Echoes of Unrequited Love

Chapter 48

I never expected the guy I was staring at to actually be Darren.

He was usually rocking those silver specs and had this laid–back artsy dad vibe going on. To put it bluntly, he gave off this slightly stuffy and old–fashioned air.

It was like he was a whole different person from the smooth charmer standing in front of me

now.

What a stark contrast.

“So, Xaviera, you’re disappointed to find out it’s me?” he teased.

I waved my hand dismissively, clarifying, “No, no, that’s not what I meant. It’s just that your current look is a dead ringer for a character in our game, and that’s why I couldn’t take my eyes off you.”

That probably came across a little rude.

Darren seemed taken aback, he sighed and said, “And here I was thinking you had a thing for

this version of me, Xaviera.”

I raised my eyebrows, momentarily at a loss for words.

Just then, Tina and Kevin came bounding over from the right and greeted me enthusiastically.

“Xaviera, you have no idea, before you got here, a bunch of chicks were hitting on Professor Yearwood,” Tina said with a hint of pride, lowering her voice, “and they even brought him coffee.”

Kevin mimicked in a falsetto, “Sweetheart, sweetheart, what flavor do you like?”

1

but chuckle, “Darren, you really do have

him off, “If you guys keep ribbing me like this, don’t

Kevin wisely backed

professor, was often bossed around by Tina

wonder our

different areas and introduced me to various unique anime promotion techniques. I

unrewarded, so I suggested

at Aurora Eats.

expect, as we passed by a second–floor private room, we bumped into Hilary

Darren by my side and asked, “This guy looks familiar, Xaviera. Is he

the record straight when Darren beat me to it, “Hello, Mrs.

for a moment before extending her hand, “Handsome young man,

cat, I thought, frowning

politely, “and I’m a classmate

than Hilary’s

the subject, asking Darren to go ahead

she sighed, “Xaviera, I’m actually happy to see you settling down well, unlike

Only

did I notice that Hilary’s makeup was a bit off, with powder caked at the corners of her eyes.

been over the top lately. He’s even been pushing me to

turning her face away, looking like she was about

was comfort, “If Mr. Zade insists, just go along with it.

just worried about those people in the

rich ladies called out to her, Hilary stopped and then returned to the private room, not before making plans to have tea

the hang

hustling for my

enjoyed dinner tonight; we were all old classmates, reminiscing about our college days, laughter filling the air.

was surprised.

I felt a strange sense of contentment, like maybe life had its moments.