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

chuckle, “Darren, you really do have a

him off, “If you guys

wisely

Darren, the university professor, was often bossed around by Tina and Kevin to

wonder our paths

me to various unique

so I

ended up at

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

side and asked, “This guy looks familiar, Xaviera. Is he your new

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

her hand, “Handsome

thought, frowning slightly.

at N University,” Darren replied politely,

spoken than Hilary’s look became more

subject, asking Darren to go ahead and order

see you

Only

a bit off, with powder caked at

hide it from you, Hogan’s really been over the top lately. He’s even been pushing me to bring Ms. Irwin to social gatherings.

turning her face away, looking like she was about to

Zade insists, just go along with it. There’s nothing

about those people

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

the hang

still hustling for my daily

classmates, reminiscing about our college days, laughter filling the

was

sense of