KAYLA'S POV:
we got off the bus and started walking in the direction I had given him as my home
we stopped at the street corner
I turned to him, forcing a small smile
Thank you for the lessons…
You're welcome…
an awkward silence settled between us, heavy yet strangely warm
So… see you tomorrow then…
he nodded and started walking away
as he went farther, I let out a deep breath I didn't realize I'd been holding and looked around for a cab to go home
suddenly my eyes widened in shock as I saw him standing on the other side of the road
Theo.
my heart dropped to my stomach
Did he recognize me?
No… no way… that's impossible…
he started walking toward me
panic shot through my veins
I quickly looked away and began walking in the opposite direction
he called my name
Kayla!
I froze for half a second… then started walking faster
he began running
I ran too
after a few seconds he caught up to me and grabbed my wrist
Kayla! Why are you running away from me?
I pulled my hand back and forced an annoyed expression
Kayla? Who Kayla? I'm Ciara Lorren Rosewood. Mind your own business, man…
his eyes narrowed dangerously
Ciara Lorren Rosewood? So that's the name of this avatar?
before I could react, he grabbed both my arms, not hurting me but firm enough that I couldn't escape
You think you can fool me? Nope. I know these eyes. I've known you since childhood. Even if you got plastic surgery from Korea, I would still recognize you. So stop this act now… and explain.
my throat went dry
Okay… okay… let's go to the car…
inside the car
the silence was suffocating
he kept staring at me like he would actually devour me alive if I didn't speak soon
I swallowed hard
I'm in love…
his brows furrowed immediately
In what?
In love!
my voice came out louder than I expected
That's why I'm doing all of this…
I gestured to myself....my disguise, my clothes, my whole fake identity
Working part-time despite being a rich girl… just to see him every day… to be with him even for a couple of hours… to know him closely… that's why…
his expression shifted from anger to disbelief
How long have you had a crush on him?
my chest tightened
Since… childhood…
his head snapped toward me
Since when?!
Childhood…
his jaw clenched
Tell me everything.
his voice was calm now, too calm....which was even scarier
And who else knows about this?
Only Annie…
his eyes widened
Annie knew?!
Yeah…
I looked down at my hands
I told her to spy on him… she gave me the address of his workplace…
silence filled the car again
I could literally hear his breathing change
slow… heavy… processing
I didn't dare look at him