CHAPTER 1

The air felt… wrong.

Liora couldn’t explain it, but the moment she stepped into the room, something shifted. Conversations continued, laughter echoed, glasses clinked—but beneath it all, there was a tension she couldn’t name.

Or maybe… she just didn’t want to.

“Stop overthinking,” she muttered to herself, adjusting the strap of her bag as she moved further inside.

It was just a gathering. Nothing more.

Dim lights. Loud music. People she barely knew.

Normal.

Everything was normal.

Until she felt it.

That stare.

It wasn’t the kind that made you feel admired.

It was the kind that made your skin tighten… like you were being watched, studied… claimed.

Slowly, unwillingly, Liora turned her head.

And then she saw him.

He stood across the room like he didn’t belong to the same world as everyone else.

While others laughed, he didn’t.

While others moved, he remained still.

Watching.

Her.

Dark eyes locked onto hers with an intensity that made her breath catch. There was no hesitation in his gaze. No curiosity.

Only certainty.

Like he had already decided something about her.

Liora looked away first.

She had to.

Because holding that gaze felt dangerous… like stepping too close to the edge of something she couldn’t come back from.

“Hey, you okay?” a voice pulled her back.

She forced a smile. “Yeah. Just tired.”

A lie.

She wasn’t tired.

She was unsettled.

“Come on, let’s get drinks,” her friend said, grabbing her wrist and dragging her toward the other side of the room.

Liora followed, grateful for the distraction.

But even as she laughed at something she didn’t hear…

Even as she tried to focus on anything else…

She could still feel it.

That gaze.

Still on her.

“You shouldn’t ignore me.”

The voice came from behind her.

Low.

Calm.

Too close.

Liora froze.

Her fingers tightened around the glass in her hand as her heartbeat picked up, slow but heavy, like it was warning her.

Don’t turn around.

But she did.

He was closer now.

Too close.

Up close, he was even more unsettling. Sharp features. Cold expression. Eyes that didn’t soften—even when he looked directly at her.

“You don’t know me,” she said quickly, her voice steadier than she felt.

“I don’t need to,” he replied.

There was no arrogance in his tone.

Just truth.

Silence stretched between them, thick and suffocating.

Liora swallowed. “Then why are you talking to me?”

His gaze dropped briefly—to her lips—before returning to her eyes.

“Because,” he said quietly, “you walked into my space… and acted like I wouldn’t notice.”

Her brows furrowed. “Your space? I didn’t even know you were here.”

“That doesn’t change anything.”

Something about the way he said it made her chest tighten.

Not anger.

Not fear.

Something worse.

Something that felt like the beginning of a problem she wouldn’t be able to fix.

“I think you’re mistaken,” she said, stepping back.

One step.

That was all it took.

For his expression to change.

Not much.

But enough.

He noticed.

Of course he did.

“You don’t like being close to me,” he observed.

It wasn’t a question.

“I don’t like strangers assuming things about me,” she shot back.

A pause.

Then—

“Good.”

Her confusion must have shown, because his lips tilted slightly.

Not a smile.

Never a smile.

“Because I don’t plan on staying a stranger.”

And just like that…

The air shifted again.

He stepped aside, giving her space.

But it didn’t feel like freedom.

It felt like permission.

“Kael.”

She blinked. “What?”

“My name,” he said. “You’ll need it.”

Liora let out a small, disbelieving breath.

“Why would I need your name?”

His gaze held hers one last time.

Steady. Unshaken. Certain.

“Because this isn’t the last time you’ll see me.”

And for some reason…

Deep down…

She knew he wasn’t wrong.

By AwesomeOmos ✍⛓

CHAPTER 2

The music felt louder now.

Or maybe it was just Liora’s heartbeat drowning everything else out.

She didn’t realize she had stopped breathing properly until her friend nudged her again.

“Hey—where did you disappear to?” her friend asked, raising a brow. “You’ve been staring into space for, like, a full minute.”

Liora blinked, forcing herself back into the moment.

“I’m fine,” she said, taking a quick sip from her drink.

But the liquid did nothing to settle her nerves.

Because even though Kael had stepped away…

She could still feel him.

Like a shadow that hadn’t left the room.

“Come on,” her friend said, pulling her toward a group of people dancing. “You need to loosen up.”

Liora hesitated.

Just for a second.

Then she nodded.

“Yeah… sure.”

Maybe distraction was exactly what she needed.

The music pulsed through her body as she let herself move, slowly at first… then a little more freely. Laughter bubbled out of her, this time more real than before.

