For the first time since arriving in this world, I couldn't sleep.
Not because of danger.
Not because of fear.
Not because I was planning an escape.
I couldn't sleep because of Kairo.
Which was probably the most embarrassing problem I had ever experienced.
I stared at the ceiling of my room, replaying the council meeting for what felt like the hundredth time.
"I will withdraw completely."
The words refused to leave my head.
Most people made promises when it was easy.
Most people made choices when they had nothing to lose.
But Kairo?
Kairo had been willing to risk everything.
And I still didn't know what to do with that.
A knock sounded at my door.
I sat up immediately.
"Come in.
The door opened.
And unfortunately, the last person I wanted to see walked inside.
The silver-haired omega.
"You're terrible at sleeping."
I groaned.
"You know, normal people use doors for entering, not annoying others."
He ignored me completely.
Rude.
"You're thinking about him."
I grabbed a pillow.
"Leave."
"No."
The pillow hit him.
Unfortunately, he caught it.
"Violence."
"You deserved it."
"Probably."
That answer caught me off guard.
The omega walked further into the room and dropped into a chair like he owned it.
I hated how comfortable he looked.
"What do you want?"
"To talk."
"I don't."
"That's unfortunate."
I rubbed my forehead.
"Why are you like this?"
He smiled.
"I ask myself the same thing."
Liar.
He definitely enjoyed being irritating.
The room fell silent for a moment.
Then his expression changed.
Not completely.
But enough.
Enough that I realized he was actually serious.
Which was somehow more concerning.
"You love him."
I nearly choked.
"What?"
"You love him."
"Excuse me?"
The omega looked completely unimpressed.
"You heard me."
I stared.
Then pointed at the door.
"Get out."
"No."
"Immediately."
"No."
"Right now."
"No."
I hated him.
Genuinely.
Deeply.
Passionately.
The omega sighed.
"You really are oblivious."
"I'm not oblivious."
"You are."
"I'm not."
"You are."
We stared at each other.
Then I pointed again.
"Leave."
"No."
I wanted to throw another pillow.
Unfortunately, I had already used my ammunition.
The omega leaned back slightly.
"Let me ask you something."
"No."
"I'm going to anyway."
"That's not how questions work."
He ignored me.
Again.
"What would happen if Kairo disappeared tomorrow?"
The question hit harder than I expected.
I frowned.
"That's not funny."
"I wasn't joking."
The room felt quieter suddenly.
More serious.
I didn't like it.
"I don't know."
"Yes, you do."
"No."
"You do."
I looked away.
Because I did know.
And that was the problem.
The mansion would feel empty.
The days would feel wrong.
The future would feel...
The realization hit me so suddenly I almost hated it.
"...Oh."
The omega smiled.
Not cruelly.
Not mockingly.
Just knowingly.
"Exactly."
I buried my face in my hands.
"Oh, this is awful."
"It really is."
"Why are you agreeing with me?"
"Because watching people realize they're in love is usually painful."
I looked up immediately.
"Love is a strong word."
"Not really."
"It is."
"It isn't."
I pointed at him.
"You are the last person I want relationship advice from."
"Fair."
At least he was self-aware.
That was something.
The silence stretched between us.
Then I asked quietly,
"How long have you known?"
The omega didn't hesitate.
"A while."
I groaned.
"Of course."
"Kairo knew too."
That made me freeze.
Slowly.
Very slowly.
I looked up.
"...What?"
The omega laughed.
Actually laughed.
"Kairo has known for weeks."
Weeks.
Weeks.
I wanted the floor to open and swallow me.
Immediately.
Preferably permanently.
"You're lying."
"I'm not."
"He's not that perceptive."
The omega stared at me.
Then laughed harder.
"You're serious."
I crossed my arms.
"He misses obvious things."
"No."
"He absolutely does."
"No."
"Have you met him?"
The omega looked genuinely entertained now.
"You do realize he hears your thoughts."
Silence.
The room froze.
My soul left my body.
Oh.
Oh no.
Oh no.
No.
Absolutely not.
Every embarrassing thought.
Every jealous thought.
Every emotional crisis.
Every moment.
He heard everything.
The omega watched the realization destroy me in real time.
"This is incredible."
"I'm going to die."
"No, you're not."
"I am."
"No."
"I absolutely am."
The omega laughed again.
The traitor.
Then the door opened.
Without warning.
Without mercy.
Without any concern for my survival.
Kairo walked in.
And immediately stopped.
His gaze shifted between us.
The omega looked delighted.
I looked ready to jump out a window.
"Kairo," the omega said cheerfully.
"No."
The omega's smile widened.
"You should have seen his face."
"No."
"It was amazing."
"No."
The omega stood.
Still smiling.
Still irritating.
Still alive despite everything.
Then he looked at me.
And delivered the final attack.
"Good luck."
I stared.
"What does that mean?"
His smile widened.
Then he left.
Just left.
Like a villain exiting after setting a building on fire.
The door shut.
Silence.
Terrible.
Horrible.
Life-ending silence.
I refused to look at Kairo.
Kairo, unfortunately, had no such problem.
"You know."
Three words.
Three devastating words.
I closed my eyes.
"...Please don't."
"You know."
"I am begging you."
"You know."
"This is emotional warfare."
A pause.
Then—
A very faint hint of amusement.
"I know."
I wanted to disappear.
Immediately.
Forever.
Instead, I buried my face in my hands.
This world was terrible.
The people in it were terrible.
And somehow—
the worst part was that Kairo sounded happier than he had in days.
Which meant one thing.
He really had known all along.
And now—
I had absolutely nowhere left to hide.