The kiss stayed with Lily long after they parted.
Even the next morning, standing in front of her mirror, brushing her hair, she could still feel it — the way Riko's hand had cupped her cheek, the way the rain hadn't mattered at all.
Her phone buzzed.
Riko: Good morning, Prom Queen. Slept well?
She smiled instantly.
Lily: Maybe. Someone kept invading my dreams.
Riko: Sounds like a handsome problem.
Lily: Extremely annoying too.
Riko: Lies. You love me.
She shook her head, laughing.
And then—
another notification.
Jayden: Morning, Lil. About yesterday… can we talk? Just us.
Her smile faded, just a little.
At school, everything felt… normal.
Too normal.
Riko walked beside Lily, fingers brushing hers on purpose this time. No pretending. No games. Clara and Haru were ahead, Rhea and Noah arguing behind them like usual.
But Lily felt it.
Eyes.
Jayden stood across the hallway, leaning against a pillar, watching.
Not angry.
Not smiling.
Just observing.
When Lily glanced his way, he gave her a small nod. Polite. Distant.
Riko noticed. Of course he did.
"You okay?" he asked quietly.
Lily nodded. "Yeah. Just… tired."
He squeezed her hand. "If anything's wrong, tell me, yeah?"
She smiled. "I will."
She didn't realize how much that promise would matter.
Later that day, Lily was called to the office.
Jayden was there.
"Relax," he said immediately when he saw her tense. "I didn't get you in trouble."
"Then why are we here?" she asked, folding her arms.
He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I just wanted to talk. Properly."
She hesitated, then nodded.
"I'm not here to steal you," Jayden
continued calmly. "I know you chose him."
Her heart sank a little. "Jayden—
"Let me finish," he said softly. "I'm not mad. I just… missed you. And it hurt seeing how easily he fits into a place I used to have."
Lily swallowed. "You didn't disappear because of me."
"I know," he said. "But that doesn't mean it didn't hurt."
There was a pause.
Then he smiled.
"I'm happy for you, Lil. Really."
She relaxed, stepping closer. "Thank you for understanding."
Jayden looked at her — really looked — and nodded.
But as she turned to leave, his smile faded.
And his eyes hardened.
That evening, Riko heard things.
Small things.
"Oh, did you know Lily and Jayden used to be really close?"
"Apparently he knows her better than anyone."
"Crazy how fast she moved on, right?"
Riko laughed it off at first.
Until someone showed him a photo.
Lily and Jayden.
From earlier that day.
Standing close. Talking quietly. In the office hallway.
Nothing wrong.
Nothing obvious.
But the angle made it look… intimate.
Riko's jaw clenched.
Jayden sat alone that night, phone glowing in the dark.
He opened Lily's contact. Didn't type.
Instead, he opened a group chat.
A few names.
A few carefully chosen people.
Jayden: You don't have to lie. Just tell the truth you already know.
He leaned back, exhaling slowly.
"This isn't about taking her away," he muttered.
"It's about making him doubt he ever deserved her."
Outside, the rain started again.
Next Chapter Sneak Peek
"Why didn't you tell me you met him alone?"
Next Chapter: Cracks in the Glass