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Luna was known for her charm, a trait so potent she could captivate others with her words alone. It wasn't just beauty—it was a presence that lingered, making her unforgettable. Anos could only smile to himself; he'd seen her power in action more than once.
"Ah, so you think knowing my sister gives you a free pass to talk trash about me?" Anos teased, rubbing his nose as he watched Sofia with a playful glint in his eye.
Sofia raised an eyebrow, her lips curving in a mischievous smile. "I wonder... does your sister know about you flirting around Academy? Imagine her face if she found out you even flirted with a teacher," she teased, eyeing him with feigned disapproval.
Anos chuckled, unfazed. "Go ahead, tell her. She's been hounding me to get a girlfriend and settle down. This year alone, she's already set me up on three blind dates. Telling her would probably make her thrilled."
At that, Sofia burst into laughter. She was 25, yet she had never been on a blind date. Anos, at just 21, was somehow already a veteran of them. She found herself grudgingly admiring his sister's persistence.
Anos shrugged. "Now you get why I'm always flirting around here. I'm doing my best to find a girlfriend as quickly as possible."
"Oh really?" Sofia asked with a teasing smile. "And how's that search going?"
He leaned in, lowering his voice with a wink. "I think I've found someone. In fact, she's sitting right beside me—and she even invited me to stay the night at her place. Things are moving fast, but hey, what can I say? She's irresistible."
Sofia rolled her eyes but bit back a smile, hiding her blush. "You're impossible," she muttered, slightly flustered.
"Ding... Successfully teased Sofia. Scumbag Value +20000."
Gritting her teeth, she pointed to the door beside them, recovering her composure. "This is your room tonight. Rest up."
Anos sighed dramatically, putting on a pout. "Can't I sleep in your room,Miss Sofia? I'm scared of sleeping alone."
She shot him a murderous glare. "Absolutely not."
"Hey, I'm serious," Anos protested, folding his arms and feigning innocence. "At home, my sister always hugs me to sleep."
Sofia groaned. "Are you for real?"
"Do you doubt me?" he replied with a smirk. "What am I supposed to do here then? You got me to stay the night, but are you really going to leave me alone? I won't be able to sleep without someone to cuddle."
Sofia was at a loss for words. The audacity of this man was beyond her comprehension, and her temper flared. "If you don't behave, I'll kick you out! Or better yet, go home if you're that difficult."
Anos smirked. "If I leave, what happens if Owen really does show up? If he's spying, we're both exposed. You don't want that, do you?"
Sofia hesitated. "Fine. But only because of the mission," she said, barely concealing her annoyance. "Just go to sleep."
Anos grinned. "So... will you hug me to sleep, then?"
Sofia rolled her eyes. "You bastard! I only took five minutes! What's with the impatience?"
Anos laughed cheekily. "I can't help it! The thought of sleeping beside you is driving me crazy."
Sofia shot him a glare. "Hey! I'm only sleeping next to you for the hug. Don't think it's anything more, you bastard!"
"Okay, okay," Anos replied, holding his hands up in mock surrender.
"By the way, is that a delivery? So, Owen isn't the one at the door?" he asked, his tone shifting to curiosity.
"Yeah," Sofia confirmed, trying to steer the conversation away from the box.
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"What's in the box?" he pressed, his eyes sparkling with mischief.
Sofia's heart raced. Damn it! "It's nothing important," she replied quickly, trying to brush him off as she shifted the package behind her back.
Anos raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying her answer. "Nothing important? C'mon, you know I can't resist a mystery. Just tell me what it is!"
She bit her lip, weighing her options. She could either keep him in the dark or come up with a convincing lie.
"Seriously, it's just some supplies I ordered for the house. You know, boring stuff," she said, forcing a casual tone.
Anos crossed his arms, skepticism etched on his face. "Supplies? You sure that's all? I could help you unpack it, you know."
"No," Sofia replied firmly, taking a step back. "Just go to the second room—the one where we'll sleep. If you keep insisting on checking what's inside the box, then forget about sleeping there with me."
Anos chuckled, a teasing glint in his eyes. "Okay, okay, don't get angry. I'm going," he said, raising his hands in mock surrender. But then he added with a smirk, "How can I miss the chance to sleep beside you for this ugly box? I'm definitely not letting that opportunity slip away!"
Sofia rolled her eyes, trying to suppress a smile. "Just go!" she urged, her frustration mixed with amusement at his relentless charm.
"Alright, alright," Anos said, finally turning toward the guest room.
As he stepped into the room, Anos made his way to the bathroom to take a shower. As the warm water cascaded over him, his mind began to wander. At first, I thought she was just using her body to play up her allure, to gauge the reactions of her students. But what's really in that box?
He smiled, thinking about his unique abilities. She has no idea that my Mystic Perception lets me see through objects at close range. I could easily uncover her little secrets if I wanted to. But for now, I'll play along. This night is going to be interesting...
With those thoughts swirling in his head, he finished his shower, eager to see what Sofia would reveal next.
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