Edited VERSION
CHAPTER One
Leonardo Mansion
"Here you are, sis."
Kendral didn't turn immediately. She focused on slicing the vegetables neatly before glancing over her shoulder.
"You're back already? That was fast."
Kendrick leaned against the kitchen entrance, his gaze fixed on her.
"Yeah. I wasn't feeling it, so I left."
She raised a brow slightly. "Then you should be resting."
Instead of answering, he walked in, grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge, and drank it in one go.
"I decided to spend time with you instead."
Kendral scoffed. "You're crazy."
"I don't mind being crazy for you."
"Stop your delusions."
He stepped closer, stopping just behind her. She felt his presence immediately and paused for a brief second before continuing.
"Unfortunately," he murmured, "I'm not delusional."
Before she could move, his arms wrapped around her waist.
"Kendrick—"
"I missed you."
Her grip tightened slightly.
"Then let go."
"I can't."
His voice was calm, certain.
"This isn't right, Ken."
"Does it look like I care?"
That made her turn. Their faces were too close now, his eyes locked onto hers.
"If you don't mind," she said, steadying herself, "I'd like to continue what I was doing."
"Don't tell me you don't feel anything."
"Kendrick."
A warning.
His expression darkened slightly.
"Or are you still thinking about him?"
She frowned. "This again?"
"You're avoiding me because of him."
"That's not it."
"Then what is it?"
Silence stretched between them.
She placed her hand on his chest and pushed him back.
"This needs to stop."
"And you?" he asked quietly. "Can you stop?"
She didn't answer. Instead, she turned away.
"You should leave."
A soft chuckle escaped him.
"Nicely said."
"Ken!"
They both turned as Karin walked in, smiling.
"Oh, my cutie," she said, pecking Kendrick's cheek before turning to Kendral. "Our chef for the day."
"Don't encourage her," Kendrick muttered.
Karin made a face. "You still don't know how to compliment girls."
"Speaking of compliments," Kendrick added, "you look different today."
Karin narrowed her eyes. "Different?"
"Better."
"I've always been better."
Kendral laughed softly. "You two are impossible."
"We've been expecting a brother-in-law," Karin teased.
"Keep dreaming," Kendral replied.
"And who said she was single?"
Both girls paused.
Before anything could follow—
The doorbell rang.
"I'll get it," Kendral said quickly, walking out.
When she returned, everything felt normal again, like nothing had happened.
Dinner was calm.
Gem sat at the head of the table, tasting the food.
"Well?" Kendral asked.
"Don't force yourself if it's bad," Kendrick said.
"If you're not eating, be quiet," Gem replied coldly.
One by one, the others tried it.
"This is good," Karin admitted.
"Heavenly," Kenzie added.
"Then try it," Kendral said, looking at Kendrick.
He took a bite.
Then another.
"…Did you really make this?"
She smirked. "What do you think?"
He didn't answer. He just kept eating.
The next morning—
"Morning," Kendral and Kenzie said together.
"Morning," Gem replied.
Kendrick was already eating.
"Morning, pretties."
Kenzie answered.
Kendral didn't.
"You're ignoring me now?" he asked.
"I don't feel like talking."
"And why is that?"
She met his gaze.
"You like starting things you don't finish."
Kenzie choked slightly.
"Wait—what?"
Kendrick only smiled.
And Kendral looked away.
CHAPTER TWO
The ride to school was quiet.
Too quiet.
Kenzie kept glancing between Kendral and Kendrick, clearly trying to figure out what she had missed.
Kendral stared out the window, her thoughts tangled.
"You're unusually silent," Kendrick said from beside her.
She didn't respond.
"Kendral."
"What?"
His tone shifted slightly at her sharp reply, but he only leaned back.
"Still thinking about yesterday?"
Her fingers curled slightly on her lap.
"I said drop it."
"I don't remember agreeing to that."
Kenzie cleared her throat awkwardly. "Okay… what exactly is going on between you two?"
"Nothing," Kendral replied immediately.
"Does that look like nothing?" Kenzie shot back.
Kendrick chuckled softly.
"Stay out of it."
Kenzie frowned. "You're both acting weird."
"Mind your business," Kendral said, turning back to the window.
The car fell silent again.
At school, things didn't get any better.
Whispers followed Kendral the moment she stepped out.
Students turned.
Some stared.
Some smiled.
Some whispered behind their hands.
"The usual," Kenzie muttered.
Kendral ignored them.
She was used to it.
What she wasn't used to—
Was the way Kendrick didn't leave her side.
"You don't have to follow me around," she said under her breath.
"I'm not following you."
"You're literally beside me."
"Coincidence."
She stopped walking.
"So if I turn left right now?"
"I'll turn left too."
She stared at him.
"You're impossible."
"And you like that."
"No, I don't."
"Liar."
Before she could reply—
"Senior Kendrick!"
A girl rushed over, slightly out of breath.
Kendral stepped back immediately.
"Good morning," the girl said shyly.
Kendrick didn't even look at her.
"I'm busy."
The girl froze.
"Oh… I just wanted to—"
"I said I'm busy."
That was enough to send her away.
Kendral frowned slightly.
"You didn't have to be rude."
"I wasn't."
"You were."
He finally looked at her.
"I don't like being interrupted."
"That's not her fault."
"It is if she doesn't know when to stop."
Kendral sighed.
"You're unbelievable."
"And yet," he stepped closer, lowering his voice, "you're still here."
Her heartbeat skipped.
"Don't start."
"Then don't react."
She clenched her jaw and walked ahead.
Later that day—
Kendral sat in class, barely paying attention.
Her mind kept drifting.
To him.
To his words.
To the way things were changing.
Or maybe—
Had already changed.
"You're distracted."
She looked up.
A boy sat across from her, watching her calmly.
"And you are?" she asked.
He smiled slightly.
"Someone who's been watching for a while."
Her eyes narrowed.
"I don't like people who watch me."
"Then you won't like me much."
There was something off about him.
Something… calculated.
"I'm not interested."
"Not yet."
Before she could respond—
A hand slammed onto the desk.
Both of them looked up.
Kendrick.
His expression was calm.
Too calm.
"Problem?" he asked.
The boy smiled faintly.
"Not at all."
The tension between them was immediate.
Sharp. Silent. Dangerous.
Kendral exhaled slowly.
Thiss
Was exactly what she didn't need.
And somehow—
It felt like things were only just beginning.