Chapter 132 

Chapter 132 

Kaiden slowly pulled back, his hands gentle as they brushed through my hair, fingertips tracing soft lines against my scalp as if trying to erase whatever darkness had gripped me. 

“Hey,” he whispered, voice low and reassuring. “Everything’s fine, okay? I’m here for you.” 

His gaze locked onto mine, searching my eyes for proof that I was really okay. And though the tight panic had loosened its claws around my throat, there were still traces–small, trembling remnants of vulnerability–that lingered in my chest like aftershocks: 

He saw it. 

His jaw clenched. 

Then, without warning, he turned sharply toward Clara. His voice came out as a growl, laced with fury. 

“What did you do to her?” 

I didn’t need a PhD in psychology to know Clara was intimidated. Her whole body stiffened, her lips parted in visible shock. 

“I… I didn’t-” 

“You are so dead—” 

“Kaiden!” I snapped, catching his arm before he could move closer to Clara and hurt her. “Kaiden.” My hand squeezed his bicep, firm but soft. “Look at 

me.” 

But he didn’t. His shoulders were tense, muscles wound tight, and his glare hadn’t budged from Clara–sharp, dangerous, ready to strike. His fury made the air around us feel like it was vibrating with heat. 

“Kaiden,” I said again, this time louder, more commanding. “I said, look at me.” 

A heavy breath left him through gritted teeth, and finally–finally–his eyes shifted to mine. They were stormy, full of something rare and raw, something that pleaded without words: Don’t stop me. Please, don’t stop me. I’ll kill her, I swear. 

And maybe, if Clara had hurt me in any way… I wouldn’t have stopped him. But she hadn’t. She’d helped me. She’d held me through the storm. 

“She’s my new friend,” I told him gently. “Clara didn’t do anything wrong. I was having a panic attack, and she helped me calm down. That’s it. It’s not like what you’re thinking, Kaiden. She was just… helping.” 

His brows knit together, and I felt the tension in his arm pulsing beneath my hand. 

“You sure?” he asked. “You’re not just lying to protect her?” 

“No. I’m not lying.” My voice held steady now. “And protecting bad people is the dumbest thing anyone can do. I learned that the hard way. But I’m not going to forget it.” 

Kaiden’s stance shifted. Some of the rage melted from his features, and with a sigh, he turned back to Clara. 

“I’m sorry,” he muttered. 

Clara snorted lightly–more disbelief than forgiveness in her tone. “Yeah. Whatever.” 

She didn’t wait for a response. She grabbed her bag and stormed out, like his apology had offended her more than the accusation. The classroom door clicked shut behind her with a decisive finality. 

To be fair, Clara had overreacted. 

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Chapter 132 

But… so had Kaiden. 

Why was I always surrounded by overreactors? 

With a weary sigh, I pressed my palms into my face and let out a long, exhausted breath, muffled by my hands. 

“Are you okay, introvert?” Kaiden tilted his head, trying to catch a glimpse of my face beneath my hands. 

I let out another frustrated sigh and slowly lowered my hands, meeting his eyes. “Am I okay?” My voice cracked with exasperation. “Dol look like I’m okay?” 

The words tumbled out before I could filter them, my frustration unraveling at full speed. “Why did you do that, Kaiden? Why did you overreact–and in public, no less? You even hugged me and called me love in front of Clara! How can you be so impulsive?” 

If he was offended by my outburst, he didn’t show it. His expression remained calm–concerned, even. All his focus was on me. 

“Do you think Clara’s going to cause problems for 

u?” he asked gently. “Should I… take care of it?” 

“Take care of it?” I repeated, blinking at him 

disbelief. “Like how? Expel her?” 

“I can do that,” he said with a simple nod, like he was offering to carry my books or buy me coffee–completely unaware of just how furious I was. 

“It was sarcasm, you stupid,” I snapped, throwing my hands up. “And don’t you dare do anything to her. Clara’s a good person. I’ll talk to her. I’m sure she’s not the problem–creating type. But you-“I pointed at him, brows raised “-you definitely are.” 

