The Love Hunter

Chapter 15

The Enigmatic Half-Elf

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Another day, another set of intrigues. Ang buhay sa Crystalveil Academy ay hindi nauubusan ng mga sorpresa, lalo na ngayon na may bagong paksa ang atensyon ko. Kung totoo ang sinasabi ng mga chismis, then I might have found someone as interesting—if not more mysterious—than Theo and Rylan combined.

Sa klase ngayong umaga, may kasama kaming mga sophomore students, isang bagay na bihira lang mangyari. My eyes drifted across the classroom, taking in the unfamiliar faces. That's when I saw him—Darian, the half-elf with that quiet, brooding air. He sat near the back, away from everyone, half-hidden in the shadows as if he was allergic to light. Hindi ko maiwasang mapangiti. 

'Interesting'.

His aura wasn't like anyone else's. It was intense and, dare I say, slightly intimidating, even from a distance. While the other students chattered, Darian was quiet, his gaze fixed out the window, lost in thought. Kung may kakayahan lang akong makapasok agad sa isip niya, I would have done it in an instant. But I quickly realized something was... off.

I focused, reaching out with my mind-reading ability to sense his thoughts. Pero wala akong makuhang kahit ano. It was as if his mind was shrouded in shadows, resistant to my powers. 

'What?' I thought, slightly stunned. I'd never encountered anyone who could naturally block my abilities without even trying. The intrigue just deepened.

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Nang matapos ang klase, hindi na ako nag-aksaya ng oras. Kung hindi ko mababasa ang isip niya, then I'd just have to go for the direct approach. Lumapit ako sa kanya as he was gathering his books, not even glancing up at my presence.

"Darian, right?" I said, putting on my best charming smile.

He looked up, his gaze piercing but cold, his expression unreadable. "Yes," he replied, his tone flat and uninterested. His dark green eyes bore into me for a second, then he went back to organizing his things as if I wasn't there.

'Wow. He's not even pretending to care,' I thought, amused rather than offended. Most people gave at least a little reaction, but Darian seemed entirely uninterested.

"Lyra," I continued, undeterred, extending my hand. "We haven't met formally."

He glanced at my hand, then back to my face, his expression remaining stony. "I know," he replied, but he didn't take my hand. Instead, he turned away, muttering, "I'll be late for my next class."

I didn't move. "Hindi ka naman magiging late, may oras ka pa." I gave him a smirk. "Pero mukhang wala ka talagang balak na makipag-usap sa'kin, huh?"

Darian paused, casting a brief glance over his shoulder, eyebrow slightly raised. "It's nothing personal," he said. "I just prefer my own company."

"Interesting choice," I mused, taking a step closer. "Most people would at least pretend to be polite. But you don't care about that, do you?"

"Does it bother you?" he asked, his voice quiet, almost challenging, though his gaze was now back on his books.

"Nope," I replied, crossing my arms. "Actually, I find it refreshing."

His only response was a slight nod before he started to walk away. I stood there, intrigued beyond belief. 

'A half-elf with a wall around his mind and a heart even more closed off.' This would be a challenge worth taking on.

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