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 ring attached to

you help me put

necklace to him and packed her long black hair to the

a choice in the matter?' Rey wondered as

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 past her

soft…' He thought to

no wonder her forehead had a pink shade

found himself laughing internally until he was

hair back into place, using her fingers

do I

surprisingly stoic face as she asked the question made his heart

looks good

on her

for something like this

wanted to pull his hair out with the way the girl

though, he said nothing to confirm

noticed this and giggled

gusss. I know the White Ember was meant for someone

again, she was

fine by you?" She cocked her head

Rey knew he was only presented with two

"Yes" and "Yes."

to come up with a third option, until

Rey figured

"I guess so."

that response?" Esme nearly snickered as she

until he heard her laugh at him that he realized

with one of the two options

*********

a bit of time passed, and Rey found

he

It felt amazing!

any different, yet

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

everything was so strange and

made things