Second chance at his heart

Graduation and separation

Graduation day arrived too quickly.

One minute we were drowning in presentations and exams, and the next, the school courtyard was covered in white tents, flower arrangements, and proud parents pretending not to cry.

The air smelled like fresh roses and expensive perfume.

Students rushed everywhere in navy graduation robes, taking photos in clusters while teachers desperately tried to keep order.

Eva grabbed my arm the second I stepped out of the auditorium.

“You’re late,” she accused dramatically.

“I’m five minutes early.”

“For normal people. For graduation pictures? Late.”

Before I could argue, she dragged me toward the fountain where Ama and Dave were already waiting.

Ama adjusted her cap with a sigh. “This thing is ruining my hair.”

“You’ve said that six times,” Dave replied.

“And I’ll say it six more.”

Eva shoved a bouquet into my hands. White lilies. My favorite.

I blinked. “You bought these?”

“Obviously,” she said. “You survived senior year and emotional repression. Both deserve celebration.”

I laughed softly despite myself.

For a moment, everything felt light.

Normal.

Safe.

Then the crowd near the entrance shifted.

And Kai walked in.

My breath caught automatically, like my body still hadn’t learned how not to react to him.

He looked unfairly good in his graduation robe, tie slightly crooked beneath it, dark hair falling into his eyes as usual. Tolu walked beside him, talking loudly about an afterparty neither of them were likely to remember tomorrow.

Several girls immediately turned to stare.

Kai ignored all of them.

His eyes found mine almost instantly.

Dangerous.

Still dangerous.

“Uh-oh,” Eva muttered beside me.

“What?”

“The Mercer Lock-On.”

I frowned. “That’s not a thing.”

“It absolutely is. Look at him.”

I refused to.

Mostly because she was right.

Kai said something to Tolu before heading toward us instead.

Toward me.

“You clean up nice, Chen,” he said when he stopped in front of me.

I crossed my arms lightly. “You say that like I normally look homeless.”

“Not homeless.” His mouth curved slightly. “Just terrifying.”

Ama snorted.

Dave coughed suspiciously into his hand to hide a laugh.

Traitors.

“You’re late,” I told Kai.

“And yet I still made it before the principal started crying.”

“Mr. Wale cried during rehearsal too,” Eva added.

“That man loves emotional damage.”

Kai laughed softly.

And there it was again—that warmth in my chest I kept trying to kill.

I hated it.

A teacher called for graduates to line up by class section before I could say anything else.

Chaos exploded instantly.

Students shouted over each other while parents rushed forward with cameras.

Kai leaned slightly closer before stepping back.

“Save me a seat if they separate us alphabetically,” he said quietly.

I stared at him. “Why would I do that?”

“Because you like me.”

“I absolutely do not.”

His grin widened. “Sure, Chen.”

Then he disappeared into the crowd before I could argue.

Eva watched him leave with narrowed eyes.

“You’re in trouble.”

“I’m graduating,” I corrected.

“Same thing.”

---

The ceremony itself passed in a blur.

Speeches.

Applause.

Sweaty robes.

At some point, Mr. Wale started crying exactly like Eva predicted.

By the time they called my name, my hands were oddly steady.

“Lila Chen.”

Applause echoed through the auditorium as I crossed the stage.

I spotted Dad immediately near the front row, expression calm but proud.

That alone almost made me emotional.

In my first life, graduation had passed without meaning much to me. I’d spent most of it watching Kai from across the room instead of thinking about my own future.

This time felt different.

Like I was actually present inside my own life.

When Kai’s name was called moments later, the reaction was louder.

Of course it was.

Kai Mercer carried attention naturally, whether he wanted it or not.

He shook the principal’s hand with an easy confidence that made cameras flash instantly.

But halfway across the stage, he glanced toward the audience.

Toward me.

And smiled.

Small.

Real.

My stomach flipped traitorously.

Eva noticed immediately.

“Oh, you’re doomed,” she whispered.

I elbowed her.

Hard.

---

After the ceremony, families flooded the courtyard.

Dad found me near the fountain, pulling me into a rare hug.

“You did well,” he said quietly.

Emotion tightened unexpectedly in my throat.

“Thanks, Dad.”

“I mean it.” He pulled back slightly. “I know this year wasn’t easy.”

If only he knew.

Before I could answer, another voice cut in smoothly.

“Mr. Chen.”

Mr. Mercer approached with Kai beside him.

The atmosphere shifted instantly.

Even after all these years, the rivalry between our families still sat beneath every interaction like a loaded weapon.

“Mercer,” Dad greeted evenly.

“Congratulations to your daughter,” Mr. Mercer said politely. “Excellent presentation scores this semester.”

“Your son did well too.”

Kai looked deeply uncomfortable standing between them.

Good.

He deserved it for existing so attractively.

“Lila.”

I blinked, realizing Mr. Mercer was speaking to me directly now.

“Yes, sir?”

“I hear you’ll be joining Chen Group this summer.”

“I’ll be interning in marketing.”

“Hmm.” His sharp gaze flicked briefly toward Kai. “Competent young people are rare. Don’t waste your potential.”

It sounded almost like approval.

Almost.

Before I could respond, Kai spoke.

“She won’t.”

The confidence in his voice startled me.

Mr. Mercer looked mildly annoyed.

Dad looked mildