The class froze again, everyone's eyes darting between Olivia's furious face and Mateo's calm expression.
But Mateo only chuckled, a low laugh that made Olivia's skin crawl. He shook his head slowly, almost as if he were pitying her.
"You can say that all you want, Olivia. But I know the truth. You do like me. You always have. But because of your family, maybe because of pride, you never dared to admit it. That is why you kept rejecting me. That is why you are acting like this now."
Olivia's jaw dropped. She could not believe her ears. He was twisting her words, twisting her feelings into something completely false.
"You...!" she began, her voice shaking with rage.
But before she could finish, a calm, amused voice came from the door. "Has Mateo ever thought about going to a mental hospital?"
The entire class turned their heads at once. For a moment, silence swallowed the room again. Then, gasps and whispers broke out.
