A Eternal Love

chapter 10

Beep beep.
Beep beep.

Ugh, I hate mornings. Or maybe mornings just hate me. Should I get up… or take a quick nap? Honestly, who can ever say no to a nap? Byeee.

Just as I’m drifting back into dreamland—
WHAM.

I get shoved right off the bed. And I know exactly who it is.

Mia: Jeremy, I swear I’ll kill you.
Jeremy: Wakie wakie. Remember the bet?
Mia: I hate you.
Jeremy: I hate you more. Now get up before you’re late for the interaction.
Mia: Doesn’t matter what I do. I’m not gonna win. He will never let me.
Jeremy: Maybe not. But at least give it your 100%.
Mia (pouting): Five minutes, please?
Jeremy: Nope.

Ughhh. Fine. I drag myself up, do the morning routine, and get ready for college.

Mia: Good morning, guys.
Jeremy: Uh, what happened to your top?
Mia: What do you mean?
Jeremy: Looks like a rat chewed it.
Mia: MOM!
Rebecca (laughing): That’s my top, remember?
Mia: Yeah, well, I borrowed it. This is called fashion.
Jeremy: More like end of the world.
Mom: Jeremy, stop teasing her. Today’s important for her.
Dad: Morning, honey.
Mom: Sit. Eat breakfast.
Jeremy: She’ll be late.
Mia: No, I won’t.
Jeremy: Fine. I’m not dropping you today.
Mia: Don’t need your services 😎.

…Cut to: yes, I got late. And Jeremy is driving me anyway.

Mia: Did I ever tell you, you’re the best brother in the whole world?
Jeremy: Get out of my car. You’re already late.
Mia: Byeee.
Jeremy: And if you don’t win this, I’ll never drive you again.
Mia: Bye 🤪.

I rush inside, Jeeya’s already messaging that they’re in class. I bump into someone—hard.

Mia: Sorry!

Didn’t even see who it was. No time. I bolt straight to the lecture hall.

Please, please let me not be in trouble today.

The classroom’s almost full. Harry waves at me.

Mia: Hey, guys.
Harry: You’re late.
Jeeya: Thought you weren’t coming.
Mia: Just… attending.
Lizzie: We’ll see.
Harry: Mr. Mikelson is late too. Lucky for you.
Mia: Why’s that lucky?
Jeeya: Because he’s never late. He’s known for being on time. Super punctual.
Mia: Doesn’t look like it today.
Lizzie: Or maybe he’s waiting for you.
Mia: Me?! Why would—

Professor: Students, please stand. Mr. Mikelson is here.

I practically dive into my seat between Harry and Lizzie. The door opens and—yep. The asshole himself walks in. He catches me rolling my eyes and smirks like he remembers exactly who I am. Great. My last hope? Dead.

I glare daggers at him. He glares back. Our silent message: I hate you.

Harry (whispering): Look at him. Wow.
Mia: You have terrible taste.
Jeeya: Who’s that next to him?
Lizzie: His partner. Best friend.
Mia: …Oh no. I bumped into him in the hallway.
Jeeya: Like in the movies!
Harry: Tell me you at least apologized.
Mia: I did. Didn’t wait for his reaction though.
Harry: Why, Mia, whyyy.
Mia (🥺): …

Then I hear that voice. Smooth, deep, familiar.

Unknown: Hello everyone. Please, take a seat.

I turn, and holy shit. The man speaking is… breathtaking. Brown hair, perfect nose, piercing blue eyes, sharp jawline, red lips, a tattoo peeking under his sleeve. My heart stutters.

Why do I feel like I know him?

Harry pulls me back down.

Harry: He said sit. Stop eye-hawking him.
Mia: I wasn’t!
Jeeya: Yep. And the moon is square.
Mia: 😠
Lizzie: Honestly, I don’t think he’d mind.
Jeeya: But Jacob might. Look, he’s sulking.
Mia: Oh, God. You’re acting like I’ve never stared at anyone.
Harry: Not like that.
Mia: Like what?
Harry: Like you wanna eat him raw.
Mia: I just feel like I’ve seen him before.
Jeeya: You don’t know him. You said you don’t.
Mia: I know Mr. Mikelson.
Harry: He is Mr. Mikelson.
Mia: No, shrimp-in-the-blue-suit is Mikelson.
(Shrimp shoots me a dirty look. Did he hear that? Crap.)
Harry: Blue-suit guy’s his cousin.
Mia: Wait—then who’s…

Unknown: My name is Daniel Sebastian Mikelson. Pleasure to finally meet you all.

I swear he’s looking right at me. My stomach flips.

He explains the program: three students, one-year internship, then permanent positions. Applause breaks out. But I barely hear a word. Because he keeps making eye contact with me. Like he’s staring straight through me.

Mr. Mikelson: Don’t you want answers to your questions? You can ask me.

The mic is handed to me. Wait—WHAT?

Harry (hissing): He’s asking you. Stand up!

My palms sweat. I hate attention. But I stand.

Mr. Mikelson: May I have your name?
Mia: Mia. Mia Roy.
Mr. Mikelson: Mia.

The way he says my name makes my heart race. Stop it.

Mr. Mikelson: Please, ask your question.

Brain. Work. Say something.

Mia: I… just want to ask why you’re here. I mean—why this institution? And why only three students?
Mr. Mikelson: Nice question, Miss Mia. Three students, because we want to try something new. Fresh minds. And as for why here… because what I was searching for, I found here.

Applause.

I sink back down. Face burning.

Harry: Nice question.
Lizzie: Congrats—you’re the first to question him.
Mia: He made me!

Still, my chest feels weird. Warm. Dangerous.

The rest of the session is a blur. At one point I feel his eyes on me again—sharp, angry. And shrimp whispers in his ear. Great. Another strike against me. Why am I even here?

I slump onto Harry’s shoulder.

Harry: What’s wrong?
Mia: Just tired.
Harry: (pets my head)
Mia: I’m not a dog.

I try to nap but Lizzie nudges me.

Lizzie: You can’t just sleep on his shoulder. Everyone’s watching.
Mia: No one cares.
Lizzie: Just… please.
Mia: Fine.

Finally, it ends. First thing I do is stand and leave.

Jacob (behind me): Hey.
Mia: Hi.
Jacob: Thought you weren’t coming.
Mia: Thought I’d give it a chance.
Jacob: Good. Where to now?
Mia: Locker room.
Jacob: Want company?
Mia: Sure, thanks.

He grabs my hand. Too much. I pull it away when we get there.

Mia: Our lockers are opposite directions.
Jacob: I can wait.
Mia: Uh, it’s a girl thing.

Lie. I open my locker—and freeze.

Inside: a bouquet of flowers. A crown. A small artificial butterfly perched delicately. And a black envelope stamped with the same wolf symbol as before.

My stomach twists.

I open it.

Two chilling words stare back at me.

“Hi, honey.”