When Leo returned from the rooftop— the classroom was no longer the same.
It was louder.
But beneath the noise— something sharper moved.
Whispers.
Thin as smoke.
Restless as wind.
They followed him the moment he stepped inside.
That was the girl.
He held her hand.
He dragged her out in front of everyone.
Who is she?
Leo heard them.
But to him— they were nothing more than background noise.
Like leaves scraping against stone.
His mind was elsewhere.
Still on the rooftop.
Still on the warmth of her hand.
Still on the way her fingers had touched him so lightly— yet left a mark deeper than any wound.
At the far side of the room—
Sofia heard every whisper.
Each one struck her pride like poison.
Her nails pressed into her palm.
That girl.
That ordinary girl.
She refused to believe it.
Leo— the boy who turned everyone away without hesitation— had looked at her like that?
No.
She would not allow it.
She would never let someone so simple stand where she had always wanted to be.
Her lips tightened.
If Leo’s eyes had wandered— she would pull them back.
Toward herself.
Where they belonged.
Sofia inhaled slowly.
Straightened her uniform.
Softened her face.
And walked toward him.
The room noticed immediately.
Because everyone knew—
Sofia never approached twice after rejection.
But here she was.
Again.
Leo sat by the window.
The light touched the sharp edge of his face, but his eyes remained distant.
As if even sunlight could not reach him.
Sofia stopped beside him.
Her voice softened like honey.
“Leo…”
He didn’t look at her.
She smiled anyway.
“I heard you got hurt yesterday.”
Her eyes moved to the bandage on his shoulder.
Her brows pulled together, carefully crafted concern painted across her face.
“Does it still hurt?”
Still— nothing.
Sofia continued.
“You should be more careful.”
Her fingers almost reached for his arm.
But Leo shifted away before she could touch him.
His voice was flat.
Cold enough to still the air.
“I’m not a child.”
His eyes stayed on the window.
“I can take care of myself.”
The words landed like frost.
Sofia’s smile faltered.
humiliation stung.
Because the same eyes that softened for that girl…
held nothing for her.
Not even irritation.
Only absence.
And that burned worse.
But she swallowed it.
Forced calm into her breathing.
She wouldn’t lose here.
Not yet.
Her voice turned lighter.
Curious.
Casual.
“The girl from before…”
That made Leo’s gaze move.
Slowly.
Dangerously.
Sofia noticed.
And that alone made jealousy twist deeper.
She smiled faintly.
“The one you held and took away.”
“Who is she?”
Silence.
Heavy.
Leo’s eyes rested on her now.
Not softly.
Not warmly.
Like winter staring at flame.
Then— he spoke.
Low.
Steady.
Each word carrying weight.
“Stay away from me.”
Sofia froze.
Leo’s gaze darkened further.
“And stay away from her.”
Her breath caught.
He continued.
“And don’t try to be clever with me.”
It wasn’t a warning.
It was a wall.
A line drawn in stone.
Sofia felt something ugly rise inside her.
That girl.
He was protecting her.
Protecting someone unknown.
Someone ordinary.
Her chest tightened until it hurt.
But she smiled.
A brittle thing.
A broken thing.
Inside— something had already changed.
Jealousy had found its shape.
And hatred had found its name.
Fine.
If she could not pull Leo closer— she would tear that girl apart instead.
Bit by bit.
Until she disappeared.
Sofia’s eyes remained cold.
Leo’s words still echoed inside her— cold, merciless, unshaken.
Stay away from me.
And stay away from her.
It wasn’t just rejection.
It was protection.
For that girl.
And that truth burned deeper than anything else.
Her nails dug into her palm as she walked back to her seat.
Step by step— her pride felt heavier.
Her anger sharper.
That ordinary girl.
That nameless girl.
How had she managed to step into a place Sofia had spent so long reaching for?
She hated it.
Hated her.
Then— a chair scraped beside her.
Jason leaned against the desk, arms crossed, a crooked smile on his face.
“Well.”
His voice dripped with amusement.
“That was painful to watch.”
Sofia shot him a sharp look.
Jason chuckled.
“You really don’t know when to stop, do you?”
Her eyes narrowed.
“Say what you want and leave.”
Jason tilted his head.
“You keep chasing Leo like he’s yours.”
His smile sharpened.
“But he’ll never look at you that way.”
The words struck hard.
Sofia’s jaw tightened.
She hated the sound of it.
Hated hearing the truth spoken aloud.
But Jason wasn’t finished.
His eyes moved toward the classroom door— where Leo had disappeared earlier with that girl.
Then back to Sofia.
“You want Leo.”
Sofia stayed silent.
Jason leaned closer.
“And I want her.”
That made Sofia pause.
Jason’s eyes darkened.
“For once…”
His voice lowered.
“I’m not losing to him.”
Sofia studied him carefully.
Jason laughed softly.
“That girl.”
“The one he protected.”
“The one he dragged away like the whole world had no right to touch her.”
His fingers tapped against the desk.
“I want her.”
Not gently.
Not kindly.
But as victory.
As proof.
As something Leo could not keep.
Sofia understood immediately.
And for the first time— her anger found direction.
Jason smiled.
“You help me keep Leo distracted…”
“And I’ll make sure that girl disappears from his sight.”
Sofia’s lips curved slowly.
Not warm.
Not kind.
A smile born from jealousy.
From revenge.
From hunger.
And then— she extended her hand.
Jason took it.
Their hands locked.
A silent agreement.
A dangerous beginning.
Across the room—
Leo sat by the window, unaware.
His fingers brushed the silver star hairpin inside his pocket.
And far away—
Pearl sat in her class, staring at the empty page before her, not knowing that unseen shadows had already begun moving toward her.
Two hearts had just begun finding each other.
And in the dark— two others had already begun plotting to tear them apart.
To be continued…
With Love
Kiaan