The Fictional Man Among Us

𝕮𝖍𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖊𝖗 2

************* CHARMED **************

JULIANNA

As we returned home that day, the sun was setting, casting a warm glow over the campus. Stella, Nora, and Maya were still buzzing about Ryder's charm, their voices filled with excitement and wonder punctuated by animated gestures that echoed their words. Yet, amidst their enthusiasm, a sense of unease crept over me. I remained silent, unable to fully participate, my mind consumed by the embarrassment of the day and the guilt of my outburst at the man who seemed to embody my deepest desires. I couldn't shake the puzzling sensation of arousal he had evoked without even touching me. The journey back felt endless, each step echoing the turmoil within me.

When we reached our dormitory, the atmosphere was subdued. Cooper and I entered our room, and she moved about quietly, her actions deliberate. She didn't even cook, probably still full from Ryder's presence. I, on the other hand, felt restless. I went to my bed, the lower bunk, and sat down, staring at nothing in particular.

The room was dimly lit, the soft glow of the lamp casting long shadows across the walls. The silence was deafening, broken only by the occasional rustle of sheets or the creak of the bed as Cooper moved above me. I felt a sense of unease, a nagging feeling that something was not right. I tried to shake it off, but it lingered, casting a shadow over my thoughts.

I must have drifted off, as I woke up to find it was already 2 pm. I went to the restroom and then noticed Cooper's phone was still on. She had fallen asleep with it unlocked. Curiosity got the best of me, and I picked up her phone. What I saw surprised me – it was filled with pictures of Ryder. It seemed Cooper was even more charmed than the rest of us. She had searched for Damien Ryder on Facebook and found his profile. I couldn't resist scrolling through his pictures and posts.

Ryder was a gym instructor, explaining his perfect physique. His biceps and triceps added to his charm. As I scrolled through his posts and videos, I found myself blushing. He looked cute yet serious while playing video games. I was about to like one of his videos when I noticed Cooper had already liked it. I unliked it and liked it again, feeling charmed by him.

Suddenly, a notification popped up on Cooper's phone – a message from Ryder. "Hey 👋! What's up?" I couldn't believe it. Cooper had received a message from him. I clicked on the message, but it prompted me for a password. My curiosity got the best of me, and I managed to unlock it using her thumb while she slept.

It was then that I noticed Cooper had already messaged Ryder first, and he had replied to her message. "How are you Sir? I hope today's lesson wasn't stressful for you, Sir." I felt a pang of jealousy, but I continued the conversation, pretending to be Cooper. Ryder replied, asking if I was one of his students and how he could help me. I nervously replied, "I didn't understand today's subject due to the noise... I would love to get a one-on-one lesson with you, Sir."

Ryder agreed to meet me, thinking I was Cooper, at the faculty of law at 2 pm the next day. I was thrilled but then realized I had replied as Julianna when he asked of my name. I quickly corrected myself, "Sorry, I'm Riley," hoping he wouldn't notice my mistake. I returned Cooper's phone, feeling anxious about the drama that would unfold the next day.

As the night wore on, I lay in bed, unable to sleep. My mind was consumed by thoughts of Ryder and the impending meeting. Cooper was still asleep, unaware of the chaos her phone had caused.

I couldn't shake the feeling of guilt for my outburst to Ryder. The room was silent, save for the soft snores of my dorm mates. I tossed and turned, trying to find a comfortable position, but sleep eluded me.

The clock on the wall ticked away, each second feeling like an eternity. Finally, as the first light of dawn began to creep through the curtains, I drifted off into a fitful sleep.

My dreams were filled with visions of Ryder, his cold gaze piercing through me. I woke up with a start, drenched in sweat, the events of the previous day replaying in my mind.