Master of his heart (Brielle and Max)

He exuded a cold aura, seldom speaking or smiling, regardless of who he was dealing with.

Brielle had seen her fair share of 18 or 19-year-old lads, their laughter as fresh and pure as a spring breeze, their gazes as tender as a starry night sky.

But it wasn't until she met Max that she realized boys like him existed. He's graceful as a marble statue. Simply standing there, he could stir a garden into bloom. If Max hadn't brought her back to Beaconsfield College, she would've kept it all to herself, locked away as a secret in her heart.

But Max did bring her back, and just days before the centennial celebration, no less.

"Max, you probably don't remember, do you?"

Max didn't want to lie to her. He really didn't remember much.

The first time he came to Beaconsfield College, after reciting his piece, his mind was swamped with thoughts of Wall Street.

Numbers, algorithms, and investments-these words flooded his thoughts so much that he barely noticed who had offered him flowers.

He just vaguely recalled a pretty, serene-looking student.

Watching him struggle to remember brought a chuckle to Brielle's lips, and she laughed out loud. "Forget it, it's not important."

Life isn't always smooth sailing. If every fleeting glance were reciprocated, the world wouldn't be filled with so many tales of joy and sorrow, unions and partings. As she finished, her face was gently cradled in someone's hands. A kiss landed near her lips, and she heard him say, "Let this be a kiss from 19-year-old me." Brielle, feeling slightly uncomfortable, pushed him away, her lips curving into a reluctant smile.

she had presented flowers on stage, she was

them. They were only a finger's width apart, yet he seemed to

and that night she dreamt of

just said, 19-year-old Max had kissed her in

dream scene strangely merged with the present

brewed within

cherished this relationship, and at first, she felt timid to admit her

much less bother to ask her name.

have to think that years later, Max would fall

the shock of that moment, the stark

man from the clouds suddenly took an interest in her, she felt not delight,

lowly, as humble as a flower in the corner of a wall. Yet even that

en

impossibility of her feelings, she didn't

back. Only if someone approached her first,

back to reality, Brielle looped her arm through his. "If we don't leave now, the corn dog stand will be swamped

her into the bustling school

vendor's eyes lit up upon seeing her. "Oh