Barsea, Belview's finest sea food Restaurant and Bar, was alive with energy, buzzing, as usual, with students scattered throughout. Some faces Craig didn't recognize, others familiar. But among the sea of bodies, one stood out.
Merlina.
She sat with the same girls from school, Phoebe and Megan. There was something about her—something that caught his attention in a way he wasn't used to.
She was beautiful. No denying that. But it wasn't just her looks—though she was undeniably striking with her black sleeveless shimmer top and high-waisted black leather skirt. It was the way she carried herself, so calm, so collected, so… polite.
His type? Not really. He was drawn to girls like Adriana—blunt, lively but inaccessible, unapologetically bold, and unwaveringly self-confident.
Merlina was the opposite of that—too soft, too soothing, too welcoming. She didn't wear her confidence like a shield. She simply existed in a quiet grace that made her stand out in a way he couldn't quite explain.
The more he watched her, the more he realized how much he was drawn to her—a kind of beauty that was effortless, unspoken, and unlike anything he'd ever been captivated by before.
What was her deal with leather anyway?
Merlina and her friends were wrapping up their order, debating where to sit. After a moment of indecision, they settled at a table near the bar. Craig continued to observe them, his eyes lingering on her a little longer than he should've allowed.
"What are you looking at?" Keith's voice cut through his thoughts.
Craig blinked, refocusing. Keith had been in the car, taking his time with his boots. It took him five whole minutes to lace them, which had left Craig standing by the entrance waiting. Now, with the keys in hand, Keith passed them over.
"Nothing," Craig muttered, slipping the keys into his pocket. He didn't bother explaining what had his attention.
The clinking of glasses, the sizzling of seafood plates, and the hum of laughter that bounced off the wooden walls welcomed Craig and Keith as they made their way into Barsea.
Nautical-themed décor bathed the upscale restaurant in a warm, maritime glow, with fish tanks gleaming under the soft lighting.
It was the kind of place where the world felt alive, and yet somehow, Craig Lesnar felt detached from it all.
Keith, his best friend was never shy about making an entrance. While Craig exuded calm and composure, Keith buzzed with energy, greeting everyone he passed, flashing his signature easy grin.
As Craig took further steps in, his demeanor is detached, clearly not in the mood for any unnecessary drama or idle chatter.
Craig wasn't social, plain and simple. The only people he really spoke to were Keith, his brother Conor, and girlfriend Adriana.
Craig and Conor often clashed, and when they did, their silence could stretch on for days, sometimes even a week. But it was always Craig who ended up reaching out, because, no matter what, Conor was his brother.
But outside of those people? Craig didn't care. His lack of a social life wasn't a problem for him. He liked it that way. And besides, no one could ever accuse him of being irrelevant.
He was basically a college celeb—good looks, billionaire bloodline, and top-tier grades. Professors were always calling on him in class, and he nailed it every single time.
Girls? They were obsessed with him. Like, way too much sometimes. It was the classic "pretend to need help with an assignment" move, only to end up trying to kiss him. He was so over it. Most of them were just seeking attention.
Some even crossed the line—like that one girl who straight-up forced her mouth on him. And of course, her friends were right there, taking pics like it was some kind of trophy.
Adriana got it. She'd seen it all before. She knew the deal with being with Craig. It didn't phase her the way it would any other girl, mostly because she knew those girls were always making up lies about him.
Keith finally settled at their table, and they placed their orders—something smooth to drink and a few hearty dishes to fill the silence. The food arrived swiftly, steaming and rich with flavor. Craig dug in, the warmth of the meal providing a brief distraction from the swirling thoughts in his head.
Keith leaned back in his seat, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "There are so many hot freshers here, man. I think I like one in particular."
Craig glanced over at his friend, an eyebrow raised, but didn't reply. Keith's enthusiasm was always the same—undeterred, unbothered by anything.
"You wanna start hitting on them now?"Craig didn't share his eagerness, but it wasn't his place to stop him.
Keith just shrugged, his grin widening. "Well, I would bring her over to our table, but I know you wouldn't like that. You're Belview's finest anti-social dick, remember?"
Craig rolled his eyes but couldn't suppress the faintest smirk. Keith always had a way of getting under his skin. He crossed his arms, leaning against the bar, trying to ignore the rising tension between him and Keith.
"Fine, whatever," Craig muttered, though a part of him knew this was going to be trouble. "Bring her over."
Keith's eyes lit up. "Reals?"
Before Craig could change his mind, Keith scribbled something on a napkin and passed it to a waitress with a wink. Craig watched, half-interested, his thoughts drifting.
But then, his eyes landed on her.
Across the room, where Merlina sat, a stillness around her that made her stand out in the bustling crowd. While everyone else seemed caught up in the noise and chaos, Merlina remained untouched, quiet and composed. Craig's breath caught in his throat, an unfamiliar pull latching onto his chest.
He stared at her, transfixed by something deep, something he couldn't place. It was a feeling he wasn't used to.
He blinked and quickly turned his gaze away, cursing himself for being so affected by her.
"Great," he muttered under his breath, trying to shake off the sudden feeling that had settled over him.
"You're really doing this?" Craig said, already dreading the answer.
Keith leaned in, eyes gleaming with excitement. "Yup. It's a done deal."
Moments later, the waitress approached Merlina's table, Craig's eyes following her every move. His heart rate quickened as she headed in the direction he feared.
"Oh, not that table," he whispered to himself, a sense of foreboding sweeping over him.
"Why not?" Keith asked, genuinely confused.
Craig's eyes tightened, his frustration building. "I knew this wasn't gonna end well."
Keith, always the optimist, grinned wider. "Relax. This is gonna be fun, trust me."
The waitress finally reached Merlina's table, handing the napkin to Phoebe, who passed it to Merlina and Megan. The three of them exchanged confused looks before Merlina's gaze shifted across the room. Her eyes met Craig's—his pulse spiked at the sudden electric charge in the air.
Everything around them seemed to slow down, the noise fading to a distant hum. There was something unspoken in the air between them, something that neither of them could ignore.
Merlina's gaze held steady for just a moment longer than necessary, and though her expression remained calm, her breath caught, betraying the uncertainty in her.
Craig's heart pounded in his chest as he stood there, frozen for a second, disappointed he didn't look away first.
"F*ck" Craig cursed under his breath, unable to stop the flood of emotions that rushed through him.