Chapter Text
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“Dorm leader, can't you do something about that woman?”
Seth, newly appointed dormitory leader on Eridu campus sighed as he conversed with the student in front of him. “I'm sorry, please know that I'm trying my best to subdue her,” he said, combing a hand through his silvery hair.
As a freshman, balancing academics with his dorm responsibilities was already challenging enough. Being a dorm leader was no easy task, especially as a freshman, but Seth had a natural knack for responsibility. Unfortunately, that knack also made him a prime target for trouble.
And trouble had a name: Miss Jane Doe.
After finishing up his conversation with the grumbling resident, Seth left to stand guard outside his dorm building, eyes scanning the vicinity like a predator. How many complaints had there been this week? It was only Wednesday, yet that woman had somehow managed to piss off so many people already. He had to admit, that in of itself was a talent.
“Jane, I know you're here. Just come out already,” Seth placed a hand on his hip, waiting. If the pattern held true, she was likely nearby, lurking, waiting to pounce on her next victim—or more accurately, on him.
His suspicions were confirmed when a soft chuckle drifted through the air. Seth's shoulders tensed. He knew that sound all too well. Jane Doe, with her sharp wit and quicker feet, was about to make his day infinitely more complicated.
"Looking for someone, dorm leader?" came a smooth and teasing voice from behind him.
Seth whirled around, his breath catching. There she was, leaning casually against a tree, her trademark mischievous grin plastered across her face. Her choppy dark hair fell in loose waves around her shoulders, and she looked as if she hadn’t a care in the world. Despite her reputation, Jane was a top student, particularly in criminology—a fact that often baffled Seth, given the amount of time she spent plotting and executing her next prank. It was as if she was utilising all the study materials in real life, experimenting on people’s reactions by pranking them.
"Jane," Seth sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose, "what did you do this time?"
Jane pushed off from the tree, strolling toward him with an exaggerated innocence. "Me? Do something? Oh Seth, you wound me with your words."
"Don't play coy with me," Seth replied, trying to maintain a stern facade. Somehow, she was always able to make a mess out of him no matter how hard he tried to resist. "I just got three complaints about someone dying all the laundry in the communal washing machines a bright, neon green. And I know it was you."
Jane tilted her head, eyes twinkling with amusement. "Now, now, you're always so quick to blame me. What if it was just a coincidence?" She slid closer to him, “What if you're targeting a poor, innocent soul? Could you handle the repercussions?”
"Jane," Seth said, voice dropping to a low, warning tone. Not that it had ever worked on the likes of her. "I don't have time for this. Just undo whatever you did before it becomes a bigger problem."
"But where's the fun in that?" Jane smirked, taking a step closer. "You should really learn to lighten up, Lowell. College is about enjoying yourself, you know?"
Seth groaned inwardly. This was how it always went—Jane pushing his buttons, and him trying to keep the peace. She was a master at it, expertly weaving her way through any situation, always staying one step ahead.
And god, he hated to admit it, but she was gorgeous too. Her casual sensuality that seemed to beckon him every time they spoke to each other, he didn't know how much longer he could take it. Tension hung in the air between them, just waiting for someone to take the bait.
"Look, just… stop causing trouble, alright? I have enough on my plate as it is," Seth said, trying to appeal to whatever sense of reason she might have, though he wasn’t entirely sure she possessed any.
Jane chuckled softly, stepping even closer until they were nearly toe-to-toe. "You know, Seth," she whispered, "you really should stop chasing me like this. It only makes things more interesting."
Before he could respond, Jane had disappeared, as swiftly and quietly as she had shown up.
He'd lost her again.
🐈🐀🐈
It was getting dark and the sun was setting, casting a warm glow over the campus as Seth did his routine patrol of the dorms. He checked the entrances, made sure the common areas were in order, and kept an eye out for any signs of trouble.
He rounded the corner of the dorm building and stepped into the courtyard, his eyes scanning the area. The area was usually quiet at this hour, with most students either inside or out for the evening. But this time, there was a lone figure standing beneath one of the large oak trees that lined the path.
Here she was, his biggest headache.
Jane was staring up at the tree, her hands clenched into fists at her sides. It was a strange sight—Jane, who was always on the move running away from him, looking so... still.
She’s up to something again, isn’t she? Maybe she’d rigged some elaborate prank, and he’d finally catch her in the act, red-handed.
Determined, Seth quickened his pace, his footsteps silent on the grass like a wild cat on the prowl. He was only a few strides away when he saw it—her face. Concerned, worried, and completely devoid of the mischief he was so accustomed to. His heart skipped a beat at the unfamiliar sight.
“Jane?” he called out, his voice laced with confusion.
She turned to him, her eyes wide and glossy, as if she was on the brink of tears. Seth froze. He’d seen her in many moods—smug, amused, defiant—but never like this. He didn’t know how to react or what to do. He’d never imagined a day where he’d catch her in distress.
“Uh, um... Are you crying?” He asked awkwardly. Damn it, Seth! Was this really the best he could do?
