Chapter 85: "What if" Campus Story 3

Monica didn't expect to encounter Steven again in the library.
He was as focused as ever, leaning back in his chair with his fingers casually resting on the keyboard, seemingly contemplating something.
As if sensing someone watching him, he instinctively turned his head and met Monica's gaze.
In just a second, his usual aloof gaze instantly burned with intensity.
Monica quickly turned her head, and just then, Alex came over with two cups of coffee and placed one in front of her. "Here, your favorite."
Monica smiled at him. "Thank you."
"No problem, it's my pleasure." Alex sat down across from her, shyly scratching his head. "You've really been a great help with the group project these past few weeks."
The professor had assigned them to the same group for a project in their elective course. Since neither of them had much research in that area, they agreed to work together to find information and discuss it in the library.
Occasionally, they would also have meals together in the cafeteria.
Alex was occasionally shy but mostly talkative and humorous. Soon, he and Monica became acquainted.
The two of them studied quietly for a while, and Monica got up to go to the restroom.
When she came out, she saw Steven standing near the wall not far away, wondering how long he had been waiting there.
Noticing her, his gaze shot straight over, but Monica pretended not to see and walked past him calmly, politely greeting him, "Senior, what a coincidence."
Their relationship suddenly became so unfamiliar that she didn't even address him as "Brother Steven" anymore.
A huge sense of loss hit Steven, and he stood up straight, suddenly gripping her wrist.
Monica was startled, and the next second, he was pulling her along, stumbling to the side.
The atmosphere in the library was quiet, and Monica was afraid of causing a scene and drawing attention, so she followed him hesitantly, gently prying his hand off and asked softly, "Where are you going?"
Steven led her into a safe passage, and the door slowly closed behind them. The empty stairwell was silent, leaving only the two of them. The motion-activated lights illuminated and dimmed with each step they took.
As their eyes met, silence suddenly fell, and they had nothing to say to each other. Monica said, "If there's nothing else, I'll go first."
"Between you and him," Steven paused for a moment, seeming unwilling to ask this question, "are you together?"
Monica was surprised by his guess but quickly reacted and raised an eyebrow, "Why should I tell you?"
Seeing that she didn't deny it, his voice turned cold, and he only said four words, "Break up with him."
"You're so strange, why do you care about my love life?" Monica looked at him without backing down.
"You said you liked me." He looked at her. "Was it all a lie?"
"Yeah, I used to really like you, but as I said, we're not compatible."
"Is that so?" He took a step forward, pushing her into a corner, enveloping her in his embrace, and looking down at her. "How would you know if we're not compatible if you don't give it a try?"
Monica tried to dodge him but was held by the face and received a kiss on her lips.
She never expected Steven to do something like this and was stunned for a moment. She bit her lip and pushed him away, saying, "What are you doing? You're being indecent!"
"Tit for tat." Steven calmly said, "Didn't you do the same to me?"
Her cheeks quickly flushed, "You... you're not drunk, are you?"
Last time they went to the KTV together, Monica asked Eric to get Steven drunk, then kicked everyone else out and secretly kissed him in a corner of the private room.
The sensation on her lips was warm, and Steven opened his eyes, his dark eyes somewhat hazy from the alcohol.
Monica was startled by his sudden gaze and wanted to escape, but she found that he wasn't making any moves and was just looking at her intently.
Gathering courage, she leaned in and kissed him again.
His eyelashes trembled, but his breathing remained steady.
She straddled his lap, grabbed his hand and circled it around her waist, cupped his face, and kissed him again.
It wasn't just a superficial touch, but sucking, rubbing, gradually delving into the entanglement of their tongues.
Taking advantage of his drunkenness, she even had a hint of taking advantage of him.
Monica felt that her behavior was very immoral,
But what does it matter? If he rejects her, she'll stop. If he's really angry, then she should apologize again.
Steven lowered his gaze and looked at her, his breath fluctuating. In no time, he slowly gained control.
The two of them kissed in the private room for almost ten minutes that day.
When they finally came out, Monica had a satisfied expression, and she was walking on air.
No one mentioned it again afterwards, and she thought he had been completely drunk that day.
But she didn't expect him to remember.
"My tolerance for alcohol isn't that bad. Most of the time, it's just an act for them."
During the time when Monica abandoned him, Steven kept thinking about that lingering kiss. Every time, he wondered why he didn't push her away.
Clearly, he wasn't drunk, but he kept hypnotizing himself by pretending to be. His innermost feelings had already sunk, and he used the alcohol as a way to fully express himself.
He had long been attracted to her, but he refused to admit it to himself.
He leaned in for another kiss, and Monica dodged with a half-hearted protest, "You... you... what happened to you!"
"It means you still don't understand me."
Deep down, he was inherently dominant, no matter how indifferent he appeared on the outside. His desire for control couldn't be erased.