He didn’t flinch. Just waited, listening. 

“Haven’t we already talked about this?” I pressed on. “We agreed–five feet distance in public, no exceptions. So what the hell were you doing here?” 

“I…I missed you.” His voice softened like silk over stone. “I came here because I missed you.” 

He looked away, just for a second, rubbing the back of his neck with one hand. 

“I was just going to see you from outside, you know? Text you. Flirt a little bit from a safe distance and then leave. That was the plan. But then I saw you… like that. Vulnerable. In tears. Shaking like a leaf…” 

His voice faded into something raw and low, and my anger began to dissolve. Just like that. 

Because he wasn’t wrong. 

And neither was Clara. 

It had just been a stupid moment. A messed–up flash of misunderstanding. No one had deserved the blowback they got. 

I’d properly apologize to Clara later. 

But right now, Kaiden is here. Right now, it’s me who owes him an 

apology. 

I looked at him, suddenly aware of how cold my words had been, how sharp my tone. And yet, not once did he raise his voice. Not once did he snap back. He just took it–every thorn i threw–because he cared more about me than his pride. 

Guilt clenched in my chest like a fist. 

“I’m sorry,” I whispered, lips tugging downward. I reached out, threading my fingers through his and holding on. “I shouldn’t have talked to you like 

that.” 

“Yeah, you shouldn’t,” Kaiden muttered, turning his head slightly to the side, jaw tight but lips pressed in a faint, stubborn line. He was looking upset and cute both at the same time. His face screamed I’m upset but also adorable, so do something about it. 

2/3 

09:30 Tue, 17 Jun 

Chapter 132 

I glanced around–empty classroom, no footsteps in the hallway. We were alone. So, I stood on my toes and placed a quick kiss on his cheek. Tm sorry) I murmured, stepping back onto my heels. 

Then I clasped my hands together under my chin, batting my lashes in an exaggeratedly cute way. “Pleaaaase, forgive messe,” I whined. 

Kaiden wrapped his arm around my waist and yanked me closer like some mafia villain in a K–drama. “You think I’m gonna forgive you that easily?” he said, voice low, dangerous–comically so. “No, I won’t. You’re gonna get punished for this. Get ready, Introvert. Tonight is going to- 

We jumped apart–like guilty coworkers caught violating a strict no–romance–in–the–office policy–the moment voices echoed down the hallway. A group of students were approaching, their chatter loud, careless, and getting closer by the second. 

The second they stepped inside the classroom, their conversation halted mid–gossip. Their eyes darted–first to me, then to Kaiden, then to the very suspicious gap we had just created between us. Back and forth their gazes flicked, eyebrows inching upward with unspoken questions practically screaming from their faces. 

It was like watching them solve a scandal in real–time. 

Kaiden cleared his throat loudly and straightened up. “What the hell is wrong with your phone? Why aren’t you answering your calls?” he barked, snapping into fake–angry mode so fast I almost got confused–then realized it was an act and nearly snorted. 

I blinked. Right. Act normal. I nodded along, doing my best to play the innocent sister. 

“It’s on silent mode,” I replied. “So, I didn’t know about the calls. W–why? What happened?” 

“Your mom,” he said seriously, lifting his chin. “She was worried since she couldn’t reach you. Asked me to check on you. She wants you to call her. ASAP.” Then, like it wasn’t enough, he raised his index finger and shook it in my face like an old–school principal. “And don’t put your phone on silent mode.” 

He paused. Maybe he saw the subtle twitch in my lips–or realized just how cringey his performance was sounding. His hand lowered awkwardly and he 

put it on vibrate instead.” He pinched the bridge of his nose in embarrassment as he finished his sentence, realizing he’d only muttered, “You can… added more cringe to it. 

I couldn’t take it anymore. I pressed my lips together so tightly they hurt, my shoulders shaking from the effort not to burst out laughing. 

Thank you, God. Thank you for this fun show and his adorably embarrassed expression. Oh, I’m definitely gonna frame this moment in my memory for eternity. 

To be continued…