It was a late cold night, the bar was loud and colorful, Kyros and I sat at the counter, I sulk in silence and swirl my drink, face flushed from alcohol.
'Damn... everything happened too fast,' I muttered.
Kyros laughed, slapping my back. 'Whatever. It happened for the better.'
I took another long sip, attention breaking when someone snaked an arm around Kyros' waist.
'God, don't get lovey-dovey in front of my lonely ass,' I groaned, squinting through the dim lights at Caleb Hardings. Kyros' ridiculously handsome boyfriend. Honestly, this man could ruin someone's life just by blinking.
'Thanks for keeping my boyfriend company,' Caleb said, giving me a gentle smile that felt like a slap to my single status. 'But if you don't mind... I'm stealing him back.'
'Yeah, yeah, take your hot boyfriend and go. Leave me to rot in peace.' I pouted dramatically.
Kyros smirked, throwing his arm over Caleb's shoulder like he was the happiest bastard alive. 'You're not alone, dumbass. Your protector's here. I can finally leave you without worrying. Byeee.'
And just like that, he was gone, disappearing into hot-boyfriend heaven.
Protector? I blinked... and that's when I realized who he meant.
'Why are you here?' I grumbled when Kaiden sat across from me like he owned the damn place, pouring himself a drink like a professional heartbreaker.
'Who else is gonna stop you from getting yourself killed again?' His voice was lower, smooth, dangerous. I could feel him doing it on purpose. Asshole.
I glared. I was drunk, brain melting, and my patience? Gone.
I scooted forward, grabbed his jacket collar, and yanked him closer. 'You... you say you hate me. You're always annoying me. Always fighting me. And yet—you keep protecting me. Why?'
Kaiden's eyes narrowed, sharp with that smirk of his. 'So I can kill you myself. Can't let anyone else do it first.'
'What the hell do you want then? Kill me... or protect me?' I hissed, face way too close now, noses almost brushing.
He leaned in, voice dropping into something deadly soft.
'I'll protect you until the world burns out and when it does, I'm dying with you. There's no life for me without you anyway.'
I shivered. Full-body goosebumps. Before I could even react, he looked away like he hadn't just said the most unhinged yet hottest thing anyone's ever said to me.
'Damn... you're acting hot,' I muttered, not realizing it was out loud.
Drunk and fearless, my fingers slid from his collar to his neck, tracing the line of his veins, resting right over his Adam's apple.
'Were you... also the one who called the ambulance for me that night?' I asked, voice quiet.
'Who else would it be?' he said like it was obvious, like I was stupid for not realizing.
Then he grabbed my chair and pulled it closer like I didn't already feel the air thick between us, thick enough to choke on.
'Did you hate it... when I was with Jonas?' I asked, drunk thoughts spilling out like broken faucets.
Kaiden's jaw clenched, his teeth gritting hard enough to break. His voice was calm, but his eyes—burning.
'I hated even the sound of his name. You don't know the legit hell I was living through every second, thinking you were his. I smiled like it didn't matter, like I wasn't dying inside. All I wanted was to rip this whole damn world apart and drag you back to me.'
I blinked, speechless, heat rising everywhere.
'Damn... that was hot,' I breathed, not even ashamed.
Kaiden's eyes flickered with surprise.
'Relax, we're not together anymore. You can stop being all red-faced, ice up, Mr. Protector.' I giggled, leaning forward, and without thinking—kissed him.
Hard. Fast. Drunk. Bold.
My hand gripped his neck as I bit his lip, just to be annoying.
I leaned back, grinning like an idiot. 'That felt good, right?'
Kaiden just stared at me, eyes twitching like I'd broken him.
'What? You should be happy. I kissed you. First time, right?' I tilted my head, confused why he looked... weirdly sad?
Kaiden sighed, eyes flickering away. 'It's not our first kiss.'
I blinked. 'Huh?'
He stared down at the drink, voice quieter now. 'You don't remember... that night at the party. After you kissed that Jerk to piss me off... you got drunk, remember? You found me after. We kissed. That was our first one.'
I stared at him, brain scrambling to play back memories I should have, but it was like static, blurry and messy.
Our first kiss... I forgot. I forgot.
And he remembered. Shit.
I tried and blinked and suddenly, flashes from that night hit me like lightning.
Seriously... how many life-changing things happened that one night?
Yeah—after that pathetic kiss with Jonas, which was just a pressed-lips thing, nothing more, I remember feeling victorious seeing Kaiden's mad face. Like a brat, I kept drinking nonstop, wanting to see him suffer.
