As soon as Miss Silvia stepped out.
The silence broke.
Chairs scraped, books closed, whispers resumedâhushed, confused, too careful, like the class was afraid to breathe too loudly.
Lor didnât move, his hazel eyes scanning the swirl of half-glances and unspoken things.
Something had changedânot just Silvia, but everyone.
The air felt heavy, charged with a mystery he couldnât grasp.
He leaned forward, tapping his fingers against his desk, then reached out to tap the shoulder of the blonde girl in front of himâplain uniform, quiet demeanor, her pig tails tied tightly.
"Hey," he said softly, voice low, probing. "Whatâs going on?"
She blinked, turning slowly, her eyes wide but guarded.
Then, without a word, she stood, slung her bag over her shoulder, and walked out, not even glancing back, like he hadnât spoken.
Lorâs eyes narrowed, a spark of frustration flaring in his chest.
He turned to his right, where a girl with bubblegum-pink hair satâher artifact-slate glowing as she scrolled, face blank.
"You too?" he asked, voice sharper. "What happened?"
She didnât answer, just rolled her eyes, muttering, "Donât flatter yourself," as she stood, brushing past him with a sway of her hips, her skirt teasingly short.
She was gone before he could press, leaving a faint scent of floral perfume.
Lor leaned back, jaw tightening.
Okay.
Somethingâs definitely wrong.
The weight of gazes pressed harderâEva, Olivia, Nellie, their eyes flicking to him then snapping away like theyâd been caught stealing.
Nellie dug in her bag, her freckled cheeks flushed.
Eva twisted a pen, her green eyes avoiding his.
Olivia stared at the window, her wavy bob swaying, as if it held the universeâs secrets.
The silence wasnât casualâit was constructed, a wall built to keep him out.
What the hell is this?
Lor thought, frustration mixing with a subtle thrill.
He slammed his books shut, the sharp sound jolting a few students, their eyes darting to him then away.
He didnât care.
He stood, and walked up the aisle, his hazel eyes sharp.
The classâs whispers hushed further, their gazes trailing him, heavy and expectant.
He moved straight toward the one person he knew had answersâthe root of this shift.
Kiara.
Lor marched through the rows of desks, his steps sharp, unhurried, like a predator cutting through fog.
The sunlight spilled through the classroom windows, painting golden streaks across the stone floor, but the air was thick, heavy with the weight of whispers that hushed as he passed.
His hazel eyes burned, ignoring the girls who darted their gazes away.
She lounged like a queen on her throne, legs crossed, skirt hitched high to flash black lace, back relaxed against her seat, hands folded atop her desk with regal ease.
Her dark bangs framed a sharp face, icy blue eyes glinting with a smug, knowing smirk that curled wider as he approached.
Her blouse hugged her full breasts, a button undone to tease the swell beneath, her foot bouncing with slow, confident rhythm.
"What did you do?" Lor asked, voice low, cutting like a blade through the tense air, his heart pounding with suspicion, a flicker of heat stirring from her presence, her scentâspicy, intoxicatingâhitting him like a spell.
Kiara blinked, her mock innocence a fleeting mask, then stood in a swift, fluid motion.
Before he could brace himself, she grabbed his collar, yanking him down with a force that stole his breath.
"What theâKiara?!" His body slammed against hers as she dropped back into her seat, his chest crushing her plush breasts through their uniforms, the warmth of her body searing through him.
His arms caught the deskâs edge, stopping him from tumbling into her lap, but her curves pressed firm against his ribs, her perfume flooding his senses, a wild pulse of desire sparking in his core.
He hissed, "What the fuck are youâ" His words choked off as she lifted his chin with two fingers, her nails grazing his skin, and leaned in to kiss him, right there in the middle of Class D.
The air shattered into glass, the classroom frozen in a stunned, breathless hushâno gasps, no whispers, just the weight of every eye on them.
Her lips were hot, messy, a chaotic clash of enthusiasm over finesse, her tongue darting without rhythm, like she was staking a claim with raw, desperate confidence.
Her grip on his neck was fierce, nails biting, locking him in, her breasts pressing harder, soft yet commanding, her breath shallow and wild.
Lor froze, heart hammering, his lips tingling under her assault, then tried to pull back, but Kiara wasnât done.
She pushed deeper, her kiss possessive, not passionate, claiming him as her body arched into his, breasts crushing against him.
Her heat radiated, a storm of defiance and desire, her tongue plunging, messy and unyielding.
Finally, she gasped, releasing him, her cheeks flushed with triumph, not shame, her eyes gleaming like sheâd won a war.
Lor reeled back an inch, panting, lips burning, mind scrambling.
He glanced aroundâevery girl whoâd ignored him all morning, every student whoâd dodged his gaze, stared now, frozen in disbelief.
Evaâs pen hung mid-air, her green eyes wide.
Oliviaâs jaw tightened, her gaze sharp.
Nellieâs book slipped, her freckled cheeks blazing.
Myra and Viora whispered, their eyes locked on him, shock mingling with something unspoken.
"Kiara," Lor said under his breath, voice raw, confused, almost breathless.
"What the hell was that? You humiliated me yesterday. You called me a loser. And now... youâre doing
this
in front of everyone?"
She leaned in, lips brushing his ear, her breath hot, voice a low, dark purr, seductive and smug.
"Yes Lor... Iâve warned everyone," she whispered, her words a velvet blade, "that if anyone dares speak to youâor look at you too long..."
She pulled back, eyes glittering like shards of ice, her breasts rising with a slow breath. "Iâll bury their head in the ground. Because Lor... you and I... are dating."
His breath caught, thoughts tumbling like leaves in a storm.
Dating? What the fuck.
When?!
His hazel eyes widened, searching her sharp face, her smirk unwavering. "Whyâ?"