A stray thought whispered into the air, startling her awake.

I believe we can hold it now…

Anya paused, eyes swivelling over to Mr. Henderson. He stood beside the lockers, glancing at the number of students chatting amiably outside the halls. Perhaps it would be better to hold the Star Couple contest in a month. My, won't they all be excited!

Anya arched a brow. What's he talking about?

Henderson adjusted his eye-piece, a soft smile curling his lips hidden under his gray mustache. Eden's most elegant couple, indeed!

Emerald eyes stared at his retreating back, perplexed. Anya collected her books from the locker, shouldering the strap of her bag as she walked to her classroom.

Twin pigtails greeted her, dark brow bobbing as Becky lifted her head from her notebook. A smile touched her face. "What took you so long, Starlight?"

The name always made Anya's chest swell with pride— the spy name she would have. Like her Papa's after she had achieved world peace. Anya sat down beside her friend, dropping her bag on their desk.

"Hey, Becky?"

"Yes, Anya-chan?"

"What's the Star Couple contest?"

Becky paused, whirling around to face Anya. Anya backed away as Becky clasped her hands together, her eyes sparkling with sheer excitement.

"Oh, my gosh. Where did you hear about it?"

Anya racked her brain for an answer. Only to settle on what her father would do.

"Oh, Anya just heard some students talk about it." She shrugged reluctantly.

Anya watched curiously as Becky's shoulders slumped promptly and she sighed, turning back to flip the pages of her notebook. Despite her friend's drop in enthusiasm, Anya inched closer. She nudged Becky softly.

"Come on, come on! Tell Anya about it!"

"It's a competition," Becky sighed loudly. A dreamy smile curled her lips as she dropped her chin in her hand. She waggled her brows, pressing a hand to her chest dramatically.

"To see who's Eden's best couple of the batch!"

Anya never had much interest in romance. So she did what she did best; promptly lost all interest as she turned her attention to her bag. She pulled out her books, contemplating on what to have for lunch during break.

Becky continued on in the background, her words hardly reaching Anya's ears.

"… so romantic… fun… I wish I could…"

Anya let the words filter through, barely paying any attention.

"… lucky… winning… Stella stars—"

Now that immediately caught Anya's attention. She jerked back to her friend, eyes wide. "What did you say, Becky?!"

Becky paused, arching a brow. "Uh, that the couples who get to enter are so lucky?"

Anya shook her head. "No, after that."

"Uh?" Becky seemed to backtrack her words and shrugged.

"That the winning couple gets rewarded three Stellas?"

Anya's eyes glimmered brightly. Her mind immediately started planning out everything. Anya is just three Stellas away from becoming an imperial scholar! She cupped a hand around her chin, pondering furiously. If Anya somehow wins this, world peace could finally be achieved!

Manicured fingers touched her shoulder. Anya blinked, meeting Becky's warm golden eyes. She was offered a sympathetic smile.

"Oh, my sweet, sweet, Anya-chan, I know what you're thinking."

Anya held her breath, almost panicking. Was Becky a mind reader too?!

Becky patted Anya's shoulder understandingly. "You want to participate in the contest, don't you, Anya-chan?"

Anya stilled in her spot, eyes widening even more.

"You're three Stellas away from becoming an imperial scholar." Becky smiled smugly, crossing her arms over her chest and leaning back in her chair. "Of course, you would be interested in this. But, you have two problems!"

Anya blinked as a finger was held before her face. She peered sideways to look at Becky, a blurry figure.

"One. No one knows when the Star Couple contest happens. It's announced anytime of the year so students don't get into fake relationships just so they can participate for the reward."

Anya nodded absently. That made sense— she had only heard about it since she read Mr. Henderson's mind. A smirk curled Anya's lips slowly and she mentally prided herself. She was one step ahead of getting those stellas than everyone in her batch.

Becky struck out another finger, snapping Anya out of her reverie.

"Two. You don't have a partner."

"A partner?" Anya echoed, perplexed. "Why would I need a partner, Becky?"

"Anya-chan, it's a couple contest," Becky explained slowly. "You need to have a boyfriend for it—"

A hand slapped down on their collective desks. The girls jumped in alarm, gaze snapping forward. Only to find that the hand belonged to a certain blond. Anya curled her hands into fists beneath the table, holding herself back from punching the boy straight in his face.

Two pairs of eyes peered at her from behind him.

"Ha!" Emile snorted, hand still atop the desk. "Who'd ever wanna be an uggo's boyfriend?"

Ewen sniggered in the background as Emile smirked. "Don't you agree, Damian-sama?"

Anya's eyes flickered behind the two blonds. Molten gold met her gaze, staring at her from behind.

Damian had grown taller over the years, peering from behind the heads of his friends with both of his hands stuffed into the pockets of his pants. A crimson cape was draped over his shoulders, gold strings connecting the collars together.

A boyfriend? Anya heard his thoughts loud and clear, sensing the strong underlying emotion within them— something only particular to him for some reason whenever it came to her. Damian bit the inside of his cheek. His brow furrowed, and he cocked his head slightly. Does she really have a boyfriend—

He caught her wide-eyed stare and immediately straightened up. Hazel eyes narrowed challengingly as he scowled. "What are you starin' at, shrimp!"

Anya brushed off his rude comment, tilting her head to the side. Never breaking eye contact.

"Will Sy-on Boy participate?"

