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Since last May until now, Elena had never felt as happy as she did today.
May 23, 2009.
That was the day her family was in a car accident. Her parents didn't survive.
Only she and her younger brother, Jeremy, made it out alive.
Since then, she had been trapped in grief, unable to move on.
Except for today. In her mind, she saw Ron's smiling face.
So young, yet a teacher.
Such a special person...
Suddenly, Elena realized that Ron wasn't just in her imagination.
"Elena?"
He had stepped right out of her thoughts.
Now, he was standing in front of her.
Smiling, looking directly into her eyes.
Calling her name.
"Elena, the teacher is talking to you."
A classmate beside her tugged at her arm.
She snapped out of it.
It wasn't a daydream.
Ron was really there, standing at the podium.
Smiling at her.
"Elena Gilbert."
"What are you thinking about? Your boyfriend?"
Elena's face turned bright red.
"Ron, I mean, Mr. Stark, I…"
Ron waved his hand dismissively, signaling her to sit down.
"My name is Ron Stark."
"Starting today, I'll be your biology teacher."
A student raised their hand.
"Ron, what happened to our previous biology teacher?"
Ron chuckled. "They resigned due to illness."
Well, forced illness and resignation.
The day passed pleasantly.
After school.
Elena found Ron.
"Sorry, Ron."
"I spaced out in your class, and Jeremy was rude."
Ron had already forgotten about it.
His mind had been occupied with the idea of getting some vampire blood for research.
Now, seeing Elena, his eyes lit up.
He clutched his chest dramatically.
"Elena, you and Jeremy have wounded me deeply."
"A simple apology isn't enough."
Elena could easily tell he was faking.
She rolled her eyes playfully.
Wrinkled her little nose.
"Then tell me, how can I make it up to you?"
Ron stroked his chin, pretending to think.
"Hmm… How about taking a walk with me? Maybe grabbing some dinner together?"
Elena hesitated.
"Sorry, uh… Ron, it's not that I don't want to."
"I have to go to the cemetery…"
"Alright, I'll come with you."
Ron met her gaze, lowering his voice.
"But only if you're okay with it."
Elena shook her head. "It's fine."
The two of them walked out of the school together.
Not far behind them, two figures watched them leave.
Their faces dark with displeasure.
On the way.
They walked side by side.
Ron caught a faint whiff of the scent from Elena's hair.
Casually, he glanced around.
He noticed multiple sets of eyes following them.
Since they left the school, someone had been tailing them.
At least one of them was a vampire.
Looks like he wouldn't have trouble finding test subjects after all.
"Ron, what are you looking at?"
Elena followed his gaze but saw nothing.
Ron blinked and quickly improvised.
"I was looking at your shadow."
"My shadow?" Elena looked down in confusion. "What's so interesting about it?"
Ron softened his voice. "It's telling me that you're sad."
A classic trick.
Elena's heart skipped a beat.
She looked up at Ron.
Her brows furrowed slightly, eyes shimmering with unshed tears.
She quickly tilted her head back, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath.
She wouldn't let the tears fall.
There was no way her shadow could say that.
He was just… worried about her.
A moment later, Elena opened her eyes.
When she looked at Ron again, there was a hint of warmth in her gaze.
She finally spoke.
"I'm going to the cemetery to visit my parents."
"They passed away in a car accident four months ago."
Sadness washed over her face again.
Then, she caught a glimpse of Ron's expression.
Calm. Completely unbothered.
As if what she said was just casual small talk.
A strange discomfort rose in her chest.
As a friend—
If a friend's parents died, even if you don't know what to say, you shouldn't just… show no reaction.
"Mr. Stark, if you don't want to come to the cemetery, I can go by mys—"
"My parents are dead too."
Ron's words cut her off.
His tone was calm, almost indifferent.
Elena froze.
"What… did you say?"
Ron spoke again, voice still emotionless.
"When I was a baby, I was abandoned by my parents."
"I don't even know who they were."
Elena's thoughts became a tangled mess.
She had no idea what to say.
Her situation was tragic.
But Ron's… was even worse.
Who would be so heartless to abandon their own child?
Ron smiled faintly.
"But luckily, my adoptive parents took me in. They saved me."
"They were good people."
Elena let out a relieved breath.
She smiled, genuinely happy for him.
"They died too."
Ron's flat tone made Elena's smile freeze on her face.
"....."