The next day felt… different.
Not loud.
Not quiet.
Just… uneasy.
Lia walked through the hallway slowly, her thoughts tangled.
That voice from yesterday wouldn't leave her mind.
Mr. Carter already covered the expenses…
Her chest tightened slightly.
"No…" she whispered under her breath. "It doesn't make sense."
In Class
She sat down without looking at him.
But she could feel it.
Ethan's presence.
Close.
Heavy.
For once, he didn't say anything.
No rules.
No teasing.
Just silence.
And somehow…
That silence made everything worse.
Lia gripped her pen tightly.
If it was him… why?
And why hide it?
She shook her head slightly.
"No. I'm overthinking."
But her eyes betrayed her.
Because for the first time—
She glanced at him.
Ethan was already looking at her.
Their eyes locked.
And this time—
Neither of them looked away immediately.
Something passed between them.
Unspoken.
Heavy.
Then Lia broke it.
She turned away.
# Ava Can't Hold It Anymore#
During break, Ava pulled Lia aside.
"Lia, I need to tell you something—"
Lia looked at her.
"What?"
Ava hesitated.
Her heart started racing.
This was it.
She was about to say it.
"It's about the hospital…"
Lia froze.
"…What about it?"
Ava opened her mouth—
Then stopped.
Her eyes shifted unconsciously…
Toward Ethan.
He was watching them.
Not openly.
But enough.
Ava's voice dropped.
"…Nothing. It's not important."
Lia frowned slightly.
"You're acting weird."
"I'm not."
"You are."
Ava forced a smile.
"Just… forget it, okay?"
But Lia didn't forget.
Not this time.
#Ryan Becomes Her Safe Space#
Later, Ryan found her sitting alone.
"You've been spacing out all day," he said, sitting beside her.
Lia sighed softly.
"Am I that obvious?"
Ryan smiled faintly.
"Only to me."
That made her pause.
Just for a second.
"…Ryan," she said quietly, "can I ask you something?"
"Anything."
She hesitated.
Then asked—
"If someone helps you… but hides it… what does that mean?"
Ryan didn't answer immediately.
He studied her face carefully.
"It means they didn't want anything in return," he said softly.
"Or…"
He leaned slightly closer.
"They didn't want you to see that side of them."
Lia's heart skipped.
Didn't want you to see that side of them…
Her mind went back to Ethan.
His cold eyes.
His silence.
His distance.
"…That doesn't sound like him," she whispered.
Ryan didn't ask who she meant.
But he knew.
After school, Lia walked out alone.
Ava had already left.
Ryan was held back by something.
For the first time in days—
She was alone.
"…Lia."
She froze.
She knew that voice.
Slowly…
She turned around.
Ethan stood a few steps behind her.
Hands in his pockets.
Expression unreadable.
"What?" she said coldly.
Ethan stepped closer.
Not too close.
But close enough.
"You've been avoiding me."
Lia let out a small, bitter laugh.
"Wow. You noticed?"
Silence.
Ethan's gaze didn't leave her.
"What's wrong?"
That question—
That simple question—
Snapped something inside her.
"What's wrong?" she repeated.
Her voice shook slightly.
"You really have the nerve to ask that?"
Ethan frowned slightly.
"I'm serious."
Lia stepped closer.
Her eyes burning now.
"My dad is dead."
Silence.
Heavy.
"And you're standing there asking me what's wrong?"
Ethan's expression shifted.
Just slightly.
But she saw it.
Pain.
But Lia didn't care.
Not anymore.
"You stood there that night," she continued.
"You watched everything happen."
Ethan's jaw tightened.
"That's not—"
"And now," she cut him off,
"You're playing boyfriend with Madison like nothing happened."
Silence.
Something in Ethan snapped too.
"You don't know anything," he said quietly.
Lia laughed bitterly.
"Then explain it."
Ethan went silent.
Because he couldn't.
Not like this.
Not now.
And that silence—
Was the answer she didn't want.
Lia stepped back.
Her expression completely cold now.
"…That's what I thought."
She turned to leave.
But her hand was suddenly grabbed.
She froze.
Ethan's grip wasn't rough.
But it wasn't gentle either.
"Lia—"
"Don't touch me."
Her voice was quiet.
But it cut deeper than anything else.
Ethan slowly let go.
And just like that—
The distance between them grew even wider.
