Because I Missed You
***
The text had arrived quite a while ago with a ding.
"No way... a reply?"
She felt a flicker of anticipation but deliberately didn't check it right away. Sometimes, the anticipation itself was the fun part.
Carlyle texted Bianca Shama often. About five messages a day, usually. He avoided calls—not just because he was busy, but because he didn't want to burden her.
Carlyle knew all too well how annoying frequent contact could be. He'd had plenty of experience with clingy exes, after all.
Especially calls. Missed calls were a hassle even if he hadn't asked for them, and it soured things fast. Plus, if he called and she didn't pick up, he'd worry. Honestly, it was only now that he understood how his exes must have felt. It struck him as ridiculous yet inevitable.
Lately, he'd leaned into texting more. He didn't want to overwhelm her, but he did want to stay in touch. Bianca, especially. She played hard to get but always left just enough opening. He figured she was the type who bounced back.
And damn, it's cute.
He'd only recently realized that missing someone meant wanting to message them. Thanks to Bianca Shama.
Inside the trendy cocktail bar Milliore, things were bustling as usual.
"Table 7 needs serving!"
"One double mojito, one Blue Hawaii, two Peach Crushes!"
No time to breathe. Carlyle's hands danced as he filled glasses—ice clinking, sweet fruit scents blooming alongside the sharp bite of alcohol. All too familiar now.
"Your cocktails."
He even handled serving. Amid it all, he politely deflected customer requests that ate up his time—like phone numbers or photo ops.
But through it all, only one thing occupied Carlyle's mind.
...Did she reply?
She'd been responding lately, which was new. Before, he'd send a bunch and get nothing.
"Take a break, Carlyle."
"Thanks, manager."
Only after permission did he slump into a chair in the break room, weary. Alone, he pulled out his phone with bated breath.
And there it was—a text from Bianca Shama!
He'd hoped, but after this morning's message from her, he'd tempered expectations.
So a reply was pure gratitude. Really. To Carlyle, he was definitely the "eol" in this dynamic—the one chasing.
Throat parched from nerves, he downed an icy cocktail. The cool sweetness soothed him.
Gulp. Finally, he checked the message.
The first photo was... ordinary? No, far from it. Her smile was captivating, the kind that ensnared men. But the next one? It blew his mind completely.
He lost his words, straight up. Rubbed his eyes—still there.
What the hell?
'No contact,' she said...?
What was she thinking? Her mind was a mystery.
Oversized T-shirt. But she'd tugged it just enough to reveal a clear valley of cleavage. Overtly seductive. Her pretty, tiny face wore a serious, mismatched expression.
No clue what her intent was—no context.
Still, he stared blankly at first, then chuckled in disbelief. A twinge of annoyance mixed in.
What to do with this cheeky girl? Too tempting, too cute.
He resolved to see Bianca Shama after his shift.
Exams next week, though...
He'd planned to study post-work. But with this? Impossible to resist.
Worried someone might peek, he locked his phone fast. That photo was for his eyes only. No one else's.
Of course, he'd saved it with a firm tap.
Time to go. As he rose, something tugged at him.
"Ha..."
Carlyle grimaced, clutching his head briefly.
***
Meanwhile, oblivious, Vita studied diligently. The scratch of her pen filled the quiet room.
Pink lips pursed tight, amethyst eyes laser-focused. All her attention locked on the workbook.
She'd always trailed Carlyle Schultz, sure—but a consistent second place.
She excelled in every subject. Secret? Killer concentration. Once seated, she rarely broke stride.
This time, a sense of crisis fueled her. She knew she'd slacked lately.
Luckily, day one's exams were rote memorization: history and philosophy. Easy—just park your butt and cram.
"Why do I need to memorize kings' achievements?"
Grumbling, she memorized anyway.
These days, concepts like "monarchy" or "nation" felt distant, relics of a faded collective era.
Still, she'd seen one once. Nominally, royalty lingered.
"The students of this academy are our future."
The suited old man at her enrollment ceremony—King, apparently. It had felt surreal.
Anyway, Vita crammed history for hours: kings' deeds, key events by year, politics, religion.
