Breaking Her Innocence

Snow guided Katarina to their first class with friendly chatter along the way. "I didn't see you on the first day. Where were you?" Snow asked, her tone genuinely curious.

Katarina adjusted her bag and explained, "I made a mistake with my flight. I only arrived yesterday at nine, so I couldn't make it in time."

Snow nodded in understanding. "That explains it. But I saw pictures of you at the university yesterday?"

"Um, about that," Katarina hesitated, thinking back. "Sharon was supposed to fetch me, but she didn't show up. I thought she might be busy with classes, so I decided to come here and look for her instead."

"Oh, I see," Snow said, smiling.

As they continued walking, other students greeted Snow. She is popular and known as the first lady to win over Seira Morningstar, the notorious "fuccgirl" of the university. But now, their attention had shifted to Katarina, whose striking beauty turned heads everywhere they went. Some even took out their phones to snap photos, murmuring excitedly about the French girl who was causing a stir on campus.

Noticing the attention, Katarina instinctively moved closer to Snow and lightly grabbed the edge of her sleeve. "Um, why are they taking pictures of me?" she asked, her tone uncertain.

Snow noticed her unease and gave her a reassuring smile before taking her hand gently. "Because you kissed the great Sharon Morningstar," she explained casually.

Katarina frowned slightly, confused. "Kissed?" she echoed, and the memory of Sharon's kiss in the car flashed through her mind. Dis someone sees us?

Snow pulled out her phone and showed Katarina a picture of her pecking Sharon on the cheek in the university's front yard. "Remember this? They think you're Sharon's girlfriend. You're the first to kiss her cheek and sit in her car."

The realization hit Katarina like a wave. She remembered Sharon's warning about cultural differences and her strict principles. "So that's how the rumors started," she murmured, a hint of regret in her voice. "In France, it's common to greet family members with a kiss on the cheek. I was just trying to be polite and get closer to her. I forgot how different our cultures are."

Snow tilted her head, intrigued. "Wait, 'get closer to her'? Does that mean this is your first time meeting each other?"

Katarina nodded. "We're not biological sisters. Our parents got engaged last month, and they thought it'd be good for me to move here to bond with Sharon and have someone to look out for me. Back in Orléans, I lived alone most of the time. My mom and her partner were always busy, but I understood."

Snow's expression softened with concern. "Oh… That's a lot to take in. Are you sure you're okay sharing this with me?"

Katarina smiled shyly. "I feel strangely comfortable with you, so I don't mind."

Snow beamed. "Aw, I'm honored. Can we officially be friends, then?"

The sincerity in Snow's voice touched Katarina, and her smile grew warmer. "I'd love to. I'm glad you asked."

"Yay!" Snow cheered, her excitement making Katarina blush. Fortunately, most students had already entered their classrooms. "Oops, sorry! I just got carried away. I'm so happy we're friends."

Katarina chuckled. "You're actually my first friend here."

Snow's eyes widened with delight. "Really? That's amazing!"

The two entered their first class together, Snow leading Katarina to an empty seat beside her.

When the professor arrived, another student entered—a tall, striking girl with a cold aura. She had arrived late, just as she had on the first day. Her beauty immediately captured everyone's attention, though she seemed entirely indifferent to it.

Snow noticed her immediately and leaned closer to Katarina. "She's one of the new students," she whispered. "Isn't she gorgeous?"

The tall girl walked to her seat without acknowledging anyone and set down a recording device before resting her head on her arms.

Snow, ever the friendly one, turned to her. "You're late again," she said with a smile. "Were you lost trying to find the class? I can guide you around if you'd like."

Without lifting her head, the tall girl replied coolly, "The professor is speaking, President Kim."

Snow blinked, momentarily stunned by the bluntness, and turned her attention back to the lecture, though her gaze occasionally wandered back to the tall girl.

Katarina noticed Snow's distraction and whispered, "Focus on the class, not the student."

Snow chuckled softly, though her curiosity about the tall girl only grew.

As the lecture progressed, Snow couldn't help but admire Katarina's diligence. The French girl typed notes on her laptop with impressive speed and focus. In contrast, the tall girl appeared completely disinterested, her recording device doing the work for her as she continued to nap.

Snow stole another glance at the tall girl, marveling at her beauty. Her flawless features and dimpled chin made her look like a sculpture brought to life. She's unreal… like a goddess, Snow thought, her heart skipping a beat when the tall girl opened her eyes and caught her staring.

Embarrassed, Snow quickly looked away and tried to focus on her notes. But the tall girl didn't look away. Instead, she propped her chin on her hand and stared at Snow, her gaze steady and unyielding.

Snow's cheeks turned red under the intensity of her stare. She tried to hide behind her hair, but the tall girl reached over and tucked it back behind her ear. Her fingers were cool to the touch, sending a shiver down Snow's spine.

In a low, melodic voice, the tall girl said something in Mandarin that Snow didn't understand. Before Snow could respond, the girl stood up and left the classroom, five minutes before the lecture ended.

Snow sat frozen in her seat, her mind racing. Who was this mysterious, beautiful stranger, and what had she just said? I need to know more about her, Snow thought, her curiosity now fully piqued.

...

