Chapter 7
1270 Words
Sophia was a mess—a complete, undeniable, walking disaster. And she knew it.
Every single day since that night at the park, her life had spiraled into chaos, all thanks to one man: Jayden. She didn’t know how or why, but somehow, he’d managed to plant himself in her brain like a stubborn weed, refusing to budge no matter how hard she tried to yank him out.
“Why, Jayden? Why? What kind of sorcery is this?” she muttered, pacing around her tiny apartment like a woman possessed.
It was ridiculous. She’d always prided herself on being calm, composed, and in control. She wasn’t the type to lose her head over a guy—she wasn’t that girl. Or so she thought.
Now? She couldn’t even eat a bowl of cereal without his stupidly perfect face popping into her head. She stared down at the spoon in her hand, scowling as if the milk and cornflakes had personally offended her.
“What are you looking at?” she snapped at the bowl, shoving a bite into her mouth. “This is all your fault, Jayden. You and your stupid, mesmerizing eyes and your ridiculous smirk. Who gave you the right to look that good, huh?”
Halfway through chewing, she froze, her eyes widening in horror. “Oh my God. I’m talking to my cereal. This is it. I’ve officially lost my mind.”
She slammed the spoon down and pushed the bowl away, crossing her arms like a child throwing a tantrum. “I used to be strong! I used to be an iron lady. Nothing could shake me. And now look at me! I can’t even eat in peace without imagining—” She stopped herself, blushing furiously. “No, no, no. We’re not thinking about that.”
Desperate for distraction, she grabbed her phone, determined to scroll mindlessly through social media. But as soon as she opened i********:, the algorithm betrayed her, bombarding her with pictures of couples holding hands, kissing, and looking ridiculously happy.
“Are you kidding me?!” she screeched, throwing the phone onto the couch like it had burned her. “The whole world is mocking me. This is a conspiracy.”
She flopped onto the couch, dramatically draping an arm over her face. “Why is this happening to me? Me, of all people! I’m supposed to be untouchable. Unshakable. And now…” She groaned, rolling onto her stomach and burying her face in the cushions. “Now I’m the girl who dreams about her professor and talks to her cereal. Fantastic. Just fantastic.”
Her phone buzzed, and she scrambled to grab it, her heart leaping in her chest. Was it him? Was it finally Jayden?
But no. It was Amelia, sending a quick update about her family emergency. Sophia tossed the phone back down with a sigh, disappointed yet relieved at the same time. If Jayden had texted her, what would she even say? “Hey, sorry I ran out on you after our...uh, ‘moment’? Also, I can’t stop thinking about you and it’s ruining my life.”
Yeah, that wasn’t happening.
As the week dragged on, her behavior only got worse. She’d zone out in the middle of class, staring at nothing while her mind replayed every detail of their time together. She’d burn her food because she was too busy daydreaming about his voice. She even walked into a lamppost once because she was distracted by a guy who vaguely resembled him.
By Friday, she was at her wit’s end. She sat on her bed, holding her head in her hands, muttering to herself. “This is insane. I need help. Professional help. Therapy, maybe. Or an exorcist. Yes, that’s it. Someone’s put a spell on me. That’s the only explanation.”
But deep down, she knew the truth. Jayden wasn’t just in her head—he was under her skin, in her heart, and no amount of denial was going to change that.
Still, admitting that would mean letting go of the control she’d clung to for so long. And that? That scared her more than anything. So instead, she lay back on her bed, staring at the ceiling, and whispered, “Get out of my head, Jayden. Please.
Days had passed since Jayden had sent those messages to Sophia, and still—nothing. Not a single response. Not even the courtesy of a "read" notification.
He sat on the edge of his sleek, minimalist bed, staring at his phone with a mixture of disbelief and frustration. The silence from her side was deafening, but what made it worse was the effect it was having on him.
Jayden ran his hand through his perfectly tousled hair, letting out a dry laugh. “Me, JD,” he muttered to himself, shaking his head. “A whole Mafia professor. The man who commands respect with a single glance. Girls flock to me like moths to a flame, yet…” He paused, narrowing his eyes at the phone in his hand.
“This little girl… this Sophia… she’s the one driving me insane.” He leaned back against the headboard, his lips quirking up into a disbelieving smile. “I can’t believe this. Imagine me. Me!”
He thought back to all the women he’d encountered in his life—countless admirers, women who couldn’t wait to catch his attention, who melted at a simple smirk. With just one look, they’d practically trip over themselves to get closer.
“But not her,” he mumbled, throwing his phone onto the nightstand like it had betrayed him. “No, not Sophia. She runs away instead. Runs! As if I’m some… some creep.” He laughed again, the sound bitter and self-deprecating.
Jayden stood and began pacing the length of his room, his frustration bubbling to the surface.
“Am I not handsome enough? No, that’s ridiculous. I know I am.” He ran a hand over his jawline, his reflection in the nearby mirror catching his eye. “Charming? Please. Women practically faint when I speak.” He smirked at himself but quickly frowned again.
“Then why?” he asked aloud, his voice echoing in the quiet room. “Why would she run away from me? Me of all people!”
The memory of her leaving the park flashed through his mind—the way she’d looked at him, vulnerable yet conflicted, before bolting like he was some kind of predator. The thought made him groan.
“God, it’s like I’m a walking curse to her.”
He flopped back onto the bed, his arm draped over his face. “This is insane,” he muttered. “She’s just… she’s just a girl. A student. There’s no reason I should be this… this bothered.”
But no matter how much he tried to rationalize it, the truth was undeniable. Sophia was in his head, and she wasn’t leaving anytime soon.
“Unbelievable,” he whispered to the empty room, a small laugh escaping despite himself. “For the first time in my life, I’m the one chasing. And I have no idea what to do about it.”
He closed his eyes, letting out a deep sigh. This was a first for him—a girl who didn’t fall at his feet, who didn’t giggle or blush or flirt back. A girl who could walk away, leaving him feeling like he wasn’t enough.
- Writer
