LILY'S P.O.V.
I wish he didn't see that.
That kiss… it wasn't just a kiss.
It was everything.
And the moment I opened my eyes—
Jayden was there.
Watching.
Next Day — School
Something felt… off.
The hallway was the same. The noise, the lockers, people gossiping—everything normal.
Except him.
Jayden.
Leaning against my locker like he'd been waiting.
"Morning, Lily."
My steps slowed.
"Jayden…?"
He smiled. But it wasn't the same smile from yesterday.
It was calmer. Sharper.
"Walk with me."
It didn't sound like a request.
We walked side by side, and for some reason… my chest felt tight.
"You didn't text me," he said casually.
"I was tired yesterday—"
"Yeah," he cut in, glancing at me. "I saw."
My heartbeat stopped.
Saw.
I swallowed. "Jayden, I—"
He suddenly stopped walking. I had to stop too.
"Relax," he said softly, stepping closer. "You don't have to explain anything to me."
But why did it feel like I did?
Classroom
I thought it would end there.
It didn't.
Jayden took the seat next to me.
Not Riko's.
Mine.
Rhea leaned over from behind, whispering, "Girl… why is he sitting THERE?"
"I don't know," I whispered back, already stressed.
Jayden rested his elbow on the desk, leaning slightly closer to me.
"You still take notes like this?" he murmured, pointing at my notebook.
My breath hitched.
He was close.
Too close.
"Y-Yeah…"
"Cute," he said.
And that word?
That word was Riko's
The classroom door opened.
And Riko walked in.
His eyes found me instantly.
Then shifted.
To Jayden.
To how close he was.
To the way Jayden didn't even move.
Silence.
Heavy. Dangerous silence.
Riko walked over slowly.
"Move."
One word.
Cold.
Jayden didn't even look at him. "Class hasn't started yet."
Riko's jaw tightened. "That's my seat."
Jayden finally turned, smiling slightly. "Find another one."
Oh.
Oh no.
"Guys, stop—" I started, but neither of them listened.
Riko stepped closer. "I said. Move."
Jayden stood up.
Now they were face to face again.
Just like yesterday.
But worse.
"Or what?" Jayden said quietly.
The tension?
Unbearable.
Everyone in class was watching.
I stood up quickly, grabbing Jayden's wrist.
"Jayden, please."
That one word.
Please.
Something in his expression changed.
Not soft.
Not kind.
Just… something.
He looked at me for a second—
Then stepped back.
"Relax," he said lightly. "I was just sitting."
And walked away.
Riko didn't sit.
Not immediately.
His eyes were still on Jayden's back.
Then slowly… he looked at me.
"Enjoying this?" he asked.
My heart dropped. "What?! No—"
He let out a dry laugh. "Could've fooled me."
And that hurt.
"Riko—"
"Save it," he muttered, sitting down.
The distance between us?
It wasn't physical.
It was something else.
Something worse.
Lunch Break
I found him outside.
Alone.
"Riko."
He didn't look at me. "You should go sit with him."
That snapped something in me.
"Why are you acting like this?!"
He finally turned. "Because he's acting like he owns you."
"I'm not anyone's to own!"
"Then tell him that," he shot back.
"I tried—"
"Did you?" he interrupted. "Because from where I'm standing, you're letting him do whatever he wants."
I froze.
That wasn't fair.
"You don't trust me?"
He didn't answer immediately.
And that silence?
That was my answer.
"Wow," I whispered. "So that's it?"
"Don't twist this," he said, running a hand through his hair. "I trust you. I just don't trust him."
"Then don't take it out on me!"
"I'm not—"
"You ARE!" my voice cracked. "I'm trying here, Riko!"
That shut him up.
For a second.
His expression softened, just a little.
"I know," he said quietly.
But the damage?
Still there.
Later — Corridor
I was walking alone when suddenly—
A hand grabbed my wrist.
I turned.
Jayden.
"Come with me."
"Jayden, I—"
"Just five minutes," he said, already pulling me along.
He took me to an empty classroom.
Closed the door.
My heart started racing.
"Jayden, what are you doing?"
He leaned against the door.
Blocking it.
"I'm just… making things clear."
My breath caught. "Clear?"
His eyes locked onto mine.
"You chose him."
It wasn't a question.
"…Yes."
Silence.
Then he laughed softly.
"Figures."
"Jayden—"
"But you know what?" he stepped closer. "I don't lose that easily."
My heart started pounding.
"Lose…?"
He was right in front of me now.
Too close.
"You think he knows you better than me?" he said quietly. "After all these years?"
"That's not—"
"He doesn't know how you hate thunderstorms."
"He doesn't know you can't sleep without music."
"He doesn't know the way you cry when you're overwhelmed."
Each word hit harder.
Because they were true.
I didn't realize I was backing up—
Until my back hit the desk.
And he didn't stop.
"Jayden…" I whispered.
"Say my name like that again," he murmured, "and I might forget I'm trying to be nice."
My breath caught.
This wasn't the Jayden I knew.
This was something else.
Something dangerous.
"Why are you doing this?" I asked, barely holding my voice steady.
His expression flickered.
For a second—
Just a second—
I saw it.
Hurt.
"I saw you kiss him," he said quietly.
And there it was.
The truth.
"I was too late."
My heart softened.
"Jayden…"
But before I could say anything—
The door suddenly opened.
Hard.
Riko.
His eyes dark.
His jaw clenched.
"What the hell is going on?"
And just like that—
Everything snapped.
TO BE CONTINUED…
NEXT CHAPTER SNEAK PEEK:
"I know that, princess!"