✦ EIRA POV ✦
I was walking toward my class, completely lost in thought.
How was I supposed to tell Tessy the truth?
How was I supposed to show her what Peter really was?
Every time I imagined her smiling face, my chest tightened painfully.
She loved him.
She trusted him.
And he was lying to her every single day.
I sighed heavily.
"I don't understand. How can I reveal Peter's real identity to Tessy? What should I do? Oh God, help me. Please... show me the way."
My thoughts were so loud that I didn't notice where I was going.
Not until I crashed into something solid.
A startled gasp escaped my lips as I lost my balance.
For a split second I thought I was going to hit the floor.
But strong arms caught me before I could fall.
One hand wrapped securely around my waist, pulling me upright.
I looked up.
And immediately regretted it.
Of course.
Why?
Why did it always have to be him?
Adrain Blake.
Or as I preferred to call him—
Arrogant Blake.
His dark eyes gleamed with amusement as he looked down at me.
"Will you ever learn to walk?"
I rolled my eyes.
Then that infuriating smirk appeared.
The one that instantly made me want to commit murder.
"Wait a minute."
His eyes narrowed playfully.
"Don't tell me you love falling into my arms?"
I stared at him.
Was he serious?
This man was impossible.
Completely impossible.
I pushed away from him and continued walking toward class.
Ignoring him was the only way to preserve my sanity.
Behind me, I could practically feel his amusement.
Jerk.
Absolute jerk.
Later, I was backstage helping Tessy organize props while students prepared for the English drama performance.
Across the room, Victoria and Adrain were rehearsing their scenes.
Well...
Victoria was rehearsing.
Adrain looked like he'd rather fight a war than participate.
Typical.
Beside me, Tessy seemed distracted.
Worried.
"What happened?" I asked.
She sighed.
"Peter is hosting a party in a club with his friends. So he won't be meeting me today."
The disappointment in her voice hurt to hear.
I smiled gently.
"Don't worry. It's only for today."
She nodded.
But something inside me had already started working.
A club.
Peter.
His friends.
His secret life.
My eyes widened slightly.
Of course.
If Peter was going there...
Then there was a very good chance his little girlfriend would be there too.
And if she was there—
I could finally get proof.
Real proof.
Enough to destroy every lie he'd built around Tessy.
Enough to show her the truth.
"Which club is he going to?" I asked carefully.
"It's Melody Club."
My pulse quickened.
"What about we go there and surprise him?"
Tessy immediately shook her head.
"Eira, I can't. My brother is going to a party tonight, and we can't go to the club alone."
I nodded slowly.
Pretending to agree.
Pretending to let it go.
But inside, my decision was already made.
I was going.
Whether anyone came with me or not.
Because I couldn't stand by and watch Tessy ruin her life.
Not when I knew the truth.
As we walked through the hallway, I suddenly spotted Andy.
Relief flooded me instantly.
I hurried toward her.
"How are you? Where were you? Are you okay?"
Andy laughed.
"One question at a time!"
For the first time in days, she looked genuinely happy.
"I'm fine."
Then she casually added—
"I got abducted."
I froze.
"What?"
"Who kidnapped you?"
She shrugged.
"I don't remember anything."
I stared at her.
How was she saying this so casually?
Before I could ask more questions, another thought surfaced.
"What's your name?"
"Eira."
"Do you know where Melody Club is?"
Immediately her expression changed.
The amusement disappeared.
Her eyes sharpened.
Dangerously.
"Don't tell me you're going there."
My heart skipped.
Was I really that obvious?
I forced out an awkward laugh.
"Of course not! Why would I go there? I just asked out of curiosity."
Andy continued staring at me.
Like she could see straight through my lie.
Then finally she sighed.
"I'll see you later."
And walked away.
I watched her disappear around the corner.
My resolve only strengthened.
No.
I had to go.
For Tessy.
Whatever happened.
I had to go.
I was so lost in thought that I didn't notice someone approaching.
Not until a hand suddenly wrapped around my arm.
Before I could react, I was pulled into an empty classroom.
The door slammed shut behind me.
My heart nearly stopped.
I spun around.
Adrain.
Of course.
Who else?
His expression was unreadable.
No anger.
No amusement.
No emotion at all.
And somehow that was worse.
Much worse.
Because when Adrain looked calm—
It usually meant trouble.
Big trouble.
"What is your problem now?" I muttered.
I tried moving toward the door.
But before I could take two steps—
His hand landed against the wall.
Blocking my escape.
My breath caught.
He leaned slightly closer.
Not enough to touch me.
Just enough to make me painfully aware of his presence.
"Why are you asking about Melody Club?"
His voice was low.
Sharp.
Direct.
My eyes widened.
"How do you even know about that?"
Then realization struck.
I narrowed my eyes suspiciously.
"Are you stalking me?"
His lips twitched.
That annoying smirk appeared again.
"You want me to stalk you?"
He tilted his head.
"Sorry, but you're not my type."
The audacity.
The absolute audacity.
I glared at him.
Hard.
But he looked completely unbothered.
As always.
"Why don't you answer my question?" he asked.
"Because you never answer mine."
His eyes darkened slightly.
"I won't let you leave until you answer me."
The stubbornness in his voice was infuriating.
Why was he like this?
Why did everything have to become a battle with him?
"I've never been to a club before."
I forced out a nervous laugh.
"I just thought I should go."
Lie.
A terrible lie.
And judging from his expression—
He knew it.
His eyes narrowed.
Studying me.
Reading me.
Piece by piece.
Then he stepped closer.
My pulse instantly betrayed me.
"What are you planning?"
His voice dropped lower.
Softer.
More dangerous.
Like a predator patiently waiting for its prey to make a mistake.
Shit.
He knew.
He absolutely knew.
Before he could press further, the bell rang loudly through the hallway.
A second later, the classroom door opened.
A student walked inside, completely focused on his textbook.
The spell shattered instantly.
Adrain stepped back.
His expression becoming unreadable once again.
Without saying another word, he walked past the boy and left the classroom.
Just like that.
As if nothing had happened.
As if he hadn't cornered me against a wall and nearly exposed every secret I was hiding.
Students started filing into the room.
Talking.
Laughing.
Taking their seats.
Meanwhile, I remained frozen where I stood.
Trying to calm my racing heart.
Trying to breathe normally.
Trying to convince myself everything was fine.
Thank God the bell rang when it did.
Because another minute alone with Adrain...
And I probably would've confessed everything.
I grabbed my books.
Then my eyes widened.
Shit.
I'm late for my next lecture.