Leon sat at his desk, the dim light from the desk lamp casting a soft glow over his notebook. The room was quiet, save for the rhythmic scratching of his pen as he wrote.
He leaned back in his chair for a moment, staring at the words he had just penned down.
Lemon. He smiled faintly as he wrote her name, the ink flowing across the page. She's different. So different from everyone else. There's something about her—her confidence, her sharp mind, her way of speaking. She's always so composed, like she has everything under control, even when she doesn't. Her eyes... they hold something that I can't quite figure out.
He stopped writing, tapping the pen against the paper. His thoughts wandered. I've watched her for a while now, and I know—she doesn't need anyone. She's strong, independent, and no one really understands what she's been through... not even me. She's guarded, but she's also vulnerable. I've seen her when she's lost in thought, when her guard slips just a little.
Leon sighed, his chest tightening. But me? I'm nothing compared to that strength. I don't belong in her world. I can't even bring myself to say the words, let alone have her feel the same way. She's going to reject me, I'm sure of it. I'm just... just a distraction. A nice guy who doesn't even have a chance with someone like her.
He wrote the words, I'll never be good enough for her but quickly scratched them out.
He leaned forward, elbows on the desk, letting out a deep breath. But what if... what if I could make her understand? What if I could be the one to protect her from all of this—the chaos, the danger?
He glanced down at his notebook, then at the clock on his wall. Maybe after all this is over, after the mystery is solved, maybe then I'll have a chance. But for now... I can't let her know. I can't risk it.
Leon ran a hand through his hair, frustration building in his chest. I have to focus on the case. I can't let my feelings for her get in the way...
Back at the Dorm
Lemon sat on her bed, leaning against the wall, arms crossed over her chest. The other girls had gone down to the canteen, but Lemon had stayed behind, not feeling particularly hungry. The room was eerily quiet, the only sound the soft hum of the fan in the corner. She stared at the wall, her thoughts a swirling mess.
The murders. The deaths. The girls... Her mind kept returning to the events that had unfolded over the past few weeks. Five girls had already died. Mysterious deaths that no one could explain. And every clue seemed to lead to another dead end. Who could be behind it? Who was orchestrating this madness?
Lemon exhaled slowly, shaking her head. And Leon...
Her thoughts shifted, uninvited but persistent. Should I? Should I tell him how I feel? No. I shouldn't. It's stupid. He's not going to feel the same way. He's... he's too good for someone like me.
She bit her lip, lost in thought. But why do I even care? I barely know him. And yet, somehow... he's always there, like a shadow in the corner of my mind. He listens when I talk, really listens. He's kind, considerate, and so much more than anyone gives him credit for. But I can't... I just can't...
Lemon closed her eyes, her head falling back against the wall. What if I'm wrong? What if he does feel something? What if...
Her mind recoiled at the thought. No. No. I'm not some helpless girl waiting for someone to save me. I'm not the type of person who needs someone else to fix me. I'm fine on my own. I always have been.
She stood up abruptly, pacing around the room. The thoughts were becoming too much. I don't need him. I don't need anyone.
But then, a memory surfaced—a moment from just a few days ago when Leon had looked at her with those warm, sincere eyes. She had felt something stir inside her, something she had tried to ignore.
Why do I even care about him? Why does it matter? Lemon clenched her fists. She wasn't the type to be distracted by something like this. Her focus should be on the case, on finding the answers to the murders.
But no matter how much she tried to push it away, Leon lingered in the back of her mind, like a stubborn shadow. What if he does care about me? The thought was unsettling, yet somehow... comforting.
She sighed and plopped back down on her bed, burying her face in her hands. This is ridiculous. I can't afford to think about him right now. I need to solve the mystery. I need to focus. But... I don't want to lose him either.
Her heart was a tangled mess of emotions. Maybe I'm just scared. Scared that if I let myself care about him, I'll lose everything I've built. Scared that he'll reject me like everyone else has.
The quiet of the room felt oppressive now. Lemon's thoughts were racing, and she couldn't escape them, not even for a moment. She thought back to Leon's smile, the way he always tried to make her feel comfortable, the way he'd always been there when she needed him—whether she asked for it or not.
