Chapter 41: college

Lucian arrived in front of his college, feeling a strange mix of nostalgia and dread. This place the bustling campus of one of the most prestigious universities had been the backdrop of many wasted years in his previous life. He was a student of both business and computer science, but it wasn't passion that had driven him to choose these subjects. No, it was her Avey.He had followed her here, just as he had followed her through most of his life. Sighing deeply, Lucian parked his sleek black bike in the designated spot, his mind swimming with memories.

"Guess it's time to try college the way others say it's meant to be enjoyed," he muttered to himself, running his fingers through his dark hair. He stepped off his bike and walked toward the entrance, hands stuffed into his pockets, not caring about the stares he drew. Unlike in his previous life, he wasn't holding a bouquet or a gift for Avey this time.

In his past life, every day was about chasing her. Every step he took was in pursuit of Avey's affection, no matter how many times she pushed him away, rejected him, or humiliated him. But not today. Today was different. Today, Lucian walked as if the past didn't weigh on his shoulders, even if a part of him still lingered in the pain of that rejection.

He strode through the campus with a sense of freedom, as though he were the king of this place walking unrestrained, with no fear and no reason to seek anyone's approval.

As he made his way through the busy pathways, his sharp eyes scanned the scene. Groups of students were scattered everywhere some with headphones in, lost in their music or podcasts, while others clustered in groups, laughing, and chatting. Couples walked hand-in-hand, grinning as though they had the world at their feet.

The kind of young love Lucian had once idolized, now seemed to him like a fragile dream. His thoughts were bitter but calm. He had experienced the hollowness of such affection, and it had almost destroyed him.

"Heh, they have no idea," Lucian thought to himself, eyes narrowing as he passed the smiling couples. "Love is like fire. It's beautiful from a distance, but if you get too close, it burns you alive."

His pace quickened, and with every step, the murmur of voices around him became louder. His presence had not gone unnoticed.

"Hey, look. That guy's here again," one student whispered to his friend, nudging him.

"Yeah, isn't that Lucian Kane? Look how he walks so cocky," another remarked, her eyes narrowing at the sight of him.

"Wasn't he the one who was always at the gates with flowers for Avey?" a third student chimed in, her curiosity piqued. "What's he doing walking around like that instead of waiting for her like a puppy?"

Lucian's name had become infamous in this college, not for his academic achievements or skills, but for his relentless pursuit of Avey. Every day, without fail, for months, he had stood at the front gates waiting for her. Rain or shine, he would be there with flowers in hand, only to be coldly rejected by her in front of the entire school.

"Oh my God, is that him?" a girl whispered excitedly to her friend as they passed Lucian, their eyes lingering on him.

"He's so handsome. Look at that face. Is he a model or something?" one girl murmured, her cheeks flushed.

"Don't get any ideas," her friend warned, rolling her eyes. "He's just a lovesick fool. Do you really want a guy who has been chasing the same girl for over a year, despite getting rejected daily?"

Lucian could hear the murmurs, the judgment, the gossip, but he didn't let it bother him. He kept his hands in his pockets, his expression indifferent. In his last life, these whispers, these labels, had been a source of shame, and the humiliation had stung deeply. But now, they were like background noise. None of it mattered anymore. He wasn't here to impress anyone.

"They think I'm still the same pathetic guy, huh?" Lucian muttered to himself, shaking his head slightly. "Well, let them. They don't know what's coming."

A group of students sitting nearby glanced at him as he walked past, their eyes following him.

"Hey, that's the guy Lucian, right? The one who's been chasing Avey all this time?" one of them asked, smirking. "Bet he's still running after her."

"Yeah, what a loser," another scoffed. "It's been months, and he still doesn't get the hint. Avey's way out of his league."

"That's the thing he just doesn't care," the first student said, shaking his head. "Doesn't matter how many times she turns him down, he keeps coming back for more. It's pathetic."

Lucian heard their mocking laughter behind him, but he didn't react. He had already shed the skin of the boy who had begged for Avey's attention. These students only knew the Lucian of the past the one who had worn his heart on his sleeve for a girl who never wanted him. They didn't know the Lucian who had returned from the future, the one who was no longer interested in chasing anyone.

Girls passing by whispered about him, eyes lingering longer than necessary on his sharp features, his confident stride. He wasn't just another student anymore. His aura was different, more intense. It was like he was above the petty drama of the campus.

But Lucian didn't care about any of them. He didn't care about the whispers, the admiration, or the scorn. He was here to live differently this time. He wasn't going to waste his second chance. He wasn't going to throw away his life chasing after love that was never returned.

lucian just continued walking when suddenly he heard rustle in crowd

The crowd at the campus murmured, buzzing with excitement and confusion as they spotted Avey walking through the gates. Heads turned in her direction, and whispers spread like wildfire. She looked stunning as usual, dressed in elegant clothes that showed off her beauty, but something was off.

Her eyes were swollen, dark circles sat heavily beneath them, and her face looked as though she hadn't slept all night. There was a desperation in her steps, a hurriedness that felt completely out of place for the confident and composed girl everyone was used to seeing.

