Kael's words didn't leave me.
They stayed.
Not loud. Not obvious.
Just there… sitting quietly in my mind like something unfinished.
You'll talk to me eventually.
I hated that he sounded so sure.
Like it wasn't a question.
Like it was something that would happen whether I wanted it or not.
And the annoying part?
I kept thinking about it.
I still didn't like him.
At least… that's what I kept telling myself.
But something had changed.
It wasn't just fear anymore.
Sometimes, when I thought about the way he looked at me—
That steady, unreadable gaze—
I found myself wondering.
Why me?
Out of all the girls in that school… why me?
There had to be something.
Something different.
Something I couldn't see yet.
Because Kael didn't look like someone who cared about anybody.
Yet—
He was trying.
In his own way.
And that confused me more than anything.
Most times, I saw him from a distance.
With his friends.
Laughing. Talking. Existing like the whole place belonged to him.
And then I would pass by—
And he would look at me.
Not casually.
Never casually.
That look…
It did something to me.
Something small.
Something I didn't like admitting.
It made my chest tighten.
Sometimes… it made me blush.
And I hated that.
"I don't like him," I told Talia one afternoon.
She looked at me for a long second.
"You're thinking about him," she said.
"That doesn't mean I like him."
She didn't argue.
But the way she looked at me—
She didn't believe me.
And maybe…
I didn't fully believe myself either.
The whispers started not long after.
At first, it was small.
Then louder.
Then everywhere.
"Kael is actually chasing a girl…"
"Do you know who she is?"
"That new girl…"
"Seraphina…"
I could feel it.
The shift.
The attention.
People started watching more.
Not just me—
Us.
Every little thing he did became something people talked about.
If he stood near my class—
They noticed.
If he looked at me—
They noticed.
If I walked past him—
They noticed.
It was exhausting.
And the girls?
Worse.
They smiled at me.
Talked to me.
Acted normal.
But I could see it.
That small flicker in their eyes.
Jealousy.
Because Kael Draven—
The boy who didn't chase—
Was paying attention to me.
Then one day—
Everything changed.
He heard the rumors.
And he didn't like it.
Not because people were talking.
But because of what they were saying.
That he was chasing.
That he was… weak.
Because of me.
So he stopped.
No more gifts.
No more sending people.
Nothing.
Just—
Silence.
But he didn't stop watching.
If anything…
It got worse.
More intentional.
More controlled.
Like he was studying me now.
Learning me.
Without saying a word.
And I felt it.
Every time.
Then came the game.
It was during break.
Loud. Chaotic. Everyone gathered.
"Truth or dare!" someone shouted.
I didn't even plan to join.
But somehow—
I was dragged into it.
"I don't want to—" I started.
"Don't be boring," someone cut in. "It's just a game."
"Or are you scared?"
A few laughs followed.
I sighed.
Of course.
Peer pressure.
Talia squeezed my hand gently.
"I'm here," she whispered.
I nodded slightly.
"Fine."
We sat in a circle.
Too many people.
Too much attention.
And somehow—
He was there too.
Kael.
Leaning back slightly, relaxed… but his eyes?
On me.
Of course.
"Seraphina first!"
My heart skipped.
I forced a small smile.
"Truth," I said quickly.
No way I was picking dare.
The girl asking smirked slightly.
"Do you like Kael?"
Silence.
The kind that spreads fast.
Everybody turned.
Even though they were already watching—
Now they were waiting.
For my answer.
I paused.
Just for a second.
Then—
"No."
Simple.
Clear.
Final.
I didn't look at him immediately.
But I felt it.
That shift.
Subtle.
But real.
When I finally glanced up—
His expression had changed.
Not angry.
Not surprised.
Just…
Still.
Too still.
Like he felt it—
But wouldn't show it.
"Next," someone said quickly, trying to move things along.
"Kael. Truth or dare?"
He didn't hesitate.
"Dare."
Of course.
A few people laughed nervously.
The girl smiled, clearly enjoying this.
"I dare you… to kiss any girl here."
My stomach dropped.
Instantly.
I didn't need to think.
I already knew.
This was it.
This was how he would finally—
My fingers tightened slightly around Talia's hand.
She squeezed back.
"It's okay," she whispered.
But I wasn't okay.
Because he was already standing.
And then—
He started walking.
Slow.
Confident.
Unbothered.
But his eyes?
Locked on me.
My heart started racing.
Louder.
Faster.
Everything around me faded.
The noise. The people.
All I could see was him.
Coming closer.
Each step felt deliberate.
Like he was taking his time.
Like he wanted everyone to see it.
To feel it.
I couldn't move.
Couldn't even breathe properly.
Because I knew—
He was coming to me.
He stopped right in front of me.
Close.
Too close.
My pulse was out of control.
My chest rising and falling faster than I wanted.
His gaze dropped briefly to my lips.
Then back to my eyes.
Slow.
Intentional.
That same look.
That same pressure.
The whole place went quiet.
Watching.
Waiting.
He leaned slightly closer.
And for a second—
I thought—
Then he moved.
Not to me.
To the girl beside me.
It happened so fast I almost didn't process it.
His hand slid to her waist—
firm.
Possessive.
Like he was in control of every second.
He pulled her closer—
and kissed her.
Not quick.
Not careless.
Deliberate.
The girl melted into it instantly.
Like she had been waiting her whole life.
His grip tightened slightly at her waist.
Holding.
Controlling.
Owning the moment.
And me?
I sat there.
Frozen.
Watching.
Then—
He pulled away.
And looked at me.
Not at her.
Not at anyone else.
Me.
That look again.
But this time—
There was something else in it.
Something sharper.
Like he was saying something without speaking.
Then he walked away.
Just like that.
The game continued.
People laughed.
Talked.
Moved on.
But I didn't.
Because something inside me felt…
wrong.
I didn't want him to kiss me.
I knew that.
I was sure of it.
So why did it feel like that?
Like something twisted in my chest.
Like something I didn't understand.
I looked down at my hands.
Then away.
Trying to ignore it.
But I couldn't.
Because no matter how I tried to explain it—
One thing was clear.
I didn't like what I felt.
And I liked it even less…
that it was because of him.