When I woke up, I dragged myself out of bed and fell into my usual morning routine. I stretched, brewed some tea, and nibbled on toast, my thoughts drifting to the day ahead. The warm scent of breakfast filled the air, grounding me. After eating, I got dressed, smoothing out the pleats of my skirt and adjusting my blouse before slipping on my loafers. It was a small ritual, but it made me feel prepared. This morning routine, with the combination of going to classes during the day, and visiting the lab, Viktor and Jayce continued for days on end.

Three Months Later

Time moved quickly, and before I knew it, three months had passed. Piltover no longer felt like a strange, bustling city—it felt like home.

I'd found close friends in Caitlyn and Vi. Caitlyn, with her precise and thoughtful demeanor, always had a kind word or a warm cup of tea waiting when I needed it. Vi, on the other hand, was wild and unapologetically bold, always dragging me into her sparring sessions or teasing me until we were both laughing. They'd become my anchor points outside of the academic world.

Jayce and Mel, too, had welcomed me into their circle. Through them, I was pulled into Piltover's upper-class events—dinners, galas, and high-society gatherings. At first, I felt out of place, but Mel's confidence and Jayce's friendly banter always kept me at ease.

And then, there was Viktor.

Our time in the lab had become a constant in my life. Day after day, we pored over notes and theories, discussing the arcane rune in hushed tones or late-night bursts of inspiration. Viktor was brilliant, of course, but it was more than that. There was a kindness to him, an honesty in the way he spoke and listened. It was in the way he remembered little details—like how I preferred my tea or how I always hummed when I was focused.

Somewhere along the way, my admiration for him had shifted into something deeper. I couldn't pinpoint the exact moment it happened, but now, the feelings were undeniable. I found myself watching him more closely, noticing the way his lips quirked when he was amused or how his eyes lit up when he explained something complex.

Falling for him wasn't part of the plan. But it happened all the same.

That night, as I lay in bed staring at the ceiling, I let myself think about him for a little too long. My cheeks warmed, and I sighed, rolling over to try to focus on sleep. Viktor. How did he make it so hard to stay indifferent?