That night, Lia stood by her window.
The city lights flickering below.
Her heart felt… confused.
Angry.
Hurt.
Uncertain.
"…Why does it feel like I'm missing something?"
Across the city—
Ethan stood alone in the dark.
"…I can't tell you," he muttered.
Because if he did—
Everything would change.
The next day…
Lia couldn't focus.
Not in class.
Not during lunch.
Not even when Ava tried talking to her.
Her mind kept replaying everything.
Ethan's silence.
Ryan's words.
That voice in the hospital.
Mr. Carter already covered the expenses…
Her fingers tightened around her book.
"…No."
But this time—
She didn't sound convinced.
The classroom felt suffocating.
Ethan was there.
As always.
But today…
He didn't even look at her.
That annoyed her.
More than it should.
Why is he acting like nothing happened?
Lia suddenly stood up.
"I need air," she muttered and walked out before the teacher could stop her.
She walked quickly through the hallway…
Past the stairs…
Past the offices…
Until she stopped.
The medical wing.
Her heart started beating faster.
"…I just need to confirm," she whispered.
She slowly walked closer.
The door wasn't fully closed.
Voices came from inside.
"…Yes, Mr. Carter insisted we keep it confidential."
Lia froze.
Another voice replied,
"It's not every day someone pays that much just to stay anonymous."
Her breathing stopped.
"That girl's family was lucky."
The file in Lia's hand slipped slightly.
Her heart pounded violently now.
Mr. Carter…
Paid…?
Before she could think—
The door suddenly opened.
A nurse stepped out and noticed her.
"Oh—student? Do you need something?"
Lia forced herself to stay calm.
"…Yes."
Her voice was steady.
But her heart wasn't.
"I… I just wanted to ask…"
She hesitated.
Then asked—
"The emergency surgery last week… the one for Mrs. Thompson…"
The nurse blinked.
"Oh, that case…"
Lia swallowed hard.
"…Was it really a free program?"
Silence.
The nurse's expression shifted slightly.
Just enough.
"…Who told you about that?"
Lia's heart dropped.
"That means… it wasn't?"
The nurse hesitated.
She wasn't supposed to say anything.
But Lia's eyes—
They were desperate.
Broken.
"…It was funded privately," the nurse said quietly.
Everything went silent.
"…By who?" Lia whispered.
The nurse looked around, then lowered her voice.
"I shouldn't be saying this…"
Lia stepped closer.
"Please."
A pause.
Then—
"…Mr. Carter."
Lia froze completely.
Ethan Carter.
Her mind went blank.
"No…"
Her legs felt weak.
"No… that's not possible…"
Everything started replaying in her head—
His silence.
His actions.
That night.
Her chest tightened painfully.
"…Why?"
"Lia!"
Ava's voice echoed down the hallway.
She ran toward her, panic all over her face.
But the moment she saw Lia's expression—
She stopped.
"…You know."
It wasn't a question.
Lia slowly turned to her.
Her eyes filled with confusion… and pain.
"You knew?"
Ava's lips parted.
"…Lia—"
"You knew?!"
Her voice broke.
Ava stepped closer. "I was going to tell you—"
"When?" Lia shouted.
"After I completely hated him?!"
Silence.
Ava had no answer.
# Emotional Explosion
Lia stepped back, shaking her head.
"He paid for my mom's surgery…"
Her voice trembled.
"…and I…"
She covered her mouth.
Tears falling freely now.
"I blamed him."
Ava's heart broke seeing her like this.
"He told them not to tell you," Ava said softly.
"He didn't want you to feel—"
"—indebted?" Lia cut in.
Silence.
Her laugh came out broken.
"So he just let me hate him?"
Ava didn't respond.
Because that was exactly what happened.
That night…
Lia sat on the floor of her room.
Her back against the wall.
Her eyes empty.
Everything she believed…
Was wrong.
Ethan wasn't just the boy she hated anymore.
He was something else.
Something she didn't understand.
"…Why didn't you tell me?" she whispered into the silence.
Her heart felt heavier now.
Not just with grief.
But with guilt.
And somewhere in the city—
Ethan stood alone.
Unaware…
That the truth had finally reached her.
Stay tuned.
Come on guys I need likes, comments and collection.
If I get them I am going to I make a seen were Madison kisses Ethan and Lia witness it👌.