"Participate?" Damian arched a brow. "What nonsense are you spouting now—"

"The Star Couple contest," Anya cut in, watching him with calculating eyes. "Will Sy-on Boy participate when it happens?"

He blinked once, then twice as the rest of their bickering friends quietened down. All attention set on her question and him.

Anya watched in faint amusement as a blush rose along Damian's cheek, tinting his face a light shade of pink. She heard his thoughts within his head— a hurricane of questions and answers swirling in his mind. Wh-why is she asking me something like that!

"Why would I wanna participate in some stupid thing like that?!" He snapped.

"…yeah," Ewen snorted, hands on his hips. "Boss-man's already an imperial scholar. He doesn't need to be in lousy competitions!"

Damian seemed satisfied with his response, shooting Anya a cocky smirk. Anya pursed her lips, deciding that Sy-on Boy's lackey's did have a point. Why put in all the effort when you already have all the Stella stars?

"Oh, please." Becky leaned back in her seat, looking unimpressed. She crossed her arms, a taunting smirk on her face.

"Didn't your brother win this contest even when he was an imperial scholar?"

Damian stared flatly at her, both of his lackeys exchanging nervous stares.

Becky's seemingly taunting question made Anya remember that Sy-on Boy infact did have a big brother. She had never seen him and had never really cared for him but he was always in Damian's thoughts somehow. Popping up every now and then with such strong envious emotions that she had to distract herself from it before she suffered from a migraine.

"Oh, yeah." Ewen said quietly. He sounded nervous, peeking back at Damian hesitantly. "Demetrius-san has been one of the winners in it. Him and his girlfriend—"

"So what?" Damian said through clenched teeth. "I don't care what he did. It's none of my concern."

Anya realized that the atmosphere had grown thick among all of them. Damian's heated glare set on Becky while his friends shuffled about awkwardly. Becky remained unfazed, meeting his scowl head on.

"Y'sure about that, Desmond?" Becky smirked, prompting him further. "Seems like it matters a lot to you."

Anya's gaze dropped to Damian's hands that were curled into fists inside his pockets. He sneered, jaw tight. "I'm an Imperial Scholar. I don't need some stupid contest about love to—"

"I heard your brother's getting engaged soon?" Becky interrupted. She propped her elbows on the table, dropping her chin in her cupped palms before she smiled sweetly at him.

"His love life's always been so better than yours, I'm sure."

Damian's eyes flared.

"It's none of your business," he glowered. His frosty gaze shifted onto Anya and she could only stare as she saw the fury in his eyes. Demetrius… his thoughts hit her like a ferocious wave, the anger bubbling viciously. Like I care what he does—

"Okay now," Emile coughed into his hand. "No one knows when the contest happens anyway. So let's just—"

"Everyone settle down!" The teacher's voice boomed through the classroom.

"We're about to start our lesson."

Damian clicked his tongue, shooting one withering glare at Becky before he climbed up the steps to his seat. Anya still felt the heat in his words, the anger in his mind— she couldn't find herself to understand them. She shook her head and readied herself for the monotonous lecture.

And fell asleep immediately.

.

.

.

.

.

Just who the hell, Damian gritted his teeth, grip tight around his blue gel-pen. Does Blackbell think she is?

Demetrius participating in the contest even when he was an Imperial Scholar was something Damian knew about, but he had never paid any attention to it. Perhaps his brother had simply participated because of the girl he was dating at that time. Damian didn't remember her much, aside from the fact that she was the daughter of a politician who also owned the entire pharmaceutical industry in Ostania.

A popular girl, rich and pretty. Hanging off his brother's arm for all to see and envy.

And now he's getting engaged…

Tongue trapped between his teeth, Damian listened as the professor droned on about finances and their importance.

He had never given much thought to the Star Couple contest either. He was always busy with his academics and extracurriculars, reaching for the top. He didn't have time for romance in his life.

But, he pursed his lips, mind reeling back to his brother and his nameless girlfriend. If Demetrius can do it…

Damian absently doodled a face on the inside of his margin, drawing a pair of horns over its head. His fingers clenched the pen tightly and he grimaced.

… then so can I.

He was fully aware that he could choose any girl he wanted, if he did decide to participate. Anyone in the entire school— any girl would be more than happy to be the Damian Desmond's girlfriend. She would be beautiful, talented, at the top of everyone else, she would be—

Hazel eyes flickered down the seats before him. A head of soft cotton candy curls filled his vision and he exhaled softly.

It was silly. Stupid even. To think of her of all people. She sucked at everything, had physically assaulted him when they were children, and had six tonitrus bolts to her name. And yet, she was the first girl his eyes landed on.

Damian snorted, dropping his chin atop his knuckles as he gazed down at her. He mulled over the words in his head— the words he had wanted to say for a very longtime. It was always so much easier to say it in his thoughts and never, ever out loud.

Anya Forger. He watched the back of her head, not noticing the stiffening of her spine.

Would you like to be my girlfriend?

His breath tugged past his lips as she whirled around in her seat, coral pink hair bouncing across her shoulders. Round emerald eyes met his gaze, and he bit down his tongue, freezing on the spot.

Damian held her gaze, refusing to back down. His cheeks flushed as he narrowed his eyes into a glare. Anya simply stared at him. His heart thundered within his ribcage when the hints of a smile touched her face and she turned away, leaving him to stare at her back.

His hand reached upwards, knuckles pressing against his chest.

Damian clutched his shirt tightly, feeling the rapid thrum of his heart beneath his fist.