The rain had stopped.
But Pearl’s heart still hadn’t.
She walked home beside Mathew, her diary pressed tightly against her chest.
Mathew spoke a few times.
She answered.
But barely.
Her mind was somewhere else.
Under that tree.
In that rain.
With him.
That touch on her lips.
That voice.
“Some names are too precious for ordinary days…”
Her heart tightened again.
When they reached home, Pearl quietly went to her room.
She locked the door.
Sat by her window.
And touched her lips again.
Her heartbeat answered instantly.
She opened her diary.
The moon-and-star charm rested there.
And somehow— tonight— everything reminded her of him.
Across the city—
Leo stepped into his house.
Drenched.
Bruised.
His shoulder wrapped in white.
The moment his mother, saw him— she stood up in panic.
“Leo!”
She rushed toward him.
“What happened?!”
Her hands trembled as they touched his shoulder.
Leo’s expression remained calm.
“It’s nothing.”
Elena frowned.
“Nothing?
You’re bleeding.”
Before she could continue—
Adrian, his big brother, entered.
His eyes landed on Leo.
And immediately narrowed.
Not because of the wound.
Because of his eyes.
Adrian knew that look.
Something had happened.
Something far more dangerous than blood.
He gently pulled Elena back.
“Mom.”
“I’ll handle it.”
She looked worried.
“Make sure he treats it.”
Adrian nodded.
Leo walked upstairs.
Adrian followed.
Inside the room—
Leo stood by the window.
Rainwater slid down the glass.
Adrian closed the door behind him.
Silence.
Then—
Adrian laughed.
Softly.
“This is new.”
Leo didn’t look at him.
Adrian crossed his arms.
“The great Leo Vale.”
He walked closer.
“Wounded.”
Leo stayed quiet.
Adrian smirked.
“That alone is impossible.”
Still no answer.
Adrian tilted his head.
“So tell me.”
His gaze dropped to Leo’s bruised knuckles.
“Who hit harder?”
Leo.
Or the person in your head?”
That made Leo’s jaw tighten.
Adrian caught it.
And smiled.
There it was.
Interesting.
“A girl.”
Leo remained silent.
Adrian chuckled.
“I knew it.”
He walked around him.
Studying him.
“You’re not angry.”
He paused.
“You’re restless.”
Leo’s fingers tightened.
Adrian leaned against the desk.
“That’s worse.”
Finally—
Leo spoke.
“I found her.”
Adrian blinked.
For a second— he thought he heard wrong.
“The girl?”
Leo nodded.
Adrian frowned.
“so you are chasing someone?”
Another nod.
Adrian laughed in disbelief.
“And you came home looking like this?”
Leo looked at the rain.
Adrian’s eyes sharpened.
“Did she reject you?”
Leo’s head snapped toward him.
“No.”
“Then what?”
Silence.
Leo opened his hand.
The star hairpin was still in his hands.
Adrian stared at it.
“That hers?”
“Yes.”
Adrian frowned.
“You found her.”
“You saw her.”
“You had her right there.”
His eyes narrowed.
“So why are you standing here like a man who lost?”
Leo’s voice dropped.
“She was about to tell me her name.”
Adrian froze.
Then slowly— he smiled.
“You stopped her.”
Leo said nothing.
That was answer enough.
Adrian stared at him.
For the first time in years— he was genuinely speechless.
Then he laughed.
Low.
Disbelieving.
“You’re insane.”
Leo’s gaze lowered.
Adrian shook his head.
“You spent your time chasing her.”
“fell for her.”
Bled for her.”
“And when she was finally there…”
He leaned closer.
“You stopped her from telling you her name?”
Leo’s voice came low.
“I didn’t want it to be ordinary.”
Adrian’s smile faded.
Leo looked at the star hairpin.
“The first time I say her name…”
His fingers tightened.
“I want it to stay.”
The room went silent.
Adrian stared at him.
And suddenly— he understood.
This wasn’t obsession.
This wasn’t infatuation.
Leo had already fallen.
Deep.
Adrian exhaled.
“And what if someone else says her name before you?”
That question hit hard.
Leo’s eyes darkened.
Adrian saw it.
Saw the shift.
Saw the possessiveness.
The fear.
The hunger.
And for the first time—
Leo had no answer.
Because he had never thought of that.
What if someone else called her first?
What if someone else knew her better?
What if someone else stood where he wanted to stand?
Leo’s chest tightened.
Adrian smirked.
“There it is.”
Leo looked at him.
Adrian folded his arms.
“The real wound.”
Leo clenched the hairpin in his fist.
His voice dropped.
Cold.
Certain.
“Then I’ll make sure…”
He looked at the rain.
“That when she hears her own name…”
His eyes darkened.
“The first voice she remembers is mine.”
Adrian froze.
And for the first time— he felt it.
Leo wasn’t waiting anymore.
He was preparing.
And somewhere far away—
Pearl stood by her window.
Her fingers touching her lips.
Unaware— that tonight— someone had already decided…
he would become unforgettable to her.
To be continued…
With Love Kiaan