You felt it too

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 ✍⛓

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