The Aftermath

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 ✍⛓

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