The weekend came faster than I expected.
But instead of feeling relieved—
I felt restless.
I tried to focus.
Tried to read.
Tried to pretend like everything was normal.
But my mind kept going back to it.
To him.
The way he looked at me.
The way he walked toward me like he had already decided something.
And then—
He didn't choose me.
I turned on my bed, staring at the ceiling.
"Why would he do that?" I muttered to myself.
If he wanted to kiss that girl—
Then why look at me like that?
Why make it feel like something was about to happen…
Then change it?
It didn't make sense.
None of it did.
I exhaled slowly, rubbing my forehead.
Is this… jealousy?
The thought came quietly.
Uninvited.
I frowned immediately.
"No."
I shook my head.
That wasn't it.
It couldn't be.
I didn't even like him.
I had made that clear—to myself, to Talia, to anyone who asked.
I came to that school for one reason.
My grades.
Nothing more.
So whatever he was doing—
It had nothing to do with me.
He could kiss whoever he wanted.
Talk to whoever he wanted.
It shouldn't bother me.
But somehow…
It did.
Just a little.
I groaned softly and reached for my phone.
Distraction.
That's what I needed.
I opened my messages and texted Talia.
"What page did she say we should read for the assignment?"
I dropped my phone beside me, waiting for her reply.
A few seconds passed.
Then it buzzed.
I picked it up quickly—
Expecting her name.
But instead…
Unknown number.
"Hey, hard girl."
I frowned.
Hard girl?
Who—
Then it hit me.
My chest tightened slightly.
No…
"Who is this?" I typed.
"And how did you get my number?"
The reply came almost immediately.
Like he was waiting.
"Relax. I mean no harm."
"It's me. Kael."
My heart skipped.
Just once.
But enough for me to notice.
"You should be happy I'm still chasing you,"
"Doesn't that give you a hint?"
I stared at the screen.
Annoyed.
Confused.
And something else I didn't want to name.
"I don't want distractions," I replied.
"And you are one."
This time, the reply took a few seconds.
Then—
"Then save my number."
"Because you just got yourself a lot of distraction."
I stared at the message for a long second.
Then—
I threw my phone on the bed.
"Why me?" I groaned, covering my face with my hands.
Out of everybody.
Out of all the girls in that school.
Why did it have to be me?
I sat up slowly, exhaling.
"I don't need this," I said to myself.
I really didn't.
Because the truth was—
I knew myself.
I had never been in a relationship before.
Not even close.
No first kiss.
No real experience.
Just small crushes.
Daydreams.
Imagining things that never actually happened.
And I knew how I was.
When I liked someone—
I liked them deeply.
Too deeply.
I got distracted.
Lost focus.
And I couldn't afford that.
Not now.
Not when I had goals.
Not when I had promised myself—
and my parents—
that I would do better.
Still…
I won't lie.
There was something about it.
The way he didn't give up.
The way he spoke like everything was already decided.
The way he kept coming back.
It felt like those movies I used to watch.
The intense ones.
The ones where the guy doesn't stop.
And a small part of me—
just a small part—
liked it.
I grabbed my pillow and threw it lightly against the wall.
"No," I said firmly.
"I'm not doing this."
My phone buzzed again.
I sighed, picking it up.
This time—
It was Talia.
But before I could even open her message—
A call came in.
From another classmate.
I hesitated for a second before answering.
"Hello?"
"Seraphina, right?"
"Yes…"
"Okay, so about the project—we've been grouped in seven. You're in Talia's group."
I sat up straighter immediately.
"Really?"
"Yes. And it's going to be held at Noah's house."
A small smile formed on my lips.
"Okay… that's good."
After the call ended, I quickly checked the group list.
And they were right.
Talia.
Me.
And the rest—
Serious students.
Focused.
Exactly the kind of people I needed around me.
For the first time that day—
I felt relieved.
This was good.
This was perfect.
This was what I came here for.
Books.
Work.
Progress.
Not Kael.
I dropped my phone beside me and leaned back on my bed.
Letting out a slow breath.
Monday couldn't come fast enough.
At least now…
I had something to focus on.
And maybe—
just maybe—
It would finally get my mind off him.