15 Ci-ci and Frae 1

It was already late at night and hours had passed since Ci-ci read Frae's message. And yet, he still sat outside of a towering condominium, struggling to decide whether he should step out or not.

'Great job Ci-ci. Now you've made them both wait.' Ci-ci grit his teeth. Stepping out of his car wasn't a simple matter of bringing Frae back into his life. It almost meant acknowledging that every dangerous twist and turn there would be in the coming years, would also involve her.

Milana was different. Because of her father, Milana was already thrust into the world of crime. Although the danger of being associated with Lucius Grandbell Jr. was likely more severe than whatever Kazimir Petrov was up to, from the investigations Ci-ci had done into their matters… It was likely not by much.

In addition to that, Milana wasn't aware of Ci-ci true identity which meant she had an added layer of protection. But, it was likely that Frae had figured it out already. It wasn't that Frae was so much smarter than Milana. It was more so that Frae had a much longer history than Ci-ci, a history she must have realized was longer than even she expected.

In Ci-ci's youth – during a time he still referred to himself as Lucius Grandbell Jr. – he, of course, had many affiliations with larger families. Over those years before the public came to know of the "death" of the Grandbell family, Ci-ci had formed many strong and lasting relationships – one of which had been with Frae.

Frae along with Ci-ci and a few others had practically grown up together. From the day they were born, they were each a part of the strongest families West Continent had to offer. And, more often than not, their lineage held a forefather integral to the formation of West Continent.

They went to the same schools and functions. They shared laughs and jokes. In fact, until Ci-ci twelfth birthday, he lived a life of perfection.

But then, everything changed.

Ci-ci's mother was presumed dead and the final efforts of his father managed to hide the two of them away – although at severe damage to himself.

When Ci-ci made his way back to normal society at fourteen, earning his way into Grandbell University, he had tried his best to avoid contact with those he used to know at all costs.

For his first two years at Grandbell, he did nothing but study and research. He eventually contributed so much that he was tenured at only sixteen years old, and that was when he began to see the first seedlings of his plan take hold.

But then, at seventeen, he saw Frae for the first time again. In fact, she had been admitted into one of his classes as a first year student.

Ci-ci's brain was wired differently from others. He remembered things many likely forgot, and he connected things no one would ever think to connect. So, when he saw Frae's cold gaze, he took but an instant of time to recognize her.

He had spent the past three years doing everything to avoid her. From turning down award ceremonies, to dodging Dean Mortlock's dinner invitations, to even locking himself in his office for days on end – all because he fully knew that if Frae had to name a second home, it would be Grandbell University.

However, in the end, she ended up in his class.

At first, Ci-ci was worried. He didn't ask her any questions, he avoided eye-contact with her, and generally ignored her raised hand. But, unfortunately, it wasn't in Frae's personality to take something like that lightly. She thought she was being treated differently because of who her father was, something she hated immensely. So, she confronted Ci-ci about it.

Ci-ci smiled thinking about their first interaction in five years. She had been so angry and her gaze had been so cold, but what she didn't know was that her presence, alone with him in his office, made him feel better than he had in five years.

~

"I have no intention of bringing this matter up with my father, as that would defeat the entire purpose." Frae spoke coldly, her sharp blue eyes piercing toward Ci-ci.

She wore her hair in a messy bun with a pencil sticking out of it. In fact, she even wore a baggy sweat shirt and pants, matching the auburn and black colors of Grandbell.

Her thick textbooks were held tightly to her chest that had a size so ample that even her baggy clothing couldn't hide them.

It was actually fairly late in the evening. Final classes ended around 10:30pm and it was already 11 now. Honestly speaking, it wasn't Frae's intention to come so late, but this was really the only time she could find Ci-ci free of obligations.

Before today, she had made the mistake of knocking, which allowed Ci-ci to slip away. But, today she lurked and hid before bursting in just as Ci-ci was immersed in some notes he was making.

"But, I'm not the type of person to continue to allow myself to be trampled upon. I need to know now. What have I done to offend you?" Frae glared at Ci-ci.

Ci-ci though, was in a trance. He stood up and walked to Frae, pausing just a half a meter from her.

He was an entire head taller than Frae and yet her cold eyes never waivered for even a single moment. But then, he said words he didn't know whether he'd regret. He couldn't stop himself. He needed her to know and to know now.

"You have such beautiful eyes." Ci-ci said softly.

Frae froze.

To anyone else, this would have been the most generic compliment imaginable. But, to Frae, it was different.

Frae was a girl who insisted on being publicly educated at Grandbell while other members of such prestigious families were basically gifted their diplomas. She dealt with the scrutiny of being from such a powerful family everyday, all because she wanted to prove them wrong. She didn't need everything handed to her. And yet, no matter how hard she worked and no matter how many hours of sleep she lost, the sneers never stopped.

They continued to think that her good grades were being handed to her. They continued to think that she only got into this school because of her father. But, what always got to Frae was how they spoke about her eyes. As though her cold demeanor was a façade she put on to distance herself from people she saw as commoners. As though her personality was somehow inferior to that of others. As though her very being was being put into question.

And yet, here stood a young man looking at her cold eyes unwaveringly…. Still willing to call them beautiful.