Chapter 36: Someone Is Watching
1643 Words
Kael's POV
I stared at the picture on my phone until my eyes began to hurt. Milky. Standing beside me.
Laughing. The picture had been taken tonight. That meant whoever sent it had been close, too close. I looked around the street again.
Nothing. No suspicious car, no person standing beneath a streetlight, nothing but darkness. I quickly shoved my phone into my pocket and continued walking. But my mind was racing.
Someone had been watching us.Someone knew where Milky lived. Someone knew about me. And somehow, they knew exactly what would get under my skin.
Milky.
I hated that thought.
By the time I got home, I had already made up my mind. I wasn't going to tell her about the picture. Not yet. If I told her, she'd panic. And I didn't want her looking over her shoulder every five seconds because of me. I walked into the house and found Adrienne sitting on the couch.
He looked up.
“Finally.”
“What are you doing here?”
“Waiting for you.”
“For what?”
“You asked me to find something out.” I stopped. He held up his phone.
“I did some digging.” I walked toward him.
“What did you find?”
“Not much.” I frowned.
“Then why are you smiling?”
“Because I found something.” I sat beside him.
“Talk.” He turned his phone toward me.
“I asked around.”
“And?”
“Apparently someone has been asking questions about your little friend.” My jaw tightened.
“Who?”
“That's the problem. Nobody knows.”
“What kind of questions?”
“Where she lives. Who she hangs out with. Whether she comes to school early or late.” I clenched my fists.
“Who told you this?”
“A girl from our class.”
“Does she know the person?”
“No.”
“Then find someone who does.” Adrienne stared at me. “Kael, what's going on?”
“Nothing.”
“That's bullshit.” I stood up.
“Just keep looking.” He sighed.
“Fine.” I turned toward the stairs.
“Kael?” I looked back. “You're seriously worried about her.” I said nothing. He smiled knowingly.
“Interesting.”
“Don't start.”
“I didn't say anything.”
“You were about to.” He laughed.
“Goodnight, lover boy.” I threw a cushion at him.
“Shut up.” He dodged it, laughing. I walked upstairs. But his words stayed with me.
Lover boy.
Ridiculous.
I wasn't in love with Milky. I couldn't be. She was my tutor, my nerdy, annoying tutor.
That was all. At least, that's what I kept telling myself.
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Akira's POV
I barely slept. Every time I closed my eyes, I remembered the note, then Kael's words.
Because I'm here.
I didn't know why those four words kept replaying in my head. Maybe because I had never had anyone say something like that to me. I had always taken care of myself. Mom worked hard. I studied. I stayed out of trouble. I didn't need anyone protecting me. At least, that's what I told myself. But lately, Kael has made me question that.
My phone buzzed. I grabbed it immediately. A message from Camila.
Camila: Are you awake?
I smiled.
Me: Yes.
Camila: Good. I need to tell you something tomorrow.
Me: What?
She didn't respond. I frowned.
Me: Camila?
Nothing.
I placed my phone beside me.
Five minutes passed. Then ten. Nothing.
I eventually fell asleep.
>>>>>>>
The next morning, I found Camila waiting for me at school. She grabbed my hand immediately.
“We need to talk.”
“What happened?”
“Not here.” She pulled me toward an empty corridor. I looked at her suspiciously.
“What is it?” She took a deep breath.
“Someone asked me about you.” My heart stopped.
“What?”
“Yesterday.”
“Who?”
“I don't know.”
“What did they ask?” She lowered her voice.
“They asked if you and Kael were close.” I swallowed.
“What did you say?”
“I said no.”
“Good.”
“But Akira...”
“What?” She looked nervous.
“They already knew about your tutoring.” My blood ran cold.
“What?”
“They didn't ask if you were tutoring him.” She paused.
“They asked how long you've been tutoring him.” I couldn't breathe. Nobody was supposed to know.
Nobody. Not even Camila knew everything. I looked around the hallway. “Who was it?”
“I told you, I don't know.”
“What did they look like?”
“Tall. Dark hoodie. I didn't see the face properly.” My hands started trembling.
