

different,

like with Alicia all over again. No… Alicia and I had books and

Esme, everything was so strange and

that was what made