The break was over. For two days, Evan had immersed himself in reviewing business concepts, painstakingly digging into the old Evan’s memories. It wasn’t easy. Though the knowledge was there—tent, like faint echoes—it took effort to summon them, like trying to piece together a shattered mirror. He didn’t want to risk raising suspicion at university by appearing clueless in his lectures. The old Evan had been reserved and quiet, but academically competent; anything less would stick out.

  Now, it was time to put his preparation to the test.

  The early morning sun was already casting long shadows on the driveway as Evan stood awkwardly by Sienna’s sleek, bck sports car. She walked out of the mansion with an air of easy confidence, her leather jacket slung over one shoulder. Evan envied her composure; while he felt a constant, low-level anxiety about being out of pce, Sienna carried herself like she belonged wherever she was.

  He smoothed his pin, neatly pressed shirt. In a world where men were expected to enhance their appearance with makeup and accessories, his natural look might as well have been a rebellion. He had chosen this outfit carefully—not too fshy, but still stylish enough to fit in with the elite crowd at university.

  Sienna’s gaze flicked to him, and she grinned. “You’re really committed to this no-makeup thing, huh?”

  “I just… don’t see the point,” he said, shrugging. “Feels unnecessary.”

  “Unnecessary?” she echoed, opening the car door. “Evan, you’re probably the only guy on campus who can pull off the ‘au naturel’ look and still outshine everyone. It’s refreshing, actually.”

  Evan felt his face flush. Sienna always had a way of turning a simple comment into something teasing yet genuine. “Thanks, I guess,” he muttered, sliding into the passenger seat.

  Sienna ughed softly, revving the engine. “You’re welcome, you know. It’s not every day a guy manages to look effortlessly cssy without even trying.”

  “Effortlessly cssy?” he echoed, gncing at her skeptically.

  She smirked, adjusting the rearview mirror. “What? It’s a compliment. You have that whole calm, composed thing going for you. It’s rare—most guys try too hard.”

  Evan rolled his eyes, but his stomach twisted uncomfortably. In this reversed world, even compliments like that felt strange. He wasn’t used to being viewed through such a lens, let alone having his ck of effort praised as intentional charm.

  As Sienna drove through the city, the sleek sports car hummed smoothly along the road. Evan’s gaze drifted over the polished exterior, the way it caught the sunlight, reflecting the elegance of the world around him. He couldn’t help but think that someday—maybe not now, but sometime in the future—he’d love to own a car like that. The thought stirred something in him, a quiet desire that felt both impossible and tempting.

  Although he could probably ask his parents for it—heck, they'd likely get him whatever he wanted—his pride wouldn’t let him. He’d rather not have his dreams handed to him, especially not as a gift from his parents or, even worse, from Sienna. The thought of relying on anyone else for something like that didn’t sit right with him. He wanted to earn it himself, when the time was right—not have it given to him.

  “You’ve been quiet the past couple of days,” Sienna said, gncing at him as she turned into the campus parking lot.

  “Just reviewing stuff,” he admitted. “I didn’t want to fall behind.”

  Her smile softened. “That’s good. You’ve always been serious about your studies.”

  Not always, Evan thought wryly. The old Evan had been diligent, but his reserved nature had also kept him isoted. As the car slowed to a stop, Evan felt a pang of unease. Time to face this world head-on again.

  The campus buzzed with activity, a mix of returning students chatting excitedly and new ones looking lost. Sienna drew attention immediately—her car, her confidence, her presence. But Evan noticed that many eyes shifted to him as well.

  He stepped out of the car, adjusting his bag on his shoulder. A group of girls nearby openly stared, their conversation halting as they exchanged whispers. He caught snippets like “natural look” and “so cssy.”

  Evan caught the stares, the whispers, the way people stopped mid-conversation to look at him. It wasn’t admiration—it felt more like scrutiny, a kind of attention he wasn’t sure he wanted. Back in his old world, he had been just another face in the crowd, too preoccupied with surviving to attract much notice, let alone this kind of btant fascination.

  Here, no matter what he did, he stood out. And he hated it. But showing that discomfort would only make it worse. So, he straightened his shoulders and kept walking, hoping they’d eventually find someone else to gawk at.

  “Let’s meet up for lunch,” Sienna said, leaning casually against the car door.

  “Yeah, sure,” Evan replied, already eager to escape the attention.

  As he walked toward his building, Sienna lingered, her gaze scanning the crowd. Her lips tightened slightly as she noticed how many girls were still staring at Evan.

  The lecture hall was just as he remembered it—rge, modern, and filled with an air of privilege. Evan slipped into a seat at the front, alone. From his memories, he knew the old Evan had preferred to sit there, avoiding the chatter of the back rows. He pced his notebook on the desk, trying to look busy.

  Behind him, the murmurs were unavoidable.

  “Is that Evan? He looks different… He’s not wearing any makeup today”

  “Yeah, so natural. Like, Ice Prince vibes.”

  “I heard he’s super quiet, though. Kinda mysterious.”

