I like her as well!

"Shh!" Albie hurriedly shushed Mason. “Can you not be so loud when gossiping? And I just got here today. How would I know who she is?”

"Oops," Mason gave a soft smile, embarrassed by his outburst.

Xavier, seemingly unperturbed, allowed Emma to take the seat beside him. Despite their proximity, both appeared indifferent to each other. The silence between them was palpable, yet it held a depth that intrigued Albie.

"What's going on between them?" Albie mused, his curiosity piqued.

Determined to unravel the enigma of her allure, Albie resolved to get closer to Emma to understand why she held such sway over Xavier’s interest. He watched as Emma pulled out her notebook, her movements precise and deliberate. There was an air of mystery about her that captivated Albie’s attention too.

As the class progressed, Albie's eyes kept darting back to Emma and Xavier. He noted how l Xavier, seemed almost protective, his body language subtly shielding Emma from the rest of the class’s scrutiny.

The bell rang, signaling the end of the class. Emma swiftly gathered her things, her movements fluid and graceful. Xavier stood up, his eyes briefly meeting Albie’s before turning away. In that brief moment also Albie noticed the possessiveness of Xavier towards Emma. He could instantly tell that Xavier was warning him to not do anything stupid.

As Emma left and Xavier also walked out of the classroom, the murmurs grew louder. Albie and Mason exchanged a glance, their curiosity now a shared obsession.

The sky above ILI University was a mix of pink and orange as the sun set, casting long shadows across the campus. Xavier walked quickly toward the University.

"Don't ask any questions," Xavier said sharply when he saw Mason and Albie rushing to join him. His voice was harsh, contrasting with the peaceful evening.

Mason, curious, said, "Then why don't you tell us? Who is she?" He nodded toward the distant figure of a girl fading into the twilight.

Xavier's jaw clenched, but he said, "Emma." He didn't mind sharing her name; it was the other details he wanted to keep secret.

Albie, always direct, asked, "And why is she important to you?"

Xavier didn't look at him. Silence hung between them, thick and heavy.

"Okay, don't tell us that," Albie said, realizing it was a long shot. He hesitated before adding, "But just tell us, do you like her?"

Xavier stopped suddenly, turning to face his friends. His eyes were cold and intense. "How long have you known me?"

"Forever," Mason answered quickly.

"Then do you really think I would fall for someone?" Xavier's voice was incredulous, his eyebrows raised.

"No, but..." Albie began to argue, but stopped. He had seen the way Xavier looked at Emma, with a look that was far from indifferent. It was a look of protectiveness, as if he was trying to shield her from harm. Yet, here was Xavier, as detached as ever, showing no sign of the feelings Albie was sure he had seen. It was clear he wasn't lying.

Deciding not to push further, Albie changed the subject. "Whatever. Anyway, I'm curious about Emma too. I want to befriend her. If anyone has a problem, let me know and I'll back off." His tone was firm, but his eyes searched Xavier’s for any sign of objection.

Xavier sighed, a rare moment of openness. "Be my guest," he said finally. Without another word, he turned and walked away, heading straight for his office.

As Xavier vanished into the shadows of the old stone buildings, Mason and Albie exchanged a look.

"He can't be serious, even I can tell that he is so much protective towards that Emma. How could he not tell that himself?" Mason rolled his eyes.

"He is dumb with his EQ. He knows nothing about emotions. Let's just wait." Albie answered.

They both knew there was more to this story, more than Xavier was willing to share. But for now, they respected his silence, understanding that in the maze of secrets that was their friend's life, some things were better left unknown.

But the seeds of curiosity had been planted. As Mason and Albie left the campus for the night, they knew it was only a matter of time before those seeds grew into a quest for the truth, no matter what darkness they might uncover.