All Chapters of My Enemy [BL]: Chapter 521 - Chapter 530

ELLISWhen I finally made it to Sandy's Cafe, I was twenty-three minutes late and carrying enough guilt to last me a week.As I walked in, the little bell above the door chimed cheerfully, blissfully unaware of my shame, and the familiar warm smell of coffee and pastries wrapped around me. It felt comforting, like a favorite old sweater, until I remembered I was late.My manager was at the counter, giving me a look.Oh? Of all days to be around at work, my boss chooses to come at the one day I came late.He glanced at the clock above the espresso machine, then turned his gaze to me with the kind of patient resignation that comes from dealing with the same disappointment more than once."...Morning?" I attempted."Ellis.""Yes?""What time does your shift start?""...Nine?""And what time is it now?"I looked at the clock even though I already knew. It was like I needed a moment to let it all sink in. "...Nine twenty-three?"He sighed. "I’m starting to think your alarm clock has someth

ELLISWith a heavy sigh, I pushed open the dorm door, still feeling the pleasant exhaustion from my long shift at Sandy's Cafe mixed with the deep ache that reminded me of every moment spent wrapped up in Julian the night before.The hickeys on my neck felt like bright signals under my collar, and I could still hear Sera’s delighted gasp and Lucas’s laughter ringing in my head. People had definitely noticed. Friends had caught on too.I spent half the day awkwardly tugging at the scarf and trying to avoid those knowing looks, all while the soreness in my lower body made every step almost comical. By the time I stepped inside, I was a mix of embarrassment, fatigue, and strangely warm memories.Yeah, I wasn’t bouncing back from this anytime soon. Historians would probably write about it.‎‎"I’m home," I called out, kicking off my shoes.‎‎"In the kitchen."The delicious smell of something cooking wafted towards me, pulling me into the kitchen, where Julian was stirring a pan with an e

ELLIS I was deep into my textbook when my phone buzzed loudly against the desk. The vibration was just enough to break my concentration, I had been so absorbed in the textbook that even a small sound felt way too loud. Around me, the classroom buzzed with the familiar laziness of a Monday morning, where people were still deciding whether to engage fully in the moment. Students chatted, waiting for Professor Harrison to walk in. I flipped my phone over. Jeremy 🐶 The dog emoji still made me grin every time. I added it after our first tutoring session because Jeremy Abernathy had this golden retriever-like energy, all excited and ready to go, like he’d just been told it was time for a car ride, super enthusiastic and easily delighted, but also a little hard to steer away from his excitement. It was still surprising to see that energy coming from someone who sported cream cable-knit sweaters and drove a fancy Mercedes. Jeremy: Ellis!! Jeremy: Please tell me you’re free tod

ELLISI nudged the apartment door open with my shoulder, balancing my backpack on one hip, and the smell hit me before I even stepped fully inside...garlic, butter, something cooking, that cozy, distinct aroma that makes your stomach chime in before your brain has a chance to catch up.And mine did just that, loud and clear."I swear," I murmured to myself, kicking off my shoes by the door, "I can smell food from halfway across campus."The apartment felt warm, the lights dim in that soft way they do in the evening when the day is winding down and the outside world is still figuring out if it’s dusk yet. Everything was quiet. Everything felt settled.I could feel my shoulders relaxing, like they dropped ten degrees within five seconds of being home, something I’d noticed lately, how my body recognized this place and stopped feeling tense.Then I headed to the kitchen.Julian was standing at the stove, his back to me, sleeves rolled up to his forearms, just the way he always did when h

JULIANThe annual Autumn Gala was everything Julian despised about the elite crowd.Crystal chandeliers cast a warm golden glow over glossy marble floors, lending an air of artificial allure designed to make everything seem better than it was.Elegant music floated through the ballroom in carefully curated waves. The air was thick with the mingled scents of high-end perfume, aged wine, and that unique tension found in people terrified of being seen as anything less than what they were born into.Men in tailored suits exchanged handshakes they would rather avoid, smiled at those they intended to undermine come morning, and discussed business with the kind of practiced sincerity that had been hammered into them since childhood.Meanwhile, women delivered compliments with flawless timing, their eyes communicating three sentences before their mouths caught up. Everywhere Julian looked, someone was meticulously crafting an impression.To anyone on the outside, the Autumn Gala screamed eleg