Chapter 8 - Bruised Knuckles
568 Words
The atmosphere at Saint Valencia University had changed.
Whispers followed Ophelia everywhere she went.
Not just because of Liam.
But because people were starting to notice a pattern.
Whenever she was around him...
Liam Castillo looked different.
Quieter.
Less dangerous.
More human.
Ophelia hated that people were watching her like she was some kind of story they could rewrite.
"I feel like I'm in a zoo," she muttered while walking beside Elise Navarro.
Elise sighed. "Welcome to dating the campus devil."
"I'm not dating him."
"Sure."
Ophelia groaned again.
Meanwhile, across campus, something darker was unfolding.
---
Loud shouting echoed behind the old sports building.
Theo Ramirez slammed a locker shut while glaring at a group of older students.
"Say that again," Theo warned.
One of the rival racers smirked. "You Castillo guys are getting soft."
Ethan Velasco stepped forward immediately. "You want trouble?"
The tension snapped instantly.
A punch flew.
Then another.
Chaos erupted.
And standing in the center-
Liam Castillo didn't even look surprised.
He exhaled slowly.
"I told you not to start fights here," he muttered.
But it was already too late.
The fight escalated fast.
Students gathered around in shock as fists collided and bodies hit the ground.
Liam moved through the chaos like it was nothing-blocking, striking, pulling Theo back before things got worse.
Then-
A hard hit caught him off guard.
Liam stumbled slightly.
For the first time, he actually hissed in pain.
His knuckles were bleeding again.
The fight ended only when teachers started shouting in the distance.
The rival group ran.
Silence returned.
Theo wiped blood from his lip. "They started it."
Liam didn't respond.
He just flexed his hand slightly, watching the blood drip from his knuckles.
"i***t," he muttered-not sure if he meant Theo or himself.
---
Later that afternoon, Ophelia was walking past the infirmary when she stopped.
The door was slightly open.
Inside-
Liam sat on the bed, shirt sleeves rolled up, cleaning his own cuts with alcohol.
He didn't notice her at first.
Or maybe he did.
But he didn't say anything.
Ophelia hesitated... then knocked softly.
He looked up.
Their eyes met.
For a second, neither spoke.
Then Ophelia walked in quietly.
"You're always like this?" she asked.
Liam raised an eyebrow. "Like what?"
"Getting hurt."
"That's not new."
Ophelia sighed and took the cotton from his hand without asking.
"I'll do it."
Liam stared at her.
"You don't have to."
"I know."
But she didn't stop.
She gently cleaned the blood from his knuckles, careful not to press too hard.
The room became quiet.
Too quiet.
Close.
Liam watched her the entire time.
Not like before.
Not cold.
Not distant.
Just... focused.
At one point, Ophelia accidentally brushed his fingers.
She froze slightly.
So did he.
Neither pulled away immediately.
The air between them felt heavier than it should've.
"You should stop fighting," she said quietly.
Liam exhaled. "You should stop worrying about me."
"I'm not worried."
A pause.
Then Liam leaned slightly closer.
"Liar."
Ophelia's breath caught for half a second.
She quickly finished wrapping his hand and stepped back.
"There," she said, forcing normality back into her voice. "Try not to break it again."
Liam looked at his bandaged knuckles.
Then at her.
"I'll try," he said softly.
Not a promise.
But something close.
Outside the infirmary window, the world kept moving.
But inside-
Something between them had quietly shifted again.
- Writer