  Evan exhaled sharply, keeping his eyes on his notes. This was his new normal, and he’d have to endure it. Just blend in. Stay quiet. Don’t draw attention.

  The first lecture passed uneventfully, but the second brought a shift. The professor, a sharp-eyed woman in her te 30s, announced a group activity.

  “Alright, everyone,” she said, projecting her voice over the chatter. “You’ll be analyzing a real-world business scenario. Form groups of four, and I want each group to present a strategic solution by the end of the session.”

  The css erupted into movement, students shuffling to form groups. Evan hesitated. He didn’t know anyone well enough to join a group naturally.

  “Evan,” the professor called, her gaze nding on him. “You can join Group Five. They’re one member short.”

  He nodded, moving toward the indicated group. His partners—a trio of girls—looked at him with varying degrees of curiosity and amusement.

  The case study involved a struggling startup that needed to pivot its strategy to avoid bankruptcy. As the group discussed, Evan listened, absorbing their ideas.

  “We could suggest cutting operational costs,” one girl said, twirling her pen.

  “Or rebranding entirely,” another offered.

  Evan cleared his throat. “What about focusing on a niche market instead? The startup’s current broad approach isn’t sustainable, but if they specialize, they could build a loyal customer base.”

  The group fell silent, staring at him.

  “That’s… actually a good point,” one of them said, blinking.

  The professor, who had been circling the room, overheard and stopped by their table. “Excellent insight, Evan. Can you eborate?”

  Evan felt his heart race. Public speaking wasn’t his strong suit, but he nodded. “By narrowing their target demographic, they can reduce marketing costs and focus on delivering high-quality products to a smaller, more dedicated audience. It’s less risky than rebranding entirely.”

  The professor smiled, nodding. “Well said. This is the kind of critical thinking I want to see.”

  As she walked away, the group members exchanged surprised gnces.

  “Didn’t know you had it in you, Evan,” one girl teased, a pyful grin on her face.

  Evan forced a small smile, his mind racing. The old Evan wouldn’t have spoken up like that. What am I doing? He decided to py it off, shrugging. “Just seemed logical.”

  The third lecture began, and as Evan returned to his seat, he noticed someone new sitting beside him.

  “Hey,” the girl said, fshing a confident smile. “I’m Rachel.”

  Evan nodded politely, keeping his tone neutral. “Evan.”

  Rachel was striking, with blonde hair that gleamed under the lecture hall lights and a carefully curated style that screamed effortless sophistication. Her presence carried an effortless energy that seemed to command attention wherever she went. She leaned closer, resting her elbow on the shared desk, her chin propped on her hand as she studied him.

  “You’re sharp,” she said, her voice smooth and conversational. “Caught a few of your points st lecture. You have a way with words.”

  Evan blinked, taken aback by the compliment. “Oh, thanks. I just try to keep up, honestly.”

  She tilted her head slightly, her smile growing. “Keeping up? You practically dominated that discussion on market forecasting. Got everyone hanging on your words.”

  Her gaze lingered, and Evan felt a flush creeping up his neck. He cleared his throat, looking down at his notebook. “I just said what made sense. It wasn’t a big deal.”

  Rachel chuckled softly, the sound low and self-assured. “Not a big deal, huh? Modesty suits you.” She shifted closer, her tone growing more pyful. “Ever thought about joining a debate club? A guy like you—poised, articute—could really turn heads.”

  Evan hesitated, unsure how to respond. “Not really. I don’t think I’m... the debate type.”

  “Hmm.” She tapped her pen against her lip, her eyes still locked on him. “Well, confidence looks good on you. Just saying.”

  Evan didn’t pick up on the flirtation. He assumed she was just being polite. “Uh, thanks. I guess.”

  Rachel’s smile curved, slow and satisfied, as though she’d just won some unspoken contest. “Actually,” she continued, her voice dropping slightly, “with that group project coming up for ‘Strategic Business Management’ css, I was thinking we could team up. Your... perspective could be exactly what our group needs. What do you think?”

  Evan paused. She seemed friendly enough, and he hadn’t formed any groups for projects yet. It would be better than fumbling around on his own. “Sure, why not?”

  Rachel leaned back, crossing her legs casually and radiating self-assurance. “Perfect. We’ll talk details ter.”

  Evan nodded, turning back to his notes as the lecture resumed. But Rachel’s presence remained impossible to ignore. She had an energy about her, one he couldn’t quite pce—too focused, too deliberate. He wondered if this was just how women in this world were: bold, direct, and unafraid to take the lead.

  It reminded him of how little experience he had with women in his old world. Back there, he’d been more or less invisible. He hadn’t dated much—if at all—and whenever a girl had tried to flirt with him, it went right over his head. Was this the same thing? No, Rachel was probably just being nice. Why overthink it?

  Meanwhile, Rachel, watching his thoughtful expression, mistook his silence for a sign of intrigue. She smirked to herself, satisfied. Guys like Evan—reserved but polite, confident without realizing it—were the most fun.

  LunarEcho