"...Break time."
Fatigued, she stretched and grabbed snacks—nuts her mom left days ago.
Munching, she wondered idly what Carlyle was up to. Outside, pitch black.
Still working...?
Not her business. But that time with Nathan the thug, Carlyle had helped late at night.
...Impressive, honestly.
She studied while he worked and still topped the class. Annoying, but admirable anew.
And... a pang of pity? No idea why, but it flustered her.
Knowing too much about him sparked unwanted thoughts.
'His struggles? None of my business.'
Orphaned, self-reliant young, still grinding part-time. Tough, obviously. But Carlyle Schultz was obnoxiously successful anyway. Pitying him felt weirder.
Snacks done, she glanced at her phone absentmindedly.
'He must've seen it by now...'
A giggle escaped. That brief pity? Just a twinge of conscience. She'd meant to distract him, after all—a tiny guilt prick.
Curious if he'd checked, she rolled on the bed and opened her phone.
"Hmm..."
Did it work? He liked her, after all. Even she couldn't focus if Emily Swan sent something like that.
Ding—perfect timing, coincidence.
Vita bolted upright, question marks on her face.
"What the—?"
Sudden nonsense? No studying? Exams tomorrow!
Absurd.
No way she wanted that.
'What stunt is he pulling now?!'
Anxious, no time for distractions with exams.
Too late, apparently.
Shocked, Vita peeked out the window. There he was, waving after spotting her.
Thud. Panicking, she dropped the blind.
"What the..."
Flustered, but no intention of letting him in.
'Who shows up unannounced like this?'
Ignore him; he'd leave eventually.
She chose that... but
***
How much time passed? It nagged at her.
Fickle autumn weather—now drizzling outside.
"Two chapters left."
Phone silent, oddly.
'Focus. He'll leave on his own.'
She tried her trademark concentration. Failed.
"Ha..." Sigh escaped.
Too distracting. Rain tapping the window.
'Still there?'
What nonsense? Curiosity won; she crept to the window, lifting the blind stealthily.
"...!"
Froze in shock.
'Why hasn't he left?'
Carlyle Schultz leaned against the wall outside, gazing up. Eyes met; she yanked the blind down in a fluster.
Crazy? Had to be.
Not heavy rain—just a drizzle. Still, his clothes must be soaked.
Her phone buzzed faintly.
Even in a ruthless rivalry world, this softened her.
Carlyle Schultz had this stupidly stubborn side that wrecked her resolve.
"Making me the bad guy."
Grumbling to herself, she decided.
Vita didn't know, but as he replied, Carlyle smirked triumphantly. He'd anticipated this.
Rain was unexpected, but light drizzle worked perfectly to tug heartstrings.
She's soft-hearted deep down.
Obvious from her usual demeanor. Confirmed when she cried in the gym storage.
Everything per Carlyle Schultz's plan. He'd bet she'd check eventually, then cave.
And so...
Creeeak. Door opened; he faced her.
Bianca Shama.
"You..."
Her face screamed disbelief. Messy auburn ponytail, baggy tee and shorts—comfy. Pink lips pursed, glaring eyes. All adorable to him.
His slight smile drew a sharp retort.
"Are you an idiot? Why...?"
What the hell was this?
"Because I missed you."
Carlyle spoke plainly. Her face flushed—slowly, gradually.
***
Carlyle chuckled softly, then made a request.
"Got a towel?"
So shameless.
"Haa..."
Vita sighed deeply but headed to the bathroom. Irritated, cheeks burning.
"...Is he insane?"
Drowned rat spouting that? Unfathomable why Carlyle Schultz went this far.
Made her feel villainous; his soaked state tugged uncomfortably.
"Here."
She handed over the towel. No awkwardness between them.
Carlyle wiped roughly and entered.
"Mind if I shower?"
Growing bolder with visits. Absurd, but her resolve had softened; she waved vaguely, relenting.
Rain-soaked, long shift—fair enough.
"Whatever. Do what you want."
Shower, dry, out. She needed to study.
Back at her desk, oblivious she'd invited a wolf into the fold.