But when I looked again... he was gone.
Confused and tipsy, I wandered outside, stumbling into the woods where I finally found him—alone, fists bloody, punching the tree like a madman.
'Kaiden…?' I called.
He stiffened, wiped his mouth like nothing was wrong—but his eyes betrayed him, red like he'd been holding back tears or rage. His lips were bleeding too—split open from biting too hard, probably trying to hold himself together.
Drunk, stupid, and nosy, I limped toward him.
'Did you bite your lips? That must've hurt' I giggled, my words slurring.
He tried to turn away in silence, but I grabbed his face, pulling it down to my height to stare at his bleeding mouth.
'You look mad... are you mad I kissed Jonas?' I teased, grinning lazily. 'Don't be. Ice up. Here—lemme kiss you too.'
Without even thinking, I kissed him—deep. Passionately. Nothing like that dry, stupid peck with Jonas. My lips moved slowly, molding to his, tasting his blood.
'What? Didn't like it?' I licked my lips, feeling his blood smear against mine.
Kaiden just stared—eyes wide, horrified, like everything he was feeling was crashing all at once.
Then...He snapped, grabbing my face rough, he kissed me back like a hungry animal—devouring, desperate, almost violent in how badly he wanted it. It wasn't a kiss. It was madness. A thousand suppressed emotions exploding at once. And god—I kissed him back, melting into it, wrapping my arms around him like I never wanted to let go.
It felt too good.
Every nerve in my body tingled under his touch, electric, making that kiss with Jonas feel like garbage in comparison. His lips were everything. His hands were huge and veiny, trembling at my waist where my crop top left skin exposed. I wanted more.
I took his hands, guided them to my waist fully, whispering against his lips, 'Here... touch me. Cool down.'
His fingers shook against my skin, but then—like snapping out of a daze—he pulled back, pushing me away gently but firmly.
'You're drunk. Don't do something you'll regret later,' he muttered, rubbing his face, pacing like he was going insane.
'You're not coming inside with me?' I pouted.
'I'll be back soon,' he said shortly.
And stupidly happy, I nodded and walked off like an idiot.
I remember going to the bathroom to wash my face, blinking at my reflection, my mind dizzy. That's when the door opened
'Oh. Jonas hi,' I greeted, waving like a drunk fool.
His expression was different now. Dark. Creepy. 'We're dating, right?' he said with that disgusting smile. Before I could react, he was suddenly holding my waist. 'Then shouldn't we do what couples do?'
I tried pushing him away. 'No. Stop. I don't..."
But he didn't listen. His lips touched my neck, slimy and wrong.
Then— SLAM. The door burst open.
'Oh, Kaiden, hiiii,' I smiled lazily, not registering the absolute rage pouring out of him like boiling lava. Jonas barely had time to blink before Kaiden threw a punch that cracked against his jaw, slamming him against the sink. Fist after fist, raw fury poured out of him, beating Jonas like a feral beast. 'Wow... thrilling,' I slurred, completely oblivious, waving my hand in lazy approval before turning around, bored.
I remember wandering outside... and somehow ended up in the middle of the road. The headlights hit me. The sound of a car horn made me flinch—but before impact, someone grabbed me, shielding me, arms strong around my body, pulling me away just in time. We hit the ground hard, but those arms never let go. Warm. Protective. Familiar. Kaiden's scent all around me.
It felt safe. I didn't remember what happened next. Sleep swallowed me whole in that safety. What I didn't see was Kaiden holding me tightly, his own arm bleeding badly from the fall, gritting his teeth through the pain. He didn't care about the injury. Not at all.
He brought me home first. Me. Only after making sure I was safe did he bother going to the hospital for himself.
And I forgot. Until now. Wow.
I blinked, remembering it all.
'You're so dramatic. Hero of my life,' I muttered.
'Yeah maybe I am,' he breathed, shaking his head like he couldn't believe this was real.
'Hey I think I like you.'
I don't know why I blurted that—but I did.
Kaiden choked, coughing violently like I just committed murder with my words. 'What the hell did you just say?'
'You heard me,' I smirked. 'You've been my main target since childhood, and now you even show up in my dreams. And let's be honest—you've been loving me to 99% already. I think that's enough reason for me to like you back.' I grinned, slamming my glass on the table proudly like I just confessed my love on national TV.
Before he could react, I grabbed his wrists, pulled his hands off his lap, and shamelessly sat down on him—legs either side, arms around his neck, like it was my throne. Kaiden's hands instinctively moved to my waist, holding me like he thought I'd fall. His face flushed immediately, ears going red.
