Maybe that was why, whenever Leonard saw Megan smiling, the corners of his own lips would unconsciously lift too. Sometimes, he even found himself copying her silly little gestures.

It was a feeling he’d never experienced around Aurora.

Leonard didn’t know what was happening to him. Was this what it meant to like someone? To like someone so much that he liked everything about her, even his gaze naturally following wherever she went?

The sensation was strange and new, and he was genuinely intrigued by it. He had never felt anything like this before.

And Aurora, being as perceptive as she was, couldn’t possibly miss the way Leonard kept watching Megan. She nudged Megan in the shoulder with her elbow, her smile laced with mischief, her gaze flicking playfully between Leonard and her.

Megan instantly understood what Aurora meant. Her face flushed red on the spot, the heat creeping steadily up her cheeks. Covering her face with her hands, she mumbled in embarrassment, “Alright, alright, what are you doing? There’s nothing going on between us, really. We’re just friends!”

Aurora didn’t even need to say anything—her expression said it all. Clearly, she wasn’t buying it one bit. Megan sighed, already feeling defeated.

Just as she was about to raise her voice and protest, her eyes met Leonard’s from the row behind. And just like that, she froze. The usually bold and cheerful Megan went completely quiet. She had wanted to argue back, but for some reason, the words just wouldn’t come out. It felt as if her little secret had been caught right in the open.

Aurora raised an eyebrow, curious at the sudden shift in energy. She leaned in closer to Megan and whispered, “Something’s off, Megan. The you I know is always cheerful and bold—when did you start acting so shy? You look a little hesitant.”

Megan kept her head slightly lowered, unsure how to respond. There was a quiet embarrassment in her chest she couldn’t quite explain.

“Come on, Aurora, don’t tease me. There’s really nothing going on, I just don’t want to talk about it anymore.” As soon as she said that, Megan turned to face the window, going silent.

All that was left for Aurora was the stubborn back of her head. Aurora shook her head, chuckling quietly. When had she ever seen Megan like this? It was genuinely amusing. Clearly, there was something going on between those two. That much was obvious now.

In the back row, Leonard watched the interaction between Aurora and Megan, and his heart skipped a beat. He quickly averted his gaze, suddenly feeling nervous. Judging from Megan’s reaction, had Aurora figured out how he felt? And if so… what did that make all his promises to Lucas about protecting Aurora? Did that make him the bad guy after all?

Lucas, sitting right beside Leonard, caught every flicker of expression on his face. Whatever crossed his mind, it made him smile faintly, and he couldn’t resist the urge to tease. “What’s wrong? Starting to feel like a scumbag?” he said quietly.

Leonard snapped his head around, a hint of panic in his eyes. And just like that, he met Lucas’s gaze—calm, amused, and laced with a knowing smirk that said he’d seen right through him.

Lucas hadn’t done anything. He just sat there looking completely at ease, like someone in full control. That calm confidence made Leonard feel downright exposed.