But no, I can't. I can't let myself go there. I can't get caught up in something I'm not ready for.
Her fingers traced the edge of her phone, but she didn't pick it up. She wanted to text him. She wanted to say something, anything, to see if he felt the same way. But she couldn't bring herself to do it. What if it ruined everything? What if he turned away from her like everyone else had?
She squeezed her eyes shut, willing the thoughts to stop. I can't do this.
But even as she tried to convince herself, she knew deep down that this feeling wasn't going away. The desire to be close to him, the need to know if he felt the same. It was a dangerous game, but it was one she couldn't stop playing.
Lemon's mind drifted back to the case, back to the murders that had haunted her every waking hour. I need to solve this. I need to focus.
But somewhere, deep inside, a voice whispered. And maybe then, after all this... maybe then I can find the courage to tell him how I feel.
Then, the door to the dorm creaked open, and a chorus of voices flooded the room, pulling Lemon out of her thoughts. Riley, Evelyn, Scarlett, Autumn, and Hazel walked in, each chatting animatedly as they shuffled inside, the sound of laughter and the clinking of trays accompanying them.
"Well, well, look who decided to stay behind," Riley teased as she set down her tray, noticing Lemon still on her bed. "Don't tell me you're not hungry?"
Lemon smiled faintly but didn't respond. She wasn't in the mood for small talk.
"Lemon, you okay?" Evelyn asked, her voice gentle as she placed her tray down beside Riley's. "You look a little... out of it."
"I'm fine," Lemon replied quickly, sitting up straight. "Just... thinking."
Hazel shot a knowing glance at the others. "She's probably too busy worrying about the case. You know, solving the mysteries and all that." Her tone was teasing but light.
"I think she's more worried about something else," Scarlett chimed in with a smirk, nudging Autumn, who giggled.
Lemon rolled her eyes. "I'm not worried about anything," she said, trying to dismiss the teasing. But a part of her couldn't help the flush that crept up her neck at their insinuation.
Autumn raised an eyebrow. "Sure, you're not," she said with a wink. "We've all noticed you've been a little distracted lately."
Evelyn smirked, taking a bite of her food. "Maybe she's finally realized she has a crush on someone. Can't blame her. Leon's a pretty good guy."
Lemon's heart skipped a beat at the mention of Leon's name, but she quickly masked her reaction. "Don't be ridiculous," she muttered, her voice a little too sharp.
But her friends weren't fooled. They exchanged knowing looks and began to tease her more, all while their laughter filled the room.
"Maybe it's the guy she's been talking to non-stop on the phone," Riley teased, winking at Lemon. "Who is it? A mystery man?"
Lemon could feel her face heating up, but she stayed silent, pretending not to care.
Hazel plopped down on the bed next to Lemon, nudging her gently. "It's okay, Lemon. We're just having fun. But seriously, if you like someone, you should just go for it. Life's too short to second-guess."
Lemon smiled at her friend's words but didn't know how to respond. She didn't have the courage to even think about it, let alone act on it.
"Maybe she's too busy to think about anything else," Autumn mused aloud, her tone turning a little more serious. "We're all trying to figure out who's behind these murders. I wouldn't be surprised if she's just focusing on that for now."
The girls fell silent for a moment, the weight of the case settling in the room again. The atmosphere shifted from playful teasing to somber reflection. They all knew the murders weren't over, that more lives were at risk.
Lemon's mind, however, was still divided. The case. Leon. She couldn't seem to stop thinking about both, no matter how hard she tried. Maybe I should focus on the mystery. Maybe that's the most important thing right now.
But another part of her whispered, What if I'm wrong? What if I'm missing out on something real?
As the girls settled down and began to eat, the conversation drifted to the case once again, but Lemon found it hard to focus. Her thoughts kept drifting back to Leon, his smile, his quiet strength, and the way he made her feel seen in ways no one else had.
Maybe... maybe after the case is solved, I'll have the courage to tell him how I feel, Lemon thought, but even she wasn't sure if she could follow through on that.
The others continued to chat and laugh, but Lemon was lost in her thoughts. The two things that consumed her—the case and Leon—felt like they were constantly battling for her attention. But for now, all she could do was try to keep moving forward, one step at a time.