'We've been enemies long enough,' I declared, nose brushing his. 'Let's be lovers now. That way, I'll have more excuses to annoy you to death. If you're gonna die, at least die as my husband here.'
I nuzzled into his neck like the menace I am, giggling.
Kaiden just stared at me in disbelief and then burst into laughter, shaking his head, forehead pressed to mine.
'You're insane,' he whispered, smiling wide. 'Why the hell did I fall for a weirdo like you?'
'I know. I hate you for that.' I grinned, tugging his hair softly.
'I hate you too,' he whispered back—but he was smiling when he said it. And then—he kissed me. Fully. Deep. Hot. Fingers gripping my waist tighter like he was scared I'd disappear. And I kissed him back—hands threading into his hair, bodies melting into each other.
A few days later...
'Damn, how the hell does the entire campus know we're dating? And how the hell didn't I know that this whole place has a secret fan group shipping us?' I shouted, standing on the cafeteria table like I was about to start a rebellion.
The whole cafeteria froze, looking guilty as hell. Kyros sighed like a tired dad. Caleb chuckled. Kaiden? That jerk just sat there calmly sipping his drink like this wasn't the wildest betrayal of my life.
'We've been dating for like a week and everyone already knows? Y'all were shipping us since when? Huh?!'
Silence.
Then someone brave from the back yelled, 'Let bygones be bygones, bro. We've been shipping you two since forever.'
'Yeah! You guys are adorable—'
'We all knew he liked you. You were just blind.'
'I'll kill every one of you little pieces of shit,' I growled, fists clenched, but it only made everyone burst into laughter.
'Sit your dramatic ass down already,' Kyros muttered, tugging my sleeve. 'You're embarrassing all of us.'
I pouted but obeyed, sitting beside Kaiden with an angry thump. I side-eyed his drink, curious, and before I could even ask, Kaiden tilted it toward my lips.
I sipped it. Blinked. Damn. 'This shit's good. Give it to me.' I snatched it from his hand like a brat, happily drinking while still glaring at the whole room. Kaiden just smiled. 'So how's your dating life going?' Caleb asked, smirking like he already knew the answer.
'It's going great. He feeds me good stuff,' I replied smugly, hugging the drink.
Kaiden only chuckled under his breath, acting all calm and boyfriend material with that soft whipped look on his stupid handsome face.
Kyros leaned in. 'So remember back in school when you said, "Who the hell would love this guy?"'
I blinked. 'When did I say that?'
'You did. And now look—you love him.'
'Ew. Shut up. I hate him,' I scoffed.
'Right,' Kaiden nodded, straight-faced. 'I hate you too.'
'We have a hate-hate relationship,' I declared, serious as hell. 'I still hate him the most.'
The drink finished. I frowned. 'I want more. It tastes good.'
Kaiden smiled softly, patting my hair. 'I'll get you more.'
I giggled. Like. Actually giggled. Kill me.
'Look at you,' Kyros snorted. 'Turned into a kitten for him.'
I glared. 'Shut the hell up.'
It was late. Campus dead quiet. Only the drape room lights still on. I was sketching—half-focused, mostly trying to forget how my life turned into some romantic soap opera. Kaiden walked in without knocking. Of course. Door clicked shut.
'What are u doing here?" I asked, not looking up.
"Just wanted to see you." He replied with a soft, husky voice, I know he had a small smirk on.
I kept sketching, but my grip on the pencil tightened. He stepped closer, His hands deliberately landed on my shoulders. Warm. Steady. I froze. 'What are you doing?'
'Helping you relax,' he murmured near my ear. His breath was hot. Dangerous.
'I'm fine.'
'Liar.' His fingers pressed into my shoulders, slow and deep. My body betrayed me, leaning into it. 'I could kill you,' I whispered. 'I'm right here. Do it.'
His lips brushed my ear, sending a sharp jolt straight to my spine. His hand slid down, fingers dipping beneath the hem of my shirt—bold, possessive.
'You're dangerous,' I whispered.
'You've always liked danger.'
His mouth ghosted over my neck, and I nearly cursed. I spun in my chair, forcing him back. Chest to chest.
'What are you doing?' he asked, breath ragged.
'Returning the favor.'
I yanked him by the collar and kissed him hard. It wasn't sweet. It was messy, angry, hot. His lips tasted like black coffee and bad decisions. He kissed me back like he'd been starving.
Fingers gripping my waist, pulling me closer, like he couldn't stand a breath of space. When we finally pulled apart, I was panting.
