Chapter 2:-The boy who never looked away

Aira Nakamura spent the entire evening trying to forget Ren Kurozawa.

Unfortunately, Ren Kurozawa seemed determined to remain in her thoughts.

His face appeared every time she closed her eyes.

Not because he was handsome.

Though he definitely was.

Not because of his strange words.

Though they were impossible to ignore.

No.

It was because of the way he had looked at her.

Nobody looked at Aira like that.

Nobody noticed her.

Yet Ren had looked at her as if she were the only person in the world.

The memory made her uncomfortable.

When she returned home that evening, the house was brightly decorated.

Laughter echoed through the living room.

For a second, her heart skipped.

Had they remembered?

Had her family finally remembered her birthday?

The tiny spark of hope returned.

Then she stepped inside.

"Happy Birthday, Reina!"

The words hit her like ice water.

A huge cake sat on the dining table.

Colorful balloons filled the room.

Her parents were smiling.

Relatives had gathered.

Everyone was celebrating her older sister.

Aira stood frozen near the entrance.

Nobody noticed she had arrived.

Nobody noticed the birthday girl standing there.

Because it wasn't her birthday they were celebrating.

It was Reina's modeling contract.

The same date.

The same day.

The same family.

Yet only one daughter mattered.

Aira quietly walked upstairs.

Not a single person stopped her.

Not a single person asked where she was going.

Inside her room, she locked the door.

Then sat on her bed.

The silence felt heavy.

She wasn't angry anymore.

She wasn't even sad.

She was tired.

So very tired.

Her phone buzzed.

Aira frowned.

Nobody texted her.

Slowly she picked it up.

Unknown Number.

The message contained only three words.

**Happy Birthday, Aira.**

Her eyes widened.

Another message arrived immediately.

**Someone should remember.**

Aira's heart skipped.

Only one person had known today was her birthday.

Ren.

Her fingers trembled.

Before she could reply, a third message appeared.

**Look outside your window.**

Aira stood quickly.

She walked toward the curtains.

Then slowly pulled them aside.

Her breath caught.

Across the street stood Ren.

He was leaning against a black motorcycle.

Hands in his pockets.

Watching her window.

The moment she appeared, he smiled.

That same smile.

The smile that made her nervous.

Aira immediately stepped back.

What was wrong with this guy?

How did he know where she lived?

Why was he standing outside her house?

And why did it feel like he had been there for hours?

Her phone buzzed again.

**Good. You're smiling.**

Aira touched her face.

She hadn't realized it.

Somehow she really had smiled.

The realization only made things stranger.

Aira quickly typed a reply.

**How do you know where I live?**

Three dots appeared instantly.

As if he had been waiting.

**I've known for years.**

Aira stared.

Years?

That had to be a joke.

Right?

Before she could respond, another message arrived.

**Goodnight, Aira.**

Then nothing.

She looked outside again.

Ren was gone.

As if he had never been there.

A chill ran down her spine.

Who exactly was Ren Kurozawa?

The next morning was worse.

Aira entered her classroom and immediately noticed the whispers.

Students were staring.

Actually staring.

At her.

That had never happened before.

She walked toward her desk.

The whispers grew louder.

"What does Ren see in her?"

"I heard he spoke to her yesterday."

"Impossible."

"Ren Kurozawa never talks to girls."

Aira froze.

Ren?

Suddenly the classroom door opened.

Silence.

Every head turned.

Ren entered.

The atmosphere changed instantly.

Even teachers seemed intimidated by him.

He walked calmly through the room.

Girls watched him.

Boys moved out of his way.

Ren ignored everyone.

His eyes searched the room.

Then found Aira.

Directly.

Immediately.

As if he had known exactly where she was.

Without hesitation, he walked toward her.

The classroom held its breath.

Aira's heart started racing.

Please don't come here.

Please don't—

Ren stopped beside her desk.

The entire class stared.

Aira wanted the floor to swallow her whole.

Ren placed a small box on her desk.

Nobody spoke.

Nobody even breathed.

Aira looked at the box.

"What is this?"

"A birthday gift."

His answer was simple.

Like it was completely normal.

Like he hadn't just shocked an entire classroom.

Aira blinked.

"You didn't have to—"

"I wanted to."

The words sounded almost possessive.

Several girls looked horrified.

Aira noticed immediately.

Apparently Ren was famous.

Very famous.

And his attention was creating problems.

One brave student finally spoke.

"Ren, why are you talking to her?"

The classroom became silent again.

Ren slowly turned his head.

The temperature seemed to drop.

His expression remained calm.

Yet everyone suddenly looked terrified.

Including the person who asked.

Ren's voice was soft.

Dangerously soft.

"Because I want to."

Nobody spoke after that.

Nobody dared.

Ren looked back at Aira.

The coldness vanished instantly.

"See you later."

Then he left.

Just like that.

The moment he disappeared, chaos erupted.

Questions flew from every direction.

"Aira, do you know him?"

"Are you dating?"

"Since when?"

"What is happening?"

Aira didn't know how to answer.

Because she didn't know either.

Meanwhile, on the rooftop.

Ren stood alone.

The wind played with his dark hair.

His phone vibrated.

A message appeared.

**Did you find her?**

Ren stared at the screen.

Then typed a reply.

**Yes.**

A few seconds later another message arrived.

**Are you certain she's the one?**

For the first time all day, Ren's expression changed.

His gaze darkened.

Dangerous.

Obsessive.

Unwavering.

He looked toward the classroom building.

Toward the girl sitting inside.

The girl everyone ignored.

The girl nobody protected.

The girl nobody chose.

His girl.

Ren typed only four words.

**I've never been more certain.**

Then he locked his phone.

A small smile appeared.

Because after years of searching...

After years of waiting...

Aira Nakamura was finally within reach.

And Ren Kurozawa had no intention of losing her again.

No matter what it cost.

**To Be Continued...**

Thanks for reading and don't forget to like, share and subscribe

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***