"So… are you in love with Aisha?"
AK asked casually—or at least he tried to. His voice came out smooth, almost playful, as if the question meant nothing. But inside, a storm raged. His heart pounded like a war drum, each beat echoing in his ears, threatening to tear through his ribcage.
Hazzy stopped walking. Dead in his tracks.
Slowly—so slowly it was almost ominous—he turned his head. His eyes met AK's, and in that single glance, AK felt the temperature around them plummet.
"No."
One word. Flat. Emotionless.
But it hit harder than any blow, slicing through the silence like a blade of ice. The weight behind it was suffocating, a quiet hostility that curled through the air like smoke.
Hazzy turned away without another word. His long strides carried him toward the shimmering dungeon gate ahead. His broad shoulders were stiff, radiating something dangerous—something AK couldn't name, but could feel deep in his bones.