'We're making out in my drape room,' I said.
'Best use of school property yet,' he smirked, forehead against mine.
I tried to glare. Failed miserably.
Especially when he kissed me again—slower, deeper, like he wanted to keep me there forever.
'You're crazy,' I hissed, biting his bottom lip again—hard enough to make him flinch, not enough to make him stop.
'I'm in love with you,' he breathed against my mouth. 'Isn't that the same thing?'
God. The way he looked at me—like I was the last bit of air in his lungs. Like he'd die without me.
I grabbed his collar again, dragged him closer, lips crashing back into his. Tongue against tongue, tasting heat, desperation, him.
'Kaiden' I gasped his name, half a prayer, half a curse. His breath caught. That single sound from me shattered something in him. His hands dropped to my thighs—tight, hungry, unrelenting. He stepped between them, pressing against me so close I could feel every hard line of him.
One hand slid under my shirt, slow and sure. His fingertips brushed my ribs—barely there—and I trembled like a live wire.
'You drive me insane,' he murmured, lips grazing my jaw.
'Good,' I breathed, head falling back, 'Go insane. Just don't stop.' And he didn't, he didn't wanted to stop but then—BANG.
The door flew open like it owed someone money. 'OH MY GOD—' Both of us flinched like we'd been shot.
Standing at the door was Kyros with a whole-ass burger in one hand, Caleb peeking behind him, sipping on a milkshake with raised brows like he'd walked into a live drama screening.
Kyros pointed at us with the burger, horrified. 'NOT IN THE DRAPE ROOM. THAT'S SACRED TERRITORY.'
'Are you KIDDING me—' I shouted, jumping back, cheeks on fire.
Kaiden just stood there calmly fixing his hair, looking like he was proud of being caught. 'Guess I should pay extra attention on locking the door properly,' he said with a grin.
Caleb finally spoke, deadpan. 'Should I leave the two of you napkins or holy water?'
'GET OUT,' I yelled, wanting to launch a chair at them.
'Right, right,' Kyros laughed, backing up, nearly dropping his burger. 'Carry on, lovebirds. Don't mind us.'
Kaiden chuckled under his breath, grabbing my wrist as I lunged toward them. 'Easy, tiger. You're blushing harder than your drawings.'
'I hate you,' I grumbled, face burning.
'Yeah?' His voice dropped, playful. 'Didn't seem like that two minutes ago with your tongue down my throat.'
I slapped his arm while the idiots at the door howled with laughter.
Romantic tension: ruined. My dignity: deceased.
I sighed, cheeks red as tomato. "Lock the door better next time, If we're going to break school rules, do it properly.'
'As you command,' He smirked, pulling me closer again, leaning against my lips before dragging me into another feverish kiss, biting my lip just enough to make me gasp.
It wasn't just lust—it was years of fighting, longing, wanting, burning alive in silence. And now the fuse was lit.
It was a new day—Date Day.
Kaiden had promised to take me to every restaurant out there, making me try every good food on this side of the planet.
Obviously, I was the happiest person alive, already halfway out the door when I stopped short—seeing my brother sitting in the living room, legs crossed, surrounded by piles of documents, his laptop balanced on his lap like usual.
I sighed. 'Big brother seriously. You need to take a break. Go on a vacation, meet someone hot, fall in love, live for once.'
Matthew just shot me a dead glare, as if I'd personally offended his existence. "Fine." I gave up with a dramatic sigh, bolting outside to find Kaiden already waiting by his bike. The way his usual cold face lit up into a smile when he saw me Damn. I felt my heart stumble. And right above his head—I could see the number: 100%.
'Let's go, shall we?' Kaiden asked, his voice gentle, fingers sliding between mine like it was the most natural thing in the world.
I smiled back, nodding. 'Yeah.'
He chuckled softly, leaning down to press a kiss to the tip of my nose like I was some precious little thing.
We headed off together, hand in hand, like we'd been doing this forever.
Our love story might've been weird, chaotic, enemies-to-whatever-this-is, but it was perfect in its own messed up way. And honestly? I didn't want anything else.
I'm gonna cherish this forever—with Kaiden, my mortal enemy, my annoying rival, my favorite person to fight with, my person. I hate him so much. Really. Truly. Seriously.
Our hate is one of a kind. A beautiful love disguised as hate. And I'm never saying 'I love you'—that's cheesy as hell. I hate him, and only I get to hate him. He's mine to hate and torment. And I'm his—to hate, to love, to fight, to protect. That's just how we are. That's our love language.
And it's going to last forever.