Snow escorted Katarina through the sprawling campus, helping her get familiarized with the layout of the university. Everywhere they went, students couldn't seem to look away from the charming French girl who had already become a hot topic on campus.

After their walk, Snow suggested they spend time at the library before heading for lunch. They agreed, and as they entered the grand Centennial Library, the once-quiet hall erupted with hushed murmurs and excitement.

Snow's reputation as a prominent figure in the Department of Business already commanded attention, but Katarina's presence seemed to amplify the students' interest. The two walked through the aisles, oblivious to the whispered conversations around them.

"Wow, the rumors are true—she's absolutely stunning!"

"Do you think she and Sharon are close? I mean, they're step-sisters, right?"

"They looked so cute in those pictures earlier. That cheek kiss? Ugh, I'm jealous."

"She's wearing Sharon's varsity jacket! Do you know how sacred that thing is? Sharon never lets anyone touch it!"

Katarina kept her gaze on the floor, her face flushed with embarrassment as she caught snippets of the chatter. Snow noticed her discomfort and leaned in to whisper, "If you're feeling uneasy, we can head to the top floor. It's quieter there."

Katarina nodded gratefully. "That would be nice."

The two climbed the stairs to the upper level, where fewer students gathered. They found a cozy table by the window.

"I'll head to the left section to look for a book," Snow said. "What about you?"

"I think I saw something about the universe on the right section. I'll check there."

"Perfect. Let's meet back here later," Snow replied with a smile before they parted ways.

Snow wandered through the shelves of the left section, her fingers gliding over the spines of books until she found a title that piqued her interest: Aphrodite. She carefully pulled it out and read the description aloud to herself:

"Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of fertility, love, and beauty. She is famous for being the most beautiful of the goddesses..."

The mention of Aphrodite brought back an unbidden image of the tall girl from class earlier that morning. The newcomer's striking features, cold demeanor, and effortless grace reminded Snow of a goddess who had stepped out of mythology.

She shook her head, attempting to dismiss the thought, and reached for another book on a higher shelf. Just as she struggled to grab it, a hand appeared beside hers, easily retrieving the book.

"Thank you!" Snow turned, her face lighting up when she recognized her cousin. "Hann!"

Hann, a senior law student and the Corps Commander of the university's Reserve Officers' Training Corps, gave her a playful smirk. "You're welcome. Long time no see."

"It's been months!" Snow exclaimed.

"I was busy enjoying my vacation," Hann teased.

Snow raised an eyebrow. "You mean your intense training at the military camp?"

"Same thing."

"Well, the tan suits you," Snow complimented. "It makes you look even hotter. Who are you here with?"

"The president," Hann replied, referring to the Student Government President from the Department of Law.

"Oh, where is she?"

"She's over in the right section."

"My new friend, Katarina, is in the right section too," Snow said thoughtfully. "Maybe I should greet the president and introduce them."

Hann nodded. "Sounds like a plan. Let's go."

Meanwhile, Katarina was browsing through the right section, her fingers tracing over book titles as she searched for a study on celestial displays. She pulled out book after book, flipping through pages only to find they didn't hold what she was looking for.

Finally, her search brought her to the intersection of two shelves, where a brunette stood holding the exact book she'd been seeking. Katarina's eyes widened, first focusing on the book before slowly lifting her gaze to the brunette's face.

The woman smiled warmly. "Have you been looking for this?"

Katarina froze, her breath catching in her throat. It was Eirene—her special friend, the person she hadn't seen in what felt like forever.

Without hesitation, Katarina stepped forward and wrapped her arms tightly around Eirene. "I miss you," she murmured, her voice thick with emotion.

Eirene hugged her back, her hand gently rubbing Katarina's head. "How much did you miss me?"

"A lot," Katarina whispered, her tears threatening to spill. She tightened her embrace, burying her face in Eirene's shoulder. "I miss you a lot, Eirene."

On the other side of the library, Snow and Hann walked toward the right section, engaged in light conversation. Snow spotted Katarina from a distance and smiled. "There she is."

But as they approached, Snow's smile faded. Katarina was in someone else's arms, and the scene was far more intimate than Snow had anticipated.

Hann nudged her playfully. "Looks like your friend has a special someone."

Snow's heart sank, though she couldn't quite place why. "I… I didn't know," she said softly, her voice tinged with something she couldn't name.

"Come on, let's give them some privacy," Hann suggested.

Snow nodded, casting one last glance at Katarina and Eirene before turning back toward the stairs. For the first time in a long while, she felt a pang of something unfamiliar—something that lingered long after they left the library.

Back at their table on the top floor, Katarina returned with Eirene by her side. Snow sat there, her usual cheerful demeanor slightly subdued.

"Snow, this is Eirene," Katarina said, introducing her special friend. "Eirene, this is Snow, my first friend here."

Eirene extended a hand. "Nice to meet you, Snow. Katarina has mentioned you already."

Snow shook Eirene's hand, her polite smile masking the swirl of emotions she couldn't quite sort through. "Nice to meet you too."

As the three of them settled into a light conversation, Snow couldn't help but feel that the dynamic had shifted. She wasn't sure what it meant, but for now, she decided to keep her thoughts to herself and focus on being the friend Katarina needed.