⭐ CHAPTER 10 — The Note in the Locker
The next morning felt different — too quiet, too heavy.
Amara arrived at school earlier than usual, hoping to avoid the staring and gossip.
But even at 7:20 a.m., there were already students inside, and the moment she stepped through the gate, whispers followed her like shadows.
"Is she still coming to school after everything?"
"She has guts."
"Kyle is too soft on her."
Amara tightened her grip on her bag and walked straight to her locker.
Just ignore them, she told herself.
One more week and this nonsense will die down.
But the moment she opened her locker, something fluttered out.
A folded note.
Her heart skipped.
She picked it up cautiously, glancing around.
No one seemed to be watching her.
She unfolded it.
Her heartbeat stilled.
"Stay away from Kyle… or next time, I won't use words."
No name.
No signature.
Just a threat.
Amara's breath caught in her throat.
Her fingers trembled as she reread it.
Someone was warning her.
Or promising something worse.
A coldness settled deep in her chest.
Was this Vanessa?
Or someone else?
Before she could think too far, a voice whispered behind her:
"What's that?"
Amara jumped.
Kyle stood there, eyes sharp, watching her closely.
He wasn't joking, wasn't smiling — he already knew something was wrong.
Amara quickly folded the note and shoved it in her pocket.
"It's nothing," she said too quickly.
Kyle raised an eyebrow.
"Ama."
His tone was gentle… but firm.
The kind of tone he used when she couldn't hide from him.
Amara hesitated.
If she told him, he'd explode.
Everyone already thought he was overprotective.
Everyone already stared every time he raised his voice.
And she didn't want him getting into trouble — because of her.
"I said it's nothing," she repeated quietly.
Kyle's jaw tightened.
He stepped closer.
"Ama… I know when you're lying."
She swallowed.
"It's fine," she insisted. "It's just… some paper."
Kyle didn't believe her.
She could see it in the way his eyes lingered on her pocket.
But he didn't force her.
Instead, he said softly:
"You don't have to carry everything alone."
Her chest pulled tight.
She wasn't used to someone wanting to share her problems.
She walked away before he could ask again.
But Kyle didn't leave.
He followed silently, steps soft but steady behind her — like he was protecting her even without knowing why.
⭐ Vanessa's New Plan
Across the hallway, Vanessa watched them with narrowed eyes.
"Look," her friend whispered excitedly. "She's scared!"
Vanessa smirked.
"She should be."
Her friend frowned. "You… didn't actually put something in her locker, right?"
Vanessa rolled her eyes.
"Please. I have better things to do than waste paper on her."
"Then who did?"
Vanessa shrugged but didn't answer.
Because she did know.
She knew exactly who left that note.
And they weren't doing it for Vanessa's sake.
They were doing it for their own twisted reason.
But Vanessa didn't care.
As long as Amara stayed miserable…
it worked in her favor.
⭐ A Warning Kyle Couldn't Ignore
After assembly, Kyle walked beside Amara on their way to class.
He kept glancing at her pocket — the one with the note.
"Ama," he said quietly, "you've been quiet since morning."
"I'm just tired," she said softly.
Kyle didn't buy it.
"You're hiding something."
She hesitated.
"Kyle… I don't want drama today."
He stopped walking.
Students stared awkwardly as Amara turned back to him.
Kyle's expression softened.
"You're not a problem, Ama. People should stop treating you like one."
Her throat tightened.
She wasn't used to being defended.
Not like this.
Not with patience and gentleness and sincerity.
"Kyle," she whispered, "I don't want you to get in trouble because of me."
Kyle walked up to her slowly, like he was approaching something fragile.
"I'll take any trouble," he said, "before I let anyone hurt you."
Amara's breath caught.
She looked away because if she kept looking at him, her heart would forget this was fake.
⭐ The Unknown Threat
During lunch, Amara sat alone under the mango tree behind the school.
She needed quiet.
Space.
Breathing room.
She pulled out the note again.
"Stay away from Kyle… or next time, I won't use words."
Her hands shook.
Someone was watching her.
Someone wanted to scare her.
But why?
Footsteps approached.
She quickly folded the note.
"Amara."
Jonah.
She stiffened.
"What do you want?" she asked coldly.
Jonah looked nervous… guilty… but not ashamed enough.
"I just wanted to say sorry again."
"No," she said immediately. "You're not sorry. You're embarrassed."
Jonah swallowed.
"I liked you, and—"
"Stop," she cut in sharply. "Whatever you feel is not my responsibility."
Jonah's eyes dropped.
"That's why you should stay away from Kyle," he muttered quietly.
Amara froze.
Jonah looked up slowly — his eyes dark in a way she had never seen before.
"He's not good for you."
Amara stepped back.
"Why are you saying that?"
Jonah glanced around, then lowered his voice.
"He's going to hurt you. You don't know him like I do."
Amara's skin prickled.
"And what," she said slowly, "makes you think you know him better than me?"
Jonah didn't answer.
Instead, he said something that made her cold from the inside.
"You should break up with him before it's too late."
Before she could demand what he meant—
"Ama!"
Kyle's voice cut through the air.
He reached them in seconds, pulling Amara behind him gently but firmly.
"What are you doing here?" Kyle snapped at Jonah.
Jonah's expression tightened.
"Talking."
"Stay away from her," Kyle growled.
Jonah didn't move.
"She needs to know the truth."
Kyle stepped closer.
"What truth?"
Jonah stared at him with something bitter and ugly.
"That you're dangerous."
Amara gasped.
Kyle froze.
Not in fear — but in a kind of cold, controlled anger she'd never seen from him.
"What did you say?" he asked quietly.
Jonah turned and walked away without answering.
For the first time…
Kyle didn't chase him.
He stood there, breathing hard, fists clenched at his sides.
"Kyle…" Amara whispered.
He didn't look at her.
He looked straight ahead, jaw tight, eyes dark.
"Don't listen to him," he said softly.
"Whatever he thinks he knows… he's wrong."
But there was a tremble in his voice.
Barely noticeable.
And that was what scared her most.
Because it wasn't Jonah's words that shook her.
It was the way Kyle reacted to them.