Every time she closed her eyes, she saw his face — too close, too intense, too confusing.That moment in the library kept replaying like a cruel loop. His voice. His touch. That flicker of something she wasn't ready to name.
But she couldn't afford to think about Adrian Knight anymore.Not when the final presentation was today.
By the time she reached campus, she'd rehearsed every line, every slide, and every fake smile she'd need to survive.
She could do this.She had to.
Maya met her at the gate, waving. "You look like you haven't slept in a week."
"Didn't," Liora muttered.
"Let me guess — Knight problems?"
Liora stiffened. "It's fine. He's fine. Everything's fine."
Maya raised an eyebrow. "That's too many fines."
Before Liora could respond, the hallway buzzed — students whispering, heads turning. And then she saw why.
Adrian had arrived.
He was calm as ever, shirt sleeves rolled, expression unreadable — like nothing had happened that night. Like he hadn't just broken every line they'd drawn between them.
He caught her eye across the room.One heartbeat.Two.
Then he looked away, nodding casually at one of his friends.
Her stomach twisted. He was really going to act like it meant nothing.
The professor's voice broke through her thoughts. "Liora, Adrian — you're up next."
She took a deep breath. They walked up together, side by side but worlds apart.
He started the opening, confident as always, his tone smooth and composed. Liora followed, forcing her voice steady.It went fine — until the final part, where they had to stand close, switching slides together on the shared screen.
The clicker slipped from her hand, falling right as he bent down to pick it up. Their hands brushed — again — and this time, the spark wasn't just imagined.
She froze. So did he.
For a moment, the whole class disappeared. The air between them thickened, heavy and charged.
Then Ethan's voice — from the back — broke the silence. "Hey, Knight, you gonna keep staring or present?"
A ripple of laughter swept through the class.
Liora's cheeks burned. Adrian's jaw tightened, a muscle flickering there — but instead of snapping back, he just smiled, the kind of slow, practiced smirk that didn't reach his eyes.
"Good point," he said smoothly, turning back to the screen.
But Liora caught the flash of something in his gaze — jealousy, raw and barely restrained.
When they finished, the professor clapped lightly. "Excellent work. You two make a surprisingly balanced team."
Liora forced a smile and packed up quickly, eager to escape. But Adrian caught her arm near the door, his voice low enough only she could hear.
"Don't walk away like that again."
She stiffened. "You don't get to tell me what to do."
He leaned in slightly, eyes dark. "Then stop pretending nothing's happening."
Her pulse jumped. "There's nothing happening, Adrian."
He smiled faintly, like he didn't believe her for a second. "If that's what helps you sleep."
Before she could respond, Maya appeared, linking her arm through Liora's. "Come on, genius, cafeteria time."
Liora went without looking back.
But as she left, she could still feel his gaze following her — that quiet, dangerous promise in it that said this wasn't over.
And deep down, she knew he was right.
Something was happening.Something she didn't understand.And something neither of them could stop