POV
"Who told you that?" Shivrit asked calmly.
"Adray," I replied. "My childhood best friend."
There was a small pause.
Then a soft scoff.
"Did you fight recently?"
"Yes," I admitted.
"Then maybe that's why he said it."
His voice was steady. Logical.
"People say ugly things when they're jealous."
Jealous?
"Jealous of what?" I asked.
"Of me."
The confidence in his tone made my stomach flip.
"He doesn't like me, Bunny," Shivrit continued. "I've seen the way he looks at you."
I frowned. "What do you mean?"
"Are you sure he's just your friend?"
The question caught me off guard.
"Of course," I laughed lightly. "I don't even see Adray as a guy."
Silence.
Then-
"Good."
The word wasn't soft.
It was firm.
"It should stay that way."
Something in his tone made my pulse race.
Possessive.
Claiming.
And instead of feeling restricted-
I felt chosen.
That scared me.
"You're mine, Bunny," he murmured. "I don't share."
I should have pulled back.
I didn't.
"Let's watch a movie tomorrow," he said casually.
"Tomorrow?" I panicked. "I can't. What will I tell my family?"
"That's your problem."
His voice wasn't rude.
It was dismissive.
And somehow-
I liked that he expected me to figure it out.
What is wrong with me?
After a moment, I said, "Fine. Morning show. Ten o'clock."
"Why ten?"
"Because according to my house... I'll be in college."
He chuckled softly.
"So my little Bunny is an excellent liar."
"I'm not a liar," I protested.
"Yes, yes. Of course you're not," he teased. "My little liar."
"I won't talk to you," I said dramatically.
A small laugh escaped him.
"I won't let that happen."
And the way he said it-
It didn't sound playful.
It sounded certain.
After the call ended, I stared at my ceiling.
I shouldn't have believed him.
I should have trusted Adray.
My childhood best friend.
The boy who grew up with me.
The boy who never lied to me.
But instead-
I chose Shivrit.
And that was the day something precious started breaking.
That was the day the first wall between me and Adray cracked.
That was the day the game began.
And I didn't even realize I was the one being played