KAYLA'S POV (Continuing):
Theo's expression changed instantly.
Something in his face hardened.
No...
Not hardened.
Darkened.
"He's worse," Theo said flatly.
I frowned.
"What?"
His voice turned colder.
"I know him."
The way he said it made my stomach tighten slightly.
Not because of the words.
Because of the hatred behind them.
"He acts like he knows everything," Theo continued, his lip curling in disgust. "Always meddling in other people's business like he's some kind of hero. Justice. Fairness. Morality." He let out a mocking laugh. "But in reality, he's just a fool. Who knows nothing."
I stared at him.
For the first time since dragging him out of the cafeteria, my anger faltered just slightly.
What is he talking about?
That wasn't normal school rivalry.
That wasn't just "I hate Section A."
That sounded personal.
Too personal.
Like there was something underneath all that rage.
Something old.
Something ugly.
My eyes narrowed as I studied him.
His knuckles were scraped.
There was blood at the corner of his mouth.
His breathing had slowed, but his shoulders were still tense, like he was one wrong word away from exploding again.
And then I remembered the way he'd looked in the cafeteria.
Not just angry.
Triggered.
Especially when Hari had said something right before I arrived.
I didn't know what.
But whatever it was… it had pushed Theo completely over the edge.
I tilted my head slightly.
"What happened between you two?"
Theo's gaze flickered to mine for the briefest second.
Then away.
"Nothing."
Liar.
"You don't nearly kill someone over nothing."
His jaw tightened.
"I said it's nothing."
The classroom was so silent I could practically hear everyone pretending not to listen.
I took a step closer.
My voice lowered.
"Don't lie to me, Theo."
For a moment, he didn't answer.
His eyes stayed fixed somewhere past my shoulder, unreadable.
Then he laughed softly.
But there was no humor in it.
"Why do you care?"
The question caught me off guard.
I frowned.
"What?"
He finally looked at me.
And there it was again, that strange look in his eyes. Sharp. Heavy. Searching.
"Why do you care so much?" he asked quietly.
I blinked.
For a second, the entire room felt smaller.
The tension between us shifted into something strange.
Something dangerous.
Then I crossed my arms and scoffed, forcing my expression back into its usual coldness.
"Because I don't want idiots ruining the school atmosphere before lunch."
A few students nervously looked away.
Theo stared at me for another second.
Then, to my irritation, the corner of his mouth twitched.
Like he knew I was deflecting.
Annoying.
I clicked my tongue.
"Go wash your face. You look horrible."
That earned the smallest smirk from him.
"You still look better than Hari."
I glared.
"This is not the time for jokes."
"I'm not joking."
I narrowed my eyes.
He lifted his hands slightly in surrender, though the smirk never fully left.
But I could still see it.
That darkness.
Still there beneath the surface.
Still simmering.
And now I was sure of one thing,
Whatever existed between Theo and Hari…
It wasn't over.
Not even close.
And for some reason…
I had the unsettling feeling that this had something to do with a past I knew nothing about.
A past Theo clearly didn't want anyone touching.