The next morning—Tuesday—I woke up, said my prayers, and quickly rushed to the bathroom to brush and shower. When I got back, I wore a clean pair of blue baggy pants and a cropped tank top. After dressing, I swept my room, arranged my bed, slid into my favorite slippers, and practically ran to the restaurant. I was so hungry.
As I sped down the walkway, I suddenly heard my name
"Hazel!"
I turned around—and boom, there he was.
Devon. Right behind me. Looking just as handsome as ever. How can someone be that good-looking and smell amazing at the same time?
He smiled. "I've been looking for you since this morning. Where've you been?"
"I woke up late," I said, a bit breathless. "Had a few things to do before stepping out."
"Ah, got it."
Then, gently, he asked, "So how was your night? And… does your ankle still hurt?"
I smiled. "My night was fine. And my ankle's okay now. Thank you for asking."
"Sure," he replied, still smiling.
I was just about to turn and leave when he pulled me closer by the waist.
My heart skipped.
I froze, caught off guard by his sudden touch.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, silver hairpin—the one I'd lost last night.
"This fell out of your pocket at the basketball court when you tripped," he said, brushing a strand of my hair aside. He slid the pin gently back into place.
I blinked. "You kept it?"
"Of course," he said. "That's why I was looking for you this morning."
"Thank you," I whispered.
As I was about to walk away, his arm still wrapped around my waist, he tilted my chin upward with two fingers. His voice lowered.
"You're so pleasing," he said. "I want to taste those lips of yours."
My heart was in my throat. I wanted to kiss him too. But something inside me screamed not here. We were in public. And more importantly—he had a girlfriend.
"Please stop," I whispered, pulling away gently.
His hand dropped slowly. He nodded, but didn't say anything.
I turned and walked toward the restaurant. I needed food—and space to breathe.
After eating, I headed back to my room. I had absolutely nothing else to do. No classes. No assignments. The strike had shut everything down.
When I reached my door, I reached into my pocket and froze.
No key.
I'd left it at the restaurant.
I let out a long, frustrated sigh. "I really hope it's still there."
I rushed back. Luckily, when I got to the table where I ate earlier, the key was still there.
But just as I was about to grab it, someone else snatched it first.
Guess who?
The annoying, smug-faced jerk who stopped me and my friends from charging our phones the other night. The so-called school bully.
Everyone calls him Maddox—but his real name is Masson. For some reason, he changed it.
He looked at the key in his hand, smirking. "I believe this belongs to you?"
I rolled my eyes. "Yes, dummy, it does. Now give it back."
Instead of handing it over, he pulled it back.
Then, with a smirk, he dropped it on the floor.
As I bent to pick it up, he kicked it away.
"Are you kidding me?!" I snapped.
I stormed over, picked it up from where it had landed, and turned to leave.
"Lucky this time," he called after me. "Maybe next time, you won't be."
I rolled my eyes so hard I swear I saw my brain. "Ugh. Disgusting."
I muttered to myself as I walked away: Who even changes their name from Masson to Maddox? It's giving villain energy. Lame villain, though.
I stormed out of the restaurant still mumbling under my breath, gripping the key like it was my last nerve. Honestly, Maddox was a whole walking red flag. Why did people even talk to him?
When I got back to my room, I slammed the door shut behind me—not too loud, but just enough to release my frustration. I threw the key onto my table and collapsed on my bed. My ankle still ached a bit, and now my mood was completely off. I stared at the ceiling for a while, letting everything play in my head again—Devon's touch, his words, that almost kiss… and then Maddox, ruining the vibe like the villain he insists on being.
Just as I was starting to settle in, my phone buzzed.
Devon:
"Hope you're okay. I know I crossed a line earlier. Just wanted you to know I respect your boundaries."
My heart melted.
I didn't even know how to reply. I stared at the screen for a good minute before finally typing:
Me:
"It's okay. Thanks for checking in. And… thanks for the hairpin. That was sweet of you."
I hit send, then buried my face in my pillow.
I had never felt this confused before. It was like every time I told myself not to fall for him, he gave me another reason to trip harder.
Minutes later, I heard a knock on my door. For a moment, I panicked.
I limped to the door and opened it slightly.
It was Divine, my roommate and best friend.
She stepped in holding two bags of food and immediately noticed my face.
"What happened?" she asked, handing me one of the bags.
"Nothing. Everything," I mumbled.
She raised her eyebrow and dropped the second bag on the table. "Start talking."
I told her everything—well, almost everything. I left out the part where Devon nearly kissed me. I wasn't ready for the judgment I knew would come with that.
But I told her about Maddox and the key situation.
She rolled her eyes. "That guy is an actual menace. If he tries anything again, just tell me. We'll drag him together."
I laughed weakly. "Thanks."
We ate together, talked for a bit about the school strike, and then she went out to meet someone. I stayed behind, still feeling a bit off, still thinking about Devon.
As I lay on my bed later that night, the yellow sweatshirt still folded neatly beside me, I couldn't help but wonder:
What am I really doing?
He has a girlfriend.
I should stay away.
But my heart… it's clearly not listening to reason.