He always appeared calm and indifferent to the outside world, but it was only because many things had nothing to do with him. But Monica was different.
He wanted to possess her.
The kiss attacked again, and Monica mumbled incoherently, deliberately provoking him, "Mmm... Steven, you're kissing someone else's girlfriend."
This made him even more angry. He pinched her neck and held the back of her head, forcing her to tilt her head up. He turned his face to the side and kissed her even deeper, tangling his tongue with hers, teasing her throat that made her gasp with a choked moan.
He had a strong learning ability. The first time they kissed after he was drunk, it was still awkward, but today, on their second time, he was starting to become more skilled.
Monica's mind wandered.
The quiet stairwell was filled with the sound of intimate kisses, as well as the suppressed panting that became increasingly chaotic.
It was only interrupted by the sound of a vibrating phone.
Monica took it out of her pocket and glanced at it. Alex's name appeared on the screen, probably worried that she had been gone for too long and checking in.
Steven watched as she declined the call and replied with a message on Facebook. His finger stopped at her earlobe as he whispered, "When are you breaking up? Can you do it this afternoon?"
Monica glared at him, "Look at you, morally corrupt, wanting to interfere with someone else's relationship."
He didn't say anything.
She scoffed, holding onto his earlier words against him, "Anyway, dating isn't part of your current life plan, so what difference does it make if I break up."
"What if I say I'm willing to change for you?"
Monica looked away and pulled her hand back from his, "If you're willing to change, does that mean I have to accept it?"
"Mm." He released her from his hold, "You have the right to choose."
Even though he was conceding verbally, she clearly saw his unyielding determination in his eyes.
The situation had completely turned around.
If before, Monica was constantly revolving around Steven, then now, it was the opposite.
Steven appeared next to her from time to time, but he didn't pursue her persistently. However, his presence was very strong.
When there was no one around, she occasionally approached him, initiating kisses and making it difficult for them to part. And then, she secretly played with him without a label, observing cracks appearing on his calm face.
When he became unhappy, she would go and kiss him again, coaxing and promising that she would soon break up with Alex.
Steven sensed that something was not right.
One evening, Eric waved his phone in front of Steven and said, "Monica is jogging at the playground next to the undergraduate dormitory. She wants me to accompany her. Otherwise, you...?"
Steven pressed his lips together, didn't say a word, stood up, put on his coat, zipped it up, and walked out.
The playground was bustling with people gathered in small groups, and the running track was crowded. Steven maneuvered through the crowd until he finally found Monica.
She was warming up and chatting with Alex.
Seeing Steven instead of Eric, Monica was not surprised at all. She pulled him over and introduced, "This is my brother's friend, Steven, a graduate student."
Then she turned to Steven and said, "This is my classmate, Alex."
A "classmate," not a "boyfriend."
During this time, Steven had been by Monica's side and gradually noticed that he rarely saw Alex. Even when they did meet, their interactions were polite and lacked the intimacy of a couple.
His mind was clouded by love and her abandonment, causing him to lose his basic judgment. It was not until tonight that he finally had the time to sort out the truth.
Alex wasn't her boyfriend at all.
He had misunderstood, and she took advantage of that, enjoying his jealousy and anger, feeling immensely satisfied.
Monica looked at him triumphantly, like an arrogant little cat with its tail held high, her beautiful eyes filled with cunning.
So, everything was deliberate.
She deliberately gave up chasing him, watching him get jealous, watching him lose control, and waiting for him to couldn't resist but come to her.
She succeeded; he was played by her. She held his heart in her hand and manipulated him as she pleased.
Alex had left for something earlier, and Steven looked at Monica for a long time before suddenly bursting into laughter.
Confused, Monica poked his cheek and asked, "Are you frustrated?"
He held her fingertips and brought them to his lips, giving them a gentle kiss.
"Monica," he said slowly, "I like you."
There were many people running on the playground, and music was playing on the stage speakers, drifting through the night sky.
Monica's slightly blushing ears were hidden in the darkness of the night. She crossed her arms and said, "I have trouble hearing. I didn't hear what you just said."
Upon hearing this, Steven turned and walked towards the stage, requesting a microphone from the person in control of the speakers.
The music abruptly stopped, and the footsteps on the playground slowed down as puzzled gazes turned towards him.
The autumn night breeze carried a chill as it gently tousled his hair.
Monica actually wanted to hear him say it again, but she didn't expect Steven to be that bold.
He is a person who has never liked socializing, never liked lively scenes, and never liked being in the spotlight, but at this moment, for her, he is surrounded by the gaze of the crowd.
She stands below the stage, looking up at him, her heart pounding as if it is about to jump out of her chest.
"Sorry to have taken a minute of everyone's time." A beautiful voice flows out slowly from the speakers. "I have something to say, and I would like the students present here to bear witness for me."
People on the playground gradually gather around.
Steven lowers his head and, amidst the crowd, he only focuses on looking at her:
"Monica, I like you."