"Hey, why does Avey look like that? Did something happen to her?" one girl asked her friend, craning her neck to get a better view.

"Yeah, she doesn't look like herself today. And...is she carrying flowers?" a boy added, raising an eyebrow.

Avey's hands tightly clutched a large bouquet of roses. It was an unusual sight Avey, the untouchable campus beauty, carrying flowers herself. The crowd couldn't help but gossip, their voices rising as more students stopped to watch her.

"Who do you think she's looking for?" a girl asked, her curiosity piqued.

"I have no idea, but she seems desperate," another answered, narrowing her eyes. "Look at her, she's walking around like she's searching for someone."

"Do you think it's for Lucian?" a boy muttered, almost as if the thought was too absurd to say aloud.

"No way!" a girl responded quickly, shaking her head in disbelief. "Avey hates Lucian. It's impossible."

"But think about it," another student chimed in. "Lucian did so much for her. He's been proposing to her every day, taking care of her, looking out for her, and all that without shame, even after being humiliated in front of everyone. He kept going. If someone did that for me, I might have melted too."

"I don't know…" the girl replied hesitantly. "What if Lucian's after her family's wealth? She is rich. No one can go as far as Lucian just for love."

"Are you serious?" a senior scoffed, shaking his head. "Lucian's from the Kane family. They're as strong as the Starlight family. Why would he need her money?"

"Yeah, but haven't you heard? His relationship with his family is a mess. They say he's adopted," someone else added, whispering like it was a scandal.

"Ugh, you don't know the full story. Stop talking nonsense and just watch," another student cut in, clearly tired of the speculation.

The crowd quieted down as Avey continued walking through the courtyard, her eyes frantically scanning the faces around her. She was looking for someone no doubt about it. Every now and then, her gaze would flicker with hope and then falter into disappointment when it wasn't who she was searching for.

Lucian was walking a short distance away, his mind lost in his own world as he tried to avoid the stares and whispers around him. He had no intention of making a scene today. He just wanted to get through the day unnoticed, go to class, and stay away from the drama that once defined his life.

But as he heard the rustling of the crowd and their increasing murmurs, he glanced in their direction, and that's when he saw her.

Avey.

She was beautiful, of course, but Lucian couldn't help but frown. Her eyes…they were swollen, and there were dark circles beneath them. Did she cry? he wondered briefly, his brow furrowing in concern. But then his eyes trailed down to what she was holding a bouquet of roses.

His heart clenched involuntarily. She must've found someone already, he thought bitterly. So soon?

Despite the sadness that gripped him, he quickly shook the thought away. It's not my business anymore. Lucian reminded himself. He had already decided to stay away from her. He didn't want to live through that cycle of pain and rejection again. He'd learned his lesson.

There was no point in opening old wounds.

Just as he was about to turn away and leave, his gaze locked with hers.

Their eyes met for a brief, charged moment.

For the first time, there was no spark of hope in Lucian's chest. There was no fluttering heart, no lingering wish that she would run to him with open arms. Instead, all he felt was a dull ache. He quickly broke eye contact, turning his back on her as though she were nothing more than a stranger in the crowd.

Avey's heart shattered in that instant. She had seen the coldness in Lucian's eyes the way he had looked at her as if she were someone he no longer knew. It was worse than rejection. It was indifference.

She couldn't take it. She felt her chest tighten, and the world around her began to spin as desperation clawed at her insides. The worst birthday of her life had been yesterday. She had watched Lucian break down, crying silently in that restaurant, and every part of her had screamed to go to him, to apologize, to beg him to stay. But she hadn't. She had frozen.

And now, he was slipping away.

"No. No, not again," Avey whispered under her breath, panic rising inside her.

Her body moved on its own, driven by the sheer need to close the distance between them. She saw Lucian turning to leave, and something inside her snapped.

"Lucian!" she called out, her voice trembling.

He didn't stop. He kept walking, his shoulders stiff as if he was bracing himself for the pain that would follow if he looked back.

Avey's legs moved faster, breaking into a run. The flowers she was carrying fell from her hands, scattering across the pavement, but she didn't care. All she cared about was reaching him. Her breath was coming in short gasps, her chest tightening with every step she took.

"Lucian! Wait!" she cried out, her voice breaking.

The crowd watched in stunned silence, their eyes wide with disbelief. Was Avey Starline the girl who had rejected Lucian time and time again running after him?

Lucian heard her voice, but he didn't turn around. His heart ached with every step he took, but he kept walking, faster now, as if he could outrun the memories, the hurt, and the yearning he still felt deep inside.

But Avey wouldn't stop. She couldn't. Not this time. S~eaʀᴄh the nôvelFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

"Please, Lucian! Just stop! I need to talk to you!" Her voice cracked, and tears welled in her eyes as she ran after him.

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shameless author here to take rent again

haha thanks for reading and encouraging this useleass dude...haha guys can't tell how much happy i am due to you all

best of luck to you guys too with your lives