Episode 107

Rose gently tugged at Jasper’s sleeve.

“We need to hurry and get to the classroom. We might be late.”

Jasper raised an eyebrow, seemingly dissatisfied, but obediently followed Rose. As always, they took their seats in the front row, right in the center.

Rose was flipping through her notes, trying to calm her mind. It wasn’t easy because Jasper’s whispered, teasing words were still echoing in her head.

Just moments before the class started, Jasper scribbled something in Rose’s notebook.

With a dry swallow, Rose peered at Jasper’s writing. It was incredibly messy, but Rose, who had read the letter Jasper gave her multiple times, could immediately understand the content.

Rose briefly glanced around, and then she wrote her response underneath Jasper’s handwriting.

Jasper’s gaze, which touched the side of her face, was distinctly noticeable. Rose was about to put down her pen but hesitated and wrote one more sentence.

Out of the corner of her eye, Rose could see Jasper’s lips curl into a smile.

Jasper tore off the note page with the brief scribbles, folded it neatly, and slipped it into his jacket pocket.

* * *

The fall of the senior year is always incredibly busy. 

It starts with the Berkley Fall Festival, held before the mid-term exams, and ends with the graduation party that marks the conclusion of the semester. It’s a time when all the academy students are filled with excitement. 

Of course, there are a few students who are so dedicated to their studies that they even struggle during the fall semester.

For those whose family status isn’t all that impressive, the post-graduation path is a concern, and they might not fully enjoy the festival. 

The Fall Festival was always a distant event for Rose Bell. Even as a freshman, she didn’t bother to attend the festival and spent her time locked up in the dormitory. She felt the need to maintain her scholarship requirements and stay here. 

Those days were filled with such thoughts.

However, this year was a little different. She realized that there was no need to push herself so hard. There was more to learn beyond the heavy textbooks. Knowledge contained in books wasn’t everything, and there were things she couldn’t obtain from books. 

So, this year, she planned to enjoy the Fall Festival a bit with her friends. After all, this was truly her last festival.

On a club activity day, all the members gathered in the club room to discuss the festival. Briley was speaking excitedly.

“Hey, guys. Did you know that if we set up a club booth, we can get activity support funds? Why didn’t anyone tell me this? And they even give significant rewards to outstanding clubs!”

Rose scratched her cheek. 

“We don’t have anything to set up a booth with, given the nature of our club…”

“No, why not? We have plenty of ideas!”

Briley was genuinely enthusiastic about club activities.

“Listen to me for a moment. Haven’t we been jotting down places we visited, like nice restaurants or stores, and good walking routes here and there? We can compile all that into a pamphlet.”

“A pamphlet?”

“Well, the title could be something like ‘A Guide to Elegant Dates’ or ‘The Secret to Successful Dates Only You Don’t Know.’ We’ll design date courses and tell people about them. It’s bound to sell well, especially since the fourth-year students are going crazy trying to find partners right now!” 

Briley’s words seemed convincing. Everyone was looking for a partner to accompany them to the graduation party, which marked the culmination of their time at Berkley Academy.

This wasn’t just an ordinary party; it was a public event where one’s partner for the evening was revealed to the entire social scene. 

For some, it was even considered a prelude to the marriage market. Who you were seen with could have a significant impact on your reputation. 

Everyone would be working hard to find partners right up until the party began. After enjoying a romantic date, it was customary to make a partner request.

Rose contemplated for a moment and nodded her head. 

“I think everyone might give it a try.”

Rebecca, too, appeared curious about Briley’s idea and spoke with an excited voice. 

“How about including columns on dating etiquette or effective ways to seduce the opposite sex?”

“Okay, that sounds good. Let’s make some money, guys.”

While these discussions were buzzing, Jasper sat silently with an indifferent expression. Adela, who was sitting across from him, occasionally sipped her tea and nodded subtly.

Adela interjected in her calm voice.

“I heard they offer rewards to outstanding clubs. They mentioned something about tickets for a cruise scheduled for early next year.”

Briley’s eyes sparkled brightly. 

“Is that so? I better work hard then. Jasper, don’t just sit there silently; give us your opinion.”

Jasper shrugged.

“Well… it’s fine.”

“Ah, you’re so unenthusiastic.”

Rose cast a brief, questioning glance at the seemingly indifferent Jasper. 

‘Is Jasper not interested in the festival?’

While it might be a childish superstition, there was a belief that if a man and a woman held hands and watched fireworks together on the night of the festival, love would blossom. 

Everyone at Berkley Academy knew this. Perhaps it was a story spread to increase festival participation, but the credibility of the superstition didn’t matter. It was simply an element that added to the romantic atmosphere of the festival.

Rose had never shown any interest in such superstitions, but as the festival drew near, the story involuntarily crossed her mind. 

‘…How did this get into my head?’

Is love what makes people act strangely and childishly? Rose tried to maintain a calm expression but couldn’t help glancing at Jasper. 

At that moment, Adela spoke softly.

“Are you all planning to go watch the fireworks?”

As she asked the question, Adela kept her gaze fixed on Jasper. 

Rose confirmed Adela’s gaze and felt a flutter in her chest. She gripped the edge of her skirt tightly. Even though she knew Jasper wasn’t interested in Adela, when the two of them locked eyes, it made her uneasy. 

Her heart seemed to ache in some corner.

However, Jasper remained silent, and instead, Briley started to chat excitedly.

For a moment, Rose felt strange and confused about the emotions that had captured her.

‘Why am I feeling like this?’

Could it be jealousy?

‘That can’t be.’

They hadn’t even talked about anything, and yet she was feeling jealous. She thought about Jasper going to watch the fireworks with Adela, and her emotions were fluctuating. She slightly lowered her head, feeling on the verge of tears.

‘I’m such a fool…’

She had underestimated the complexities of love. She had been easily swayed by Jasper’s words and actions. Just as they say, beginnings are always challenging, and her first experience with love was no different.

‘Pull yourself together, pull yourself together, pull yourself together.’

Rose silently tried to console herself, but her turbulent emotions didn’t settle down for a long time.

* * *

‘When I’m feeling restless, the best place to be is in the lab.’

Rose entered the lab where she had been preparing for a contest for several months. The contest had concluded, but the academy had allowed her to continue using the lab until the end of the semester.

Here, she could try different experiments and brainstorm new inventions. The thought excited Rose, much like when she faced Jasper.

“No, no.”

Rose lightly slapped her cheek with her hand. Even thinking about Jasper when she was in the lab was a distraction. She shook her head from side to side and sat at her desk.

 She needed to focus on her studies more than ever. The more successful she became as an engineer, the less embarrassed she would feel standing beside Jasper.

As Rose began jotting down various invention ideas in her notebook, the lab door opened, and Theo Lixton walked in. Theo noticed Rose inside and seemed slightly surprised.

“You’re here?”

“Oh, senior.”

Rose only just remembered Theo’s presence. She hadn’t given a proper response to his earlier proposal.

Theo approached Rose with an unconcerned expression and asked.

“Rose, are you planning to keep using this lab until the end of the semester?”

“Yes… Would that be a bother to you, senior?”

The laboratory was equipped with various tools, including a purification system and a small furnace, necessary for conducting various experiments and research.

“Bother? What do you think our next research project should be? I’ve got a few ideas.”

Theo naturally addressed Rose as his partner. Rose hesitated, her lips trembling a few times before she spoke.

“Um, senior…”

“Yeah?”

“Last time, you proposed. Going to Weir Company together…”

Rose felt uncomfortable rejecting Theo’s kind proposal, but now it seemed necessary to be clear about her decision.

“I think I won’t be able to go.”

“Why?”

“I’m sorry.”

Theo’s expression showed his surprise as if he hadn’t expected Rose’s answer.

“Well, are you sure? You can still think about it until graduation.”

“But I thought it would be better to let you know in advance… You’ll need to find another partner.”

“I can wait for you to be absolutely sure. But why do you want to stay here?”

Rose hesitated for a long time before she spoke. 

“To prove myself after succeeding here.”

Theo’s face hardened, unlike his usual demeanor.