the legacy of A Past Life

Meanwhile they continued to walk around

He shoved his hands in his pockets, trying to maintain his poise. "Have you ever gotten lost around here?" he asked, his voice husky with a hint of playfulness, seeking to ease the tension he still felt. Hope chuckled softly, the warm sound cutting through the cool air. "Once or twice," he admitted, giving him a sideways glance that made him swallow hard. "But I always find my way back."

Ethan felt his heart race, the buzzing in his bones pulsing as if responding to her. She drove him crazy—the way her hair moved in the wind, her confidence mixed with a gentleness that disarmed him, the way she seemed so confident and yet so full of mystery, and that enigmatic scent that pulled at him without him understanding why. He wanted to ask more, to understand why she affected him so much, but before he could, Hope turned to point somewhere else and stepped on a loose rock. She staggered, about to fall, but Ethan held her firmly around the waist, reacting on instinct.

Time seemed to stand still. Hope stood frozen, her face inches from his, her blue eyes meeting his with an intensity that made the air evaporate. Ethan didn't move, his heart racing, feeling her heat against his hand. Their faces were so close that he could feel her warm breath, a soft touch of mint mixed with the scent of jasmine and rain that enveloped him, intensifying the attraction he couldn't explain. Both their faces flushed, a heavy silence between them, as if the world around them had disappeared. The heat of her skin under his hands, the delicate curve of her waist, the way her eyes seemed to search for something deep inside him—all of it held him captive, making it impossible to move or look away. Hope, for her part, felt her own heart race, the rapid throb echoing in her ears, as something about his presence intrigued her, a mystery she wanted to unravel.

For a moment, Ethan almost leaned closer, drawn by an impulse he didn't understand, their lips a whisper apart. The tension was palpable, an invisible thread connecting them, when a familiar voice cut through the air. "Hope! Ethan!" Alaric appeared in the hallway, his tone firm but with a mischievous smile that betrayed amusement. He crossed his arms, tilting his head as he watched them. "Well, well, looks like I interrupted something interesting here. Should have brought popcorn," he joked, his light tone contrasting with his appraising gaze. "It's good to meet you, kid. We need to talk." He pointed at Hope, his tone hardening a bit, but still with a hint of mockery. "And you, Hope, I told you to wait for me in the living room. Don't go around rehearsing romantic scenes without my approval, especially with a newbie like him."

Hope straightened quickly, pulling away from Ethan, her face now an even deeper shade of red. "Sorry, Alaric," she mumbled, avoiding his gaze, clearly embarrassed. Ethan cleared his throat, adjusting his jacket, trying to hide his still-thumping heart and the heat rising to his face. "Okay, let's talk," he said, his husky voice trying to sound casual, though Hope's presence and Alaric's teasing made him even more disoriented.

Alaric gestured for them to follow him, leading them back to his office. "Before we talk, let's get one thing straight," he said as they walked, the late morning sun casting long shadows down the hallway. "You need a place to stay, Ethan. Let's get you a room." He glanced at Hope, his tone hardening a bit. "And you, Hope, don't repeat that… rehearsal. Let me know next time." The sound of Ethan's boots and the click of Hope's echoed in the tense silence that was forming.

In the office, Alaric picked up a folder and began organizing Ethan's papers. "You didn't bring much, huh?" he said, flipping through the few pages Ethan had given him. "But luckily, you have the basics in here—name, age, background. This should make it easier for you to settle into the school." He closed the folder, standing up. "We're going to set you up in a room in the boys' dorm. It's not much, but it'll do."

Ethan shrugged, crossing his arms. "I don't need much," he replied, his voice husky. He had almost nothing with him, since he had rushed out of the house, but luckily he had prepared himself—just a small backpack with some clothes and the documents Alaric had mentioned. Even so, the idea of ​​having a space, even a simple one, seemed like a relief after everything that had happened.

Alaric waved for him to follow, and Hope followed suit, the three of them making their way through the halls to the boys' dormitory. When they arrived, Alaric opened the door to a small room with a single bed, a desk, and a window that looked out onto the courtyard. "Here you go," Alaric said, gesturing to the space. "It's not fancy, but it's yours. I'll have someone bring you sheets and a towel. If you need anything else, let me know." He helped Ethan set his backpack on the desk, giving the room a quick once-over. "It could use some cleaning, but you can fix that later."

Ethan looked around, nodding. "Fine with me," he said, his voice calm, though he still felt the weight of everything that was happening. Alaric patted his shoulder, an almost fatherly gesture. "You'll adjust, kid. Just don't cause trouble right away, okay?"

As they left the room, two figures appeared in the hallway, running toward Alaric with beaming smiles. "Dad!" they called in unison. It was Lizzie and Josie, Alaric's daughters, their blond hair shining in the sunlight that streamed through the windows. Lizzie, the more outgoing of the two, stopped in front of her father, her blue eyes shining with curiosity. "Who's the new boy?" she asked, almost skipping, before turning her gaze to Ethan. Josie, more reserved, stood beside her sister, smiling shyly but equally curious.

Alaric sighed, a tired smile on his face. "Girls, this is Ethan. He just got here. Ethan, these are my daughters, Lizzie and Josie." He gestured to the two of them, who immediately approached Ethan.

Lizzie stepped forward, her eyes wide as she stared at him. "Hi, Ethan! Nice to meet you!" she said, her voice bright, almost exaggerated. She couldn't look away from him—there was something about him, an intensity that fascinated her, especially those heterochromatic eyes, one green and one blue, that seemed to hold a secret. "Wow, you're… different," she murmured, almost without realizing it, a faint blush rising to her face. Josie nudged her sister, laughing softly. "Lizzie, stop staring," she whispered, before turning to Ethan. "Welcome to school. I hope you like it here."

Ethan greeted them with a polite nod, his voice husky but gentle. "Thanks, girls. Nice to meet you." He was friendly, offering a half smile, but there was no interest in his eyes. He treated them well, as he would anyone, but neither of them caught his attention the way Hope did. Lizzie, with her vibrant energy, and Josie, with her sweet shyness, were nice, but they didn't spark anything in him—not like Hope, who seemed to occupy every corner of his thoughts....

Alaric watched the interaction, a glint of amusement in his eyes. "Okay, girls, enough interrogation. Ethan needs to get settled, and I have things to take care of." He gestured down the hallway. "Let's go back to the office. Hope, you come too."

Hope, who had been silent, nodded, giving Ethan one last look before following Alaric. Lizzie and Josie said their goodbyes, Lizzie still casting curious glances at Ethan as she walked away, clearly enchanted. Ethan, for his part, returned to his room, closing the door with a sigh. He sat up in bed, the buzzing in his bones still present, but now mixed with something new—the echo of that moment with Hope that wouldn't leave his head.

Back in the office, Alaric closed the door firmly and sat down, crossing his arms. Soft light streamed in through the window, illuminating the cluttered desk. "Ethan, you arrived without explanation and already you're involved in strange situations," 

Alaric looked at him, his face serious. "Ethan, you'll be kept under observation until I figure this out. Hope, take care of him, but let me know next time." He cleared his throat, ending the conversation. "We'll figure this out tomorrow."