“Oh dorm leader, you’re here! Perfect timing, please come and help my John!”
Seth blinked, trying to process her words.
John? Who in the world was John?
She had a boyfriend?
The thought made his chest tighten, and he wasn’t sure why. Of course, Jane Doe would have a boyfriend. She was so smart, so attractive, and had a magnetic charm that drew people in, despite—or maybe because of—her troublemaking ways. But still, the idea irked him in a way he couldn’t explain.
“John?” he repeated, his voice sounding strange even to his own ears.
“Yes, yes! He’s up there!” She pointed frantically at the tree, and Seth followed her gaze. It was then he heard it—the soft, pitiful mewling coming from the branches above.
Seth’s irritation eased slightly as he realised what was happening. A small, white kitten was perched high up in the tree, clinging to a branch and meowing for help. “Your cat?” he asked, glancing back at Jane, a little exasperated now.
She nodded, her expression a mix of anxiety and helplessness. “He’s so tiny, Seth. I—I don’t know how he got up there, but I can’t get him down. You have to help him!”
“You do know that taking care of pets is strictly forbidden here, right?” He sighed, frowning at her. Flinching at his tone, Jane could only bow her head in defeat. “I know, I know. I just…”
Observing her now, Seth couldn’t help but feel himself soften. I guess even someone like you could look so worried over something like this. “Don’t worry, I’ll get him,” Seth said, his voice steady. “You will?” Jane gaped at him, she had fully expected him to just grumble at her and leave. He sighed, already getting ready to climb the tree. “Did you not want me to?”
“No, no, of course not! I’ll be good, so please help him!”
He glanced around and spotted a low branch that he could use to climb. With a quick, reassuring nod to Jane, he hoisted himself up into the tree. As he continued to climb higher, Jane had the strange thought that he was really good at it, almost akin to a cat himself. She watched anxiously from below, her heart pounding in her chest. Was it from anxiety or something else entirely, she wasn't sure herself. At any rate, this wasn't the time to be thinking about such things. "Be careful!" she called up, her hands clutching his glasses tightly. "Don't fall, you know I can't catch you!"
Seth decided to not respond.
It took a few moments of careful climbing, but eventually he managed to reach the kitten. John, as Jane called him, was trembling and clinging to the branch for dear life. “Hey there, buddy,” Seth murmured softly as he reached out. “I’ve got you now.”
The kitten mewled again, but didn’t resist as Seth gently scooped him up. Cradling the small creature against his chest, he carefully made his way back down the tree. When he reached the ground, Jane was already there with her arms outstretched, her eyes wide with relief.
“Thank you, Seth!” she exclaimed, her voice filled with genuine gratitude. She reached out, taking the kitten from his arms and cradling it close. John nestled into her embrace, his tiny body relaxing as he realised he was safe.
Seth watched her for a moment, his earlier irritation fading completely as he saw the tenderness in her eyes. Jane looked up at him, and for a brief moment, their eyes met. Her gaze held something different—something soft and sincere, unfamiliar to him.
“So, why did you name him John, of all things,” Seth asked, trying to break the strange tension he suddenly felt.
“Is it really that strange to name him after me?”
Seth paused. What did that mean? He tilted his head in consideration, and Jane snickered as she watched him. It was almost as if she could see the gears turning in his head. How cute.
Then it hit him. “Oh! You meant John as in John Doe . The male counterpart of your name!” He exclaimed, his excitement getting the better of himself. Jane burst into laughter at the sight, “Congratulations on finally figuring it out, you genius~”
Embarrassed, Seth quickly attempted to regain his composure. “Ahem, Jane. You do realise having pets in the dorm is against the rules, right?”
“Then, are you gonna take him away from me?”
Dang it. Of course he wasn’t. He had a soft spot for animals, and Jane knew that all too well. Seth shook his head. “No need. Just keep an eye on him from now on.”
“Even though it’s against the rules? And you’re the leader of the student dorm committee?” March asked cautiously. She still couldn’t figure out why he had let her off. Not only that, but he had helped her save her kitten.
“Did you want me to punish you or something?”
Jane grinned, her usual mischief returning just a little bit as she leaned towards him, closing the distance between them. “Oh my, I didn’t take you for a sadistic person! You think you can take me?”
She leaned closer still, and he could almost taste her breath. His heart skipped a beat, completely caught off guard by her sudden proximity. "Jane, I—"
Before he could finish, Jane had already spun around, flashing him a quick wink over her shoulder. "Catch me if you can," she called, darting off into the shadows.
Seth stood frozen for a moment, her words hanging in the air. Then, with a resigned sigh, he broke into a run after her, the thrill of the chase igniting a fire within him. This was their dance, the one that neither of them seemed eager to end.
As he sprinted through the dimly lit campus, Seth couldn’t help but think that maybe, just maybe, he didn’t mind the chase so much after all.
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That was the first time Jane had lost her John, and it wouldn't be the last.