For a moment—

Just a moment—

She almost forgot.

Almost.

Until she turned.

And there he was again.

Not close this time.

Leaning casually against the wall, one hand in his pocket, the other holding a glass he hadn’t touched.

Watching.

Always watching.

Their eyes met.

And just like that, everything around her faded into nothing.

No music.

No voices.

Just that same suffocating intensity.

Liora’s movements slowed… then stopped completely.

Her friend noticed. “Okay, seriously, what is wrong with you tonight?”

Liora looked away quickly.

“Nothing,” she said, a little too fast. “I just need air.”

And before her friend could question her again, she slipped through the crowd and made her way toward the exit.

The night air hit her instantly.

Cool.

Sharp.

Real.

She inhaled deeply, wrapping her arms around herself as she stepped further away from the noise.

“Get it together,” she whispered.

This was ridiculous.

It was just a guy.

A strange, intense, slightly annoying guy—

“You left.”

Her breath hitched.

Of course he followed.

Liora closed her eyes briefly before turning around.

Kael stood a few steps behind her, just outside the glow of the lights spilling from inside. The darkness seemed to cling to him, like it belonged there.

“I needed air,” she said.

“So you ran.”

“I didn’t run.”

A pause.

Then, calmly—

“You did.”

Her jaw tightened. “Why do you care?”

He took a step closer.

Not enough to invade her space.

Just enough to remind her he could.

“Because you’re reacting to me,” he said simply.

Liora let out a small, disbelieving laugh. “That’s your conclusion?”

“It’s the truth.”

His voice didn’t rise.

Didn’t change.

It didn’t need to.

“That’s a bit arrogant, don’t you think?” she challenged.

“No.”

The answer came too quickly.

Too easily.

And somehow, that made it worse.

Liora shook her head, turning slightly away from him. “You don’t even know me.”

“I know enough.”

Her patience snapped. “And what exactly do you think you know?”

Silence.

For a second, she thought he wouldn’t answer.

Then—

“You felt it too.”

Her chest tightened.

She hated that he said it so confidently.

Like there was no room for denial.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she replied.

Another lie.

He stepped closer this time.

Closer than before.

Close enough that she could feel the faint warmth of his presence despite the cool night air.

“You looked at me like you recognized something,” he said quietly.

“I didn’t.”

“You did.”

Their eyes locked again.

And this time—

She didn’t look away immediately.

That was her first mistake.

Because the longer she held his gaze…

The harder it became to ignore the strange pull sitting deep in her chest.

It wasn’t fear.

Not exactly.

It was something heavier.

Something that felt… inevitable.

Liora broke eye contact, taking a step back.

“I think you’re imagining things,” she said, her voice softer now.

For the first time—

He studied her in silence.

Not intense.

Not sharp.

Just… observant.

Like he was memorizing something.

Then—

“Maybe,” he said.

The word surprised her.

It wasn’t agreement.

It felt like a warning disguised as one.

“But we’ll find out.”

Before she could respond, voices spilled out from inside as the door opened behind them. The noise snapped the moment in half.

Liora took the chance.

“I’m going home,” she said quickly.

Kael didn’t stop her.

Didn’t argue.

Didn’t even move.

“Liora.”

She froze.

Slowly, she turned back.

His gaze held hers once more.

Unreadable.

Unavoidable.

“This doesn’t end here.”

Not a threat.

Not a promise.

Something in between.

Something worse.

Liora swallowed, forcing herself to stay steady.

“We’ll see.”

And with that—

She walked away.

She didn’t look back.

Not once.

But even as she stepped into the quiet street…

Even as she told herself this was over…

A part of her already knew the truth.

This wasn’t the end.

It was just the beginning.

By AwesomeOmos ✍⛓

CHAPTER 3:

Liora didn’t sleep.

She tried.

She really did.

But every time she closed her eyes… she saw him.

Those eyes.

That voice.

“You felt it too.”

She groaned softly, turning onto her side and pulling the blanket over her head.

“This is stupid,” she muttered.

It was just a guy.

A strange, intense, slightly unsettling guy—

Who somehow managed to get into her head in less than an hour.

By morning, she gave up.

The soft glow of sunlight crept through her curtains, and with it came the exhaustion she couldn’t shake. Her body felt heavy, but her mind refused to slow down.

School.

Right.

Normal life.

Normal routine.

That’s what she needed.

Something normal.

…

“Liora! Wait up!”

