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Josephine lets out a weary sigh as she cracks open her textbook, yet another day dedicated to exam preparation. It isn't that she despises studying, but the continuous work is wearing her down. The pile of books on her table has grown to the point of bewilderment, and she can't help but notice the temptation of some unrelated romance novels she indulges in to procrastinate.
"Stay focused," she mutters to herself, determined to make progress before taking a break.
However, her concentration wavers when she notices something—or rather, someone. Regulus is several feet away, engrossed in a conversation with a girl, the very same one from the previous encounter who inquired about his relationship status. He nods along to her words.
Josephine narrows her eyes. She can't help but remember his past behavior, his flirtatious nature at parties, and his history of casual encounters. He has put an end to all that since they became a couple.
Josephine does trust Regulus, perhaps more than she trusts most people. But her trust in others is scarce, especially for the blonde girl who is now inching closer to her boyfriend.
Instead of confronting the situation, Josie simply leans back in her chair and crosses her arms. She wants to intervene, to protect her relationship, but something holds her back—perhaps her own insecurities.
Josie can't quite pinpoint what prevents her from taking action, other than the complex interplay of her emotions. She'd readily step in to defend a friend from a threat, yet allow someone to shout and berate her. But under certain circumstances, when she feels invincible, she would shout back just as fiercely. It's a weird thing that might have roots in her past with Fleamont, though she can't be certain.
Another characteristic of Josie is her skill in pretending. It makes her wonder if it's her facade, not her emotions, that dictates her responses to various situations. The real her often remains hidden in the back of her mind, reacting to what she believes is best.
At this moment, she grapples with jealousy, a potent and irrational feeling. But Josie feels undeserving of it, even though she's dating Regulus. She views herself as worth very little, that's what she constantly tells herself.
Pretending becomes increasingly challenging as the girl's fingers graze Regulus's tie. Josie observes with a sharp gaze as Regulus promptly withdraws and walks away.
Arching a brow as soon as his eyes meet hers, she sees the blonde girl left bewildered as Regulus approaches Josephine.
Josie forces her attention back to her books as he takes a seat beside her.
"Josephine," he greets.
"Regulus," she responds, flicking her eyes up to meet his briefly before returning her focus to her study materials.
Glancing up, she notices the blonde girl still looking baffled. "What did that girl want?" Josie inquires, directing her gaze back to Regulus.
He sighs. "She asked me out on a date."
"Hmm," Josie responds.
"I turned her down," he says, tilting his head. "Why, did you think I would say yes? I'm with you, Josephine. I wouldn't go out with someone else."
She bites her lip and sighs. "I don't know," she mumbles.
"Just help me with studying," she adds quickly, not wanting to delve further into the topic.
