By admin A Romance In Passing Chapter 14
Emily sat in the classroom, jotting down notes with steady focus.
It had been two weeks since she arrived in Pavrielle, the capital of Fremoria. With Arthur and Teresa’s support, she’d made her way back to college, ready to start
over.
In this place steeped in the quiet rhythm of learning, she slowly let go of the pain she’d brought with her from Aurendia.
One day, just as Emily stepped out of the library, a spring breeze swept across her face. The sun was bright, the sky clear, and something about the cheerful weather made her steps feel a little lighter.
“Hey, where are you headed?”
Emily turned to see Henry Onmond, a guy with distinctly foreign features, catching up to her.
He was in one of her electives, and lately, he’d been showing up everywhere she went, always finding some excuse to strike up a conversation.
Emily was tired of it, but there wasn’t much she could do.
“How about what we talked about at the cafe the other day?” he asked.
“I’m sorry, but I’ve already made myself clear. I’m not interested in starting a relationship. Please don’t come looking for me again.”
After shutting him down, Emily clutched her books and turned away, clearly irritated.
“Hey! You’ve got to stop shutting me out like this. I really like you. You haven’t even given me a chance. How do you know you wouldn’t fall for me?” Henry’s voice rose, drawing curious stares. A few students slowed down, watching the scene unfold, some even egging him on from the sidelines. Whatever joy Emily had felt was gone in a heartbeat. Just as she was about to lose it, a hand came to rest gently on her shoulder.
“What are you doing here, darling?”
She turned to find Keith standing beside her.
“So this is the guy who’s been bothering you?” he asked.
A frown settled across his face as his eyes locked onto Henry with a hard glare.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you had a boyfriend,” Henry muttered, glancing between the two of them before slinking away.
Keith didn’t so much as flinch at the people staring around them. He leaned into the lie without missing a beat. “Come on, darling. Let’s go for a walk by the lake.”
He reached for Emily’s hand and gently led her away. For some reason, she couldn’t take her eyes off their intertwined hands, staring at them in a daze.
Once they reached a quiet spot, Keith quickly let go and turned to her, looking a little sheepish. “Sorry about that. You looked kind of uncomfortable, so I just grabbed your hand and took off.”
“No, don’t apologize! I should be thanking you. You’ve saved me twice now.”
Emily studied him, amused by how different he was from the intense, almost intimidating guy she’d seen earlier.
Since their last encounter, they had stayed in touch through social media. What surprised Emily was finding out that Keith was also a student at the same college. Instead of going their separate ways, they ended up walking together along the lakeside, chatting as they went.
“I’m studying photography here. How come I’ve never seen you around campus before?” he asked.
“I just started last week,” Emily replied with a smile.
“Oh? By the way, did you like the photos I sent you last time?” he asked, genuinely curious.
As soon as he mentioned the photos, Emily was taken back to how she’d felt when she first saw them. She hadn’t smiled like that in years, not since those final, tear -soaked days with William.
Back then, she’d swallowed her pride, buried her pain, and endured it all in silence, only to be cast aside in the end. The day the photos arrived, her heart felt lighter than it had in a long, long time.
“I love them. Thank you, Keith.”
As she smiled, Keith found himself pausing for a beat. Then, he smiled back without thinking.
“Keith, could you take a few more photos of me today?” she asked. “I want to see how much I’ve changed since coming to Pavrielle.”
She smiled as she spoke, her hair dancing in the wind. The sunlight poured over her like a golden halo. She looked so radiant as if she’d stepped out of a painting. Something stirred in Keith’s chest. He gave a small nod, raised his camera, and captured her in that moment.