Young Adults

CHAPTER 8

Sunday whizzed by in a blur.

(Y/n) had spent the entire day helping her mother with the grand opening of their family-owned nursery, and to say it was busy would be an understatement. Orders for floral arrangements poured in non-stop, and (Y/n) found herself glued to the computer, processing online requests.

Thankfully, her mother had hired a young adult named Hanji to assist, and her quirky, energetic nature made the workload feel much lighter.

For someone so eccentric and full of life, Hanji made conversation easy-something (Y/n) appreciated more than she expected. She didn't feel the pressure to fill in silences, because her ponytailed, glasses-wearing coworker always had something to excitedly ramble about. It was a refreshing change of pace.

But the weekend was over now.

And Monday morning had rolled around, dragging (Y/n) back into the familiar routine of school.

She found herself falling into the usual rhythm: waiting with Eren for Mikasa and Armin, trailing after them to Eren's locker, and watching him absolutely demolish the contents inside. The usual bickering between Mikasa and Eren filled the air, but (Y/n)'s mind was elsewhere. Her eyes subtly scanned the hallway, searching for a certain someone.

Look at me... already looking for him again.

Her heart nearly skipped a beat when she actually spotted him this time. Levi Ackerman, the infamous "bad boy," was casually striding down the hall. He kept his gaze on his phone but managed to dodge students with effortless grace. He was dressed simply-gray hoodie, black jeans, black Converse with white rims, and a plain brown backpack slung loosely over one shoulder. He passed by, disappearing around a corner as quickly as he appeared.

"I'm still in disbelief about what you told us," Mikasa's voice broke (Y/n)'s trance.

"O-Oh...yeah," (Y/n) replied, trying to shake the lingering thoughts of Levi.

"I mean, that's not like him at all. Everyone knows him as a jerk. Even his ex, Petra," Eren chimed in.

"Yeah, speaking of which... do you guys know why they broke up? Was it him? Or her?" (Y/n) asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.

Armin raised an eyebrow, his usual knowing smirk appearing. "Woah, it's not like you to be so nosy, (Y/n)."

"Well, what can I say? You guys rubbed off on me," she teased, giving him a playful smirk.

"Wow! The student surpasses the teachers. You've learned well, young padawan," Eren joked, making a dramatic motion with his hand.

Before anyone could respond, the warning bell rang loudly through the halls, cutting their conversation short. The group said their goodbyes, and Eren walked with (Y/n) to their shared literature class. As they entered the classroom, Eren leaned in close, his voice low.

"Let me know if he makes you uncomfortable, alright?" he whispered, glancing over at the brooding figure already seated near the back.

(Y/n) waved him off with a reassuring smile before approaching her seat beside Levi, her heart thudding just a bit louder in her chest.

As (Y/n) made her way to her seat, her pace slowed, and memories from Saturday began to surface in her mind.

She could still feel the warmth of Levi's presence, recalling how he had hovered over her that night, his body close enough that his heat seemed to seep into her skin. His voice had been so commanding, demanding her presence and pulling her away from those scoundrels. For someone who was still considered young by society's standards, Levi felt like a man-a grown man-in that moment.