The night had settled deep over the city, a lazy hum of distant cars rolling through the streets as Kael kicked off his shoes and collapsed onto his bed. His bag tumbled against the floor, landing with a dull thud, but Kael barely noticed. His head was swimming — not from exhaustion, but from that kiss.
He lay there, staring at the ceiling, replaying every second of the evening with Clara. The way she tilted her head, the scent of her perfume that lingered in the air like smoke, the brush of her lips against his own. His chest fluttered, his lips tingling like the kiss was still there.
Damn, he thought, grinning despite himself. That felt… good. Like a normal life, like something I'd been missing all along.
Clara… she's different, he told himself, staring blankly at the ceiling. It wasn't a trap, not like Selira. It wasn't a game, not like Mia's teasing. For once, it felt… normal. Real. Like I could actually breathe without worrying who's watching me, or what they want from me.
The memory of her laughter lingered like perfume, sweet and intoxicating. But then, like a dagger slipping through his thoughts, Aimee's smile appeared. He clenched his fist.
No… if I can just reach her… if I can make Aimee smile at me the way Clara did, maybe all this madness ends. Maybe I get to have something pure. Something mine.
He turned on his side, hugging his pillow, the thought of Aimee's laugh blending with the memory of Clara's kiss. He didn't notice how fast his heartbeat was, or how his wrist burned faintly under the sleeve of his shirt.
---
But far away, behind the soft glow of a candlelit room, Clara sat by her window. Her eyes glittered in the low light, her lips still curved in that devilish smile.
Kael had walked away believing in the illusion — that was the first victory. She could almost taste his naivety, the way he thought he'd stumbled into something pure. Her finger traced the rim of a wine glass idly, before she whispered into the darkness, her voice sweet but dripping with possession:
"Foolish boy," Her smirk carried a trace of venom.
She had felt it the moment her lips touched his. The mark beneath his skin. The power dormant and raw, screaming silently like a caged beast waiting to be released. He didn't even realize it existed.
"You're all mine now, Kael."
And now, all she had to do was reel him in. Slowly. Sweetly.
Her mind danced with plans for their next encounter. The way she would pull him further into her world, how she'd escalate the touch, the words, the binding between them. She wanted him restless. Addicted. Bound.
She leaned back slowly, her shadow stretching tall across the wall, her eyes glowing faintly in the dark.
"You'll be my toy, my beautiful secret. Forever trapped within me. Every step you take, every thought you have… will bend back to me. Because that's what the mark is for. That's what you were born for."
She let out a low laugh, soft yet chilling, as if the walls themselves shivered at the sound. The laugh of someone who already knew the ending of a game her opponent hadn't even realized had started.
"And when the time comes," Clara whispered, eyes closing, her smile sharpening into something devilish, "you won't resist me. You won't even want to. You'll beg for it, Kael. Beg to stay bound in my soul."
Her smirk widened, her eyes opening again, glittering like knives. The candlelight sputtered, almost snuffed out, and then flared stronger, as though her words carried weight in the unseen world.
Kael tossed and turned in his bed, whispering Aimee's name under his breath, while Clara's voice, unheard, echoed into the night:
"You're mine already mine, Kael. And you don't even know it.
"Soon, Kael. You'll understand soon."
---
The morning sun spilled lazily across the campus yard, buzzing with students, chatter, and the distant hum of footsteps on tile. Kael dragged himself through the hall, bag slung on one shoulder, eyes heavy. It wasn't just sleep. It was something else, like the kiss from last night had followed him, burned itself into his skin.
Why can't I shake her off? he muttered to himself, rubbing the back of his neck. No, focus, Kael. This is school. This is normal life. Get your damn head straight.
"Yo, Kael!"
Jacob's voice snapped him out of it. His best friend bounded up, grinning like he'd just won the lottery, flanked by two others from their little group. They looked at Kael's dazed face and broke into laughter before he could even greet them.
"Man, look at him," one of them muttered. "Walking like he just got hit with Cupid's arrow."
Jacob leaned in, smirking. "So, who's the lucky girl, huh? You hiding something from me again? Don't think I don't notice that dumb smile you're trying to hide."
Kael rolled his eyes, shoving him lightly. "Shut up. I'm just tired."
The others didn't buy it, of course.
"Yo, forget him being tired," another friend said, lowering his voice and nudging Jacob. "Check this — word is, in Class A, some of the hot ones got their own private room. You know the kind."
"Private… room?" Kael frowned, not sure he wanted to know where this was going.
Jacob's grin widened devilishly. "You serious?"
"Dead serious," the guy whispered, eyes sparkling like a gossiping firecracker. "After school hours. Rumor says they undress in there. Like, no joke you can see everything. Curves swaying, thighs barely covered… the whole deal. It's like a damn magazine come to life."
The group chuckled, already losing their minds at the thought.
He blinked, utterly thrown off. "Wait, hold on. That can't be—"
"Bro," Jacob cut him off, patting his shoulder with a smirk. "Don't act innocent. You look like the type who'd accidentally stumble in there and faint on the spot. Hah!"
The others roared with laughter, one even holding his stomach.
Kael's ears burned red. "Shut the hell up! I wouldn't "
But he trailed off, biting his tongue. The words barely covered thighs stuck in his head longer than they should have, and damn it, now Clara's image overlapped with the rumor, her smirk flashing in his mind again.
He clenched his fists, forcing a laugh to play it off. "You guys are ridiculous. Don't drag me into your pervy fantasies."
Jacob grinned wider. "Hah, you'll see for yourself, Mark my words."
Kael shook his head, walking faster toward class, but his heart was already thudding too fast for comfort.
Damn it. Why does it feel like no matter where I turn, temptation just waits around the corner?
And for just a second, he glanced down at his wrist that faint mark hidden beneath his sleeve.
It pulsed.
The class dragged on slower than Kael's patience could handle. He barely heard half the lecture, his mind switching between the stupid rumor Jacob and the boys tossed around earlier.
As soon as the bell rang, his so-called friends surrounded him like hyenas.
"Yo, Kael," Jacob whispered, wiggling his brows. "Break time. You know what time it is."
Kael groaned, packing his books. "No. Don't start."
The other two grinned like devils. "C'mon, bro. Live a little. We're not saying do anything just… see for yourself. Research purposes."
"Research my ass," Kael muttered, standing up. "I'm not some creep. Forget it."
But Jacob hooked an arm around his neck, dragging him toward the hallway. "Relax, man. It's not like we're busting in. We've got a secret spot. You won't believe it till you see it."
Kael dug his heels into the ground. "No! I said no!"
And yet… five minutes later, he found himself standing in a quiet, half-abandoned section of the building. The walls were chipped, the lockers rusted from years of neglect. No footsteps, no teachers. Just them.
"Why are we here?" He hissed, lowering his voice.
Jacob pointed at a crooked old door. Beyond it, a wall of wood and plaster stretched thin, broken in places. And through one of those spots barely wide enough for an eye.. they could see a sliver of light and shadow.
"The girls' private changing section," Jacob whispered smugly. "Class A. Told you."
He froze. His pulse hammered. "Wait—you're serious? This is actually ?"
Before he could back away, one of the boys shoved him forward.
"Damn it !" Kael stumbled, catching himself right against the wall. Through the crack, a blurred but undeniable view came into focus. Fabric swayed, giggles echoed, the sound of zippers and laughter filled the air. And then—
"Shit." Kael yanked back, face burning red. "This is insane! We're gonna get killed if anyone finds out!"
Jacob only smirked, giving him a little shove again. "Then don't get caught, bro. Look or leave. Your choice."
Kael clenched his fists, heart thundering like a war drum. This is wrong. I shouldn't…
And yet, part of him was already curious—caught between guilt, Clara's haunting kiss from last night, and the laughter of his friends around him.