“Akira?”
“I'm fine.”
“You're not.” I forced myself to breathe. Someone knew. Someone knew about Kael and me. But how?
>>>>>>>
Kael's POV
I noticed Milky immediately.She was standing with Camila, something was wrong. She looked pale. I wanted to walk over. But students were everywhere. I couldn't risk anyone noticing. So I stayed back. Then Justin walked past me. He stopped.
“Morning.”
“Morning.” His eyes moved toward Milky.
“You okay?” I looked at him.
“Why wouldn't she be?” He shrugged.
“Just asking.”
I studied him. There was something about the way he said it. Too casual, too calculated. “You seem interested in her.” He laughed.
“She's my friend.”
“She's everyone's friend?”
“What's that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing.” He smiled. “See you around.” He walked away. I watched him. Something wasn't right. But I didn't have proof. And until I did, there was nothing I could do.
>>>>>>>
Akira's POV
By lunchtime, I couldn't concentrate, I kept looking over my shoulder. Every time someone walked behind me, my heart jumped. Camila tried to distract me. It didn't work..Then I saw Kael. He was walking toward us. His eyes immediately found mine. He noticed something was wrong. Of course he did.
“Milky.” I looked at him.
“Hmm?”
“You're pale.”
“I'm fine.”
“You're lying again.” Camila looked between us.
“I'll leave you two.” My eyes widened.
“Camila!” She was already walking away. Kael stood in front of me.
“What happened?”
“Nothing.”
“Tell me.”
“I can't.”.His expression hardened.
“Why?”
“Because it's complicated.”
“Does it have anything to do with the threats?” I looked around.
“How did you—”
“Answer me.” I lowered my voice.
“Someone knows.”
“Knows what?” I hesitated.
“About us.” His eyes narrowed.
“What about us?”
“The tutoring.” For a second, he said nothing. Then his jaw clenched. “Who?”
“I don't know.”
“Milky.”
“I really don't.” He looked around the hallway.
“Did someone ask you?”
“Camila was asked.”
“Who?”
“She doesn't know.” He rubbed his jaw.
“Okay.”
“Okay?”
“Yeah.”
“You're not angry?”
“I am.”
“With me?”
“No.” He looked directly into my eyes.
“With whoever is doing this.” My heart skipped.
“Kael…” “Don't worry.”
“You said that yesterday.”
“And I'm saying it again.” He stepped closer. “I'll handle it.” I shook my head. “No. Please don't.”
“Why?”
“Because I'm scared something will happen to you.” He went silent. His eyes softened. “You're scared for me?” I nodded. He looked away for a moment. Then he smiled faintly. “That's new.”
“Kael.”
“Relax.” He turned to leave. Then stopped.
“Milky?”
“Yes?”
“Don't walk home alone today.” I frowned.
“Why?”
“Just don't.”
“Are you going to walk me?” He looked at me.
“I have practice.”
“Oh.”
“But I'll make sure you get home safely.” Before I could ask how, he walked away. I watched him disappear into the crowd. For the first time, I realized something. Kael wasn't pretending anymore, He was genuinely worried about me. And somehow, that made me even more afraid.
>>>>>>>
Kael's POV
After school, I stood outside the gym waiting for Adrienne. He eventually appeared. “I found something.” I immediately looked at him.
“What?” He handed me his phone.
“There was a security camera near the back gate.” I looked at the screen. The footage showed someone standing near the school fence. A dark hoodie, face hidden. I watched the figure carefully. Then the person turned slightly. Something caught my attention.
A bracelet. A thin black bracelet with a silver symbol. I had seen that bracelet before. My stomach dropped. “Pause it.” Adrienne froze the video. I leaned closer. There was no doubt. I knew that bracelet. I had seen it on someone at school. Someone I never thought would have anything to do with Milky. I slowly looked at Adrienne.
“Do you know who wears this?” He shook his head. “No.” I stared at the screen.
I knew.
And suddenly, everything felt much bigger than I had imagined. Because the person threatening Milky… Wasn't a stranger. They were already inside our circle.
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