Morning broke gently— but Pearl woke as if she had never slept at all.
The night had been endless.
Every time her eyes closed— the rain returned.
That tree.
That voice.
That look.
And him— standing so close she could still remember the warmth of his hand.
“I found you.”
The words kept circling her mind.
Not loud.
But impossible to escape.
Pearl sat quietly on her bed, staring at the silver moon-and-star charm resting on her diary.
Her fingertips hovered over it.
Something about yesterday felt unreal.
Like a dream she wasn’t supposed to remember.
Yet every detail remained painfully clear.
Especially his eyes.
She had spent so long avoiding him— hiding her face, changing paths, escaping whenever he came near.
And in the end— fate had placed her right in front of him.
She exhaled sharply.
No.
It didn’t mean anything.
Leo was only helping.
Returning what she lost.
Saving her because that was simply who he was.
Nothing more.
That thought should have calmed her.
It didn’t.
When Pearl arrived at school, the energy felt different.
Conversations stopped and restarted in corners.
Whispers passed from one group to another.
Excitement spread like wildfire.
Beside her, Mia looked amused.
“You really missed a lot.”
Pearl glanced at her.
“What happened?”
Mia leaned in.
“Your mysterious cold prince.”
Pearl frowned.
“Leo?”
Mia nodded.
“He became the biggest topic in school.”
Pearl’s steps slowed.
“Why?”
Mia’s eyes widened dramatically.
“Apparently after school yesterday, he was running through the whole campus searching for a girl.”
Her fingers curled around her bag strap.
She knew.
She was that girl.
But hearing it like this— it sounded… different.
Too intense.
Her thoughts quickly defended him.
No.
He was just trying to return her diary.
And her charm.
That was all.
Nothing beyond that.
So why was everyone acting like it was something more?
Mia wasn’t finished.
“And while searching—he got hurt.”
That made Pearl stop walking.
Her expression changed.
Instantly.
The memory hit hard.
The falling lamp.
That violent crash.
Leo stepping in front of her.
Taking the impact.
The blood.
Her throat tightened.
He got hurt because of me.
The weight of that truth settled heavily.
Mia noticed immediately.
“Pearl?”
She looked up.
“You okay?”
Pearl forced herself to nod.
But her mind was elsewhere now.
She kept seeing his shoulder.
The blood soaking through.
Had it been treated?
Was it serious?
Without realizing— worry began replacing everything else.
After a moment, she asked quietly,
“Mia… which class is Leo in?”
Mia blinked.
Then smiled.
Slowly.
“Oh?”
Pearl looked away.
“It’s not like that.”
Mia laughed.
“Then what is it?”
Pearl hesitated.
“Mathew asked me to return something.”
Mia folded her arms.
“Mathew isn’t here today.”
Pearl realised.
Right.
He had gone with their father.
Mia raised an eyebrow.
“Bad lie.”
Pearl sighed.
She didn’t explain.
Because the truth sounded stranger.
She wanted to see him.
Not for answers.
Not even for herself.
Just to know he was alright.
Mia softened.
“Third floor.
Last class.”
Pearl nodded and left before Mia could say anything else.
The stairs felt endless.
Her pace quickened.
Thoughts tangled inside her.
What would she even say?
Would he think she came because she cared?
Did she?
That question unsettled her.
By the time she reached the third floor— her breathing had changed.
The hallway stretched long and quiet.
At the far end— his classroom.
She moved forward.
Step by step.
Then— voices stopped.
She noticed something strange.
Students standing outside the class.
Watching.
Whispering.
Looking inside.
Pearl slowed.
A strange feeling settled inside her.
Sofia was also there.
She saw pearl for the first time.
Something was wrong.
She reached the door.
Looked through the glass—
Leo was inside.
Standing.
His shirt sleeve rolled up.
The bandage on his shoulder half-open.
Blood visible again.
And in his hand— her star hairpin.
He was staring at it.
Like it held every answer.
Then— without warning— his eyes lifted.
Straight to the door.
Straight to her.
The classroom fell silent.
Everyone turned.
And Leo— still holding her hairpin— said only one thing.
Low.
Clear.
Almost like he had been waiting.
“you came.”
To be continued…
With Love Kiaan