She barely made it past the school gates before her friend caught up to her.

“You look terrible,” her friend said bluntly.

“Good morning to you too.”

“I’m serious. Did you even sleep?”

“Not really.”

Her friend’s eyes widened. “Wait—don’t tell me this is about last night.”

Liora stiffened slightly. “It’s nothing.”

“Nothing doesn’t keep you up all night.”

Liora didn’t respond.

Because she didn’t have an answer.

“Okay…” her friend dragged the word out, clearly not convinced. “Is it about that guy?”

Liora stopped walking.

Just for a second.

But it was enough.

Her friend gasped. “Oh my God, it is!”

“Can you not make it a big deal?” Liora muttered, starting to walk again.

“I’m not making it a big deal—you are! Who even was he?”

“I don’t know.”

“That’s even worse!”

Liora sighed. “He just… talked to me. That’s all.”

Her friend narrowed her eyes. “And that made you lose sleep?”

When she didn’t answer immediately, her friend’s expression shifted.

“Oh wow,” she said slowly. “He’s that kind of guy.”

“What does that even mean?”

“You know… the kind you don’t forget.”

Liora looked away.

Because that was exactly the problem.

…

Classes felt longer than usual.

Every second stretched.

Every sound irritated her.

And no matter how hard she tried—

Her mind kept drifting back to him.

The way he spoke.

The way he looked at her.

Like he already knew something she didn’t.

“Miss Liora.”

She blinked, snapping back to reality.

The entire class was looking at her.

Great.

“Yes?” she said, sitting up straighter.

“Would you like to share your answer with us?”

She stared at the board.

Completely blank.

“I… uh—”

A few quiet laughs echoed around the room.

Her cheeks warmed.

“I don’t know,” she admitted.

The teacher sighed. “Try to focus.”

“I will.”

But even as she said it…

She knew she wouldn’t.

…

By the time school ended, she was drained.

Mentally.

Emotionally.

Completely.

“Want to come over?” her friend asked as they walked out.

“Not today.”

“Still thinking about him?”

Liora didn’t answer.

She didn’t need to.

Her friend groaned. “You’re gone. You’re actually gone.”

“I’m not.”

“You are.”

“I’m just tired.”

“Sure,” her friend said, clearly unconvinced.

They parted ways soon after.

And for the first time that day—

Liora was alone.

The walk home was quiet.

Too quiet.

Her thoughts grew louder with every step.

This doesn’t end here.

She exhaled slowly.

“No,” she whispered. “It ends exactly where I want it to.”

She reached her street.

Everything looked normal.

Familiar.

Safe.

And yet—

That same feeling from last night crept back in.

Subtle.

Unsettling.

Like something was… off.

Liora slowed her steps.

Her gaze shifted instinctively.

Searching.

Expecting—

Nothing.

The street was empty.

She let out a breath she didn’t realize she was holding.

“See? You’re overthinking again,” she told herself.

But just as she reached her gate—

A voice cut through the silence.

“You’re easy to find.”

Her entire body went still.

Slowly…

She turned.

And there he was.

Kael.

Standing across the street like he had been there the whole time.

Waiting.

Her heart slammed against her chest.

“What are you doing here?” she asked, her voice barely steady.

His gaze didn’t waver.

“I told you,” he said calmly. “This isn’t the last time you’ll see me.”

Something inside her shifted again.

That same pull.

Stronger now.

More dangerous.

“This isn’t funny,” she said. “You can’t just show up—”

“I didn’t ‘just show up.’”

He took a step closer.

Then another.

“I came to see you.”

Her breath caught.

“Why?”

The question came out quieter than she intended.

His eyes held hers.

Unmoving.

Certain.

“Because walking away last night didn’t change anything.”

Liora’s fingers tightened at her sides.

“And what exactly is that supposed to mean?”

A pause.

Then—

“It means,” he said, his voice low, “you’re still thinking about me.”

Silence.

Heavy.

Unavoidable.

He wasn’t wrong.

And that made it worse.

Liora swallowed.

“You don’t get to decide that.”

“I don’t have to.”

Another step.

Closer.

Too close.

“Your reaction already did.”

Her heartbeat quickened.

But this time—

She didn’t step back.

And that was her second mistake.

Because something told her—

This wasn’t just coincidence anymore.

This wasn’t just curiosity.

This was something else.

Something she was already getting pulled into.

And the worst part?

She didn’t know if she wanted to stop it.

By AwesomeOmos ✍⛓