Xiarya's POV
The weight of his jacket still felt strange on my shoulders. Adra's jacket—plain black, worn soft at the edges, smelling faintly of clean soap and something unexplainably his. Every time I slipped it on, it was like slipping into a life that didn't belong to me.
Adra had left two days ago. The airport had been quiet at dawn, and he hadn't looked back. He couldn't afford to. His flight to Seoul was the first step in repairing the damage that had almost ended everything. His voice, the thing that made Sudden Music rise so high, was fragile now. Too fragile.
So here I was.
Standing in the mirror, my hair trimmed shorter, bangs brushed to one side, hoodie pulled tight, I didn't see Xiarya Buenavista anymore. I saw Adra Torres. Cold. Composed. Silent.
It was terrifying.
Gelo had been the first to believe I could pull it off. "You look like him. Too much like him. It'll work."
But looking the part was one thing. Living it? That was a different kind of performance.
The Encounter
The hallway buzzed between classes. Students clustered in little groups, laughter spilling out of every corner.
I kept my head down, shoulders squared the way Adra carried himself, and walked through without a word. That was the trick: minimal words, minimal mistakes.
But then I felt it. Eyes on me.
When I glanced up, she was there—leaning casually against the lockers like she'd been waiting all morning. Camille.
Every school had one girl who knew too much, who noticed everything. Camille had been one of Adra's most loyal fans since high school. Rumors said she followed every live performance, every interview. She had a notebook full of lyrics and details about the band. A walking encyclopedia of Sudden Music.
And, unfortunately, she had a crush on him.
Her lips curved into a knowing smile as I approached. "Adra."
I froze, then forced myself to keep moving. "Camille." My voice was low, clipped. Just like his.
Her gaze tracked me like a hawk. "You look... different."
I kept my face blank. "People change."
She tilted her head. "Mm. But you never used to walk that fast. Or keep your hands in your pockets."
My heart hammered. Did she memorize how he walked?
I shrugged. "Guess I'm tired."
Her eyes narrowed. "You didn't reply to my message last night."
Crap.
Adra hadn't warned me about personal messages.
"I was busy," I said smoothly. "Band stuff."
Camille stepped closer, too close. "Say something for me, then. Just one line from your favorite song. You always do when I ask."
The panic flared sharp in my chest. My throat tightened. Adra couldn't sing anymore. I wasn't supposed to, either.
So I smiled. Not the cold mask Adra wore, but a softer one, calculated. "Why sing for one person when I already sing for thousands?"
Her eyes widened, stunned.
Before she could speak again, Gelo's voice cut through the hall. "Adra! Come on—we're late."
I turned, relief flooding me, and walked away without another word.
Gelo's POV
I'd seen it from the corner of the hall—the way Camille cornered Xiarya. My gut tightened instantly. That girl was trouble.
I strode up just in time, calling out Adra's name, and watched Xiarya slip away like nothing had happened.
Camille stood frozen for a second, then recovered, brushing her hair back. She looked at me with a smirk. "Something's different about him."
I forced a laugh. "He's the same. You just overthink."
She arched a brow. "No. I know him. Something's wrong."
I met her gaze head-on. "Or maybe you just wish he noticed you more than he does."
Her cheeks flushed, and for the first time, she didn't have a comeback.
I walked past her, quickening my steps to catch up with Xiarya.
Xiarya's POV
My hands trembled under the desk all through class.
That had been too close. Camille's eyes had been sharp, sharper than I expected. She'd noticed the smallest things—the way I walked, the way I didn't sing on demand.
I wanted to disappear.
But then Gelo nudged me with his shoulder. Just slightly. Just enough for me to know he was there.
I exhaled slowly, steadying myself.
At the end of the day, when the hallways emptied and the sky outside had turned pale gold, Gelo caught up with me near the gate.
"You handled that well," he said quietly.
I shook my head. "Barely."
"You charmed her. Trust me, she'll back off."
I looked up at him. "And if she doesn't?"
His jaw tightened. "Then I'll make sure she does."
The certainty in his voice sent a strange warmth curling through me.
For the first time since this whole charade started, I thought maybe—just maybe—I could survive it.
Camille's POV
But as I watched them from a distance, my doubts only grew.
That wasn't the Adra I knew. Something was wrong.
And I wasn't going to let it go.