ALPHA UNIVERSE #6: CRAVING YOU

CHAPTER 5

The invitation still echoed in Danielle's mind, refusing to let her focus on the remaining classes. It lingered even as she lay in bed that night, her thoughts tangled in the memory.

And just like that, the moment bled into her dreams.

She found herself in an empty room, the air heavy with an unspoken tension. From her vantage point, she could see her own figure frozen, like a deer caught in headlights, facing Mark Lee. His gaze was unreadable, something different flickering behind his sharp eyes, a small grin playing at his lips.

It was crazy.

The conversation had been smooth, almost normal. But here, in this dream, it felt different. More intense. And the worst part?

She couldn't do anything but watch.

The weight of the moment jolted her awake before her alarm could. She sat up abruptly, her face burning as the memory crashed over her like a tidal wave.

"Oh my god, Yoon Danielle, get it together," she muttered, running a hand over her face. "It's not like you haven't known him before."

True, they had known each other for four years, but never closely. Their only connection was Giselle—Mark's sister and her best friend. They had shared classrooms, exchanged occasional words, and she had been to their house more times than she could count. His family knew her well enough, and yet, she and Mark were merely two people orbiting the same social space.

There was no way this could mean anything more.

Right?

But why was he acting so...different?

Calling Mark Lee handsome, intelligent, and undeniably attractive wasn't exactly groundbreaking. Half the student body had probably had a fleeting crush on the esteemed council president at some point. But that wasn't what bothered her.

It was the way he spoke to her. The way his voice dipped just slightly, the way his grin lingered a second too long.

Why the hell did he sound flirty?

A knock at the door cut through her spiraling thoughts, followed by it swinging open without hesitation.

"Goodness, you're awake," came Chenle's exasperated voice.

She blinked at him. "Le?"

He scoffed, arms crossed. "Duh? Turn off your alarm."

"What?"

"Danielle, your alarm."

It was only then that she noticed the blaring noise filling the room. Scrambling, she slammed the button on her phone, silencing the offending sound.

Chenle shook his head, unimpressed. "Did the assignment really fry your brain?"

"Assignment?" she echoed blankly.

"Prof. Qian's? The trio project? Hello? Mark is in our group, which means we don't actually have to try because he'll do it himself."

That name snapped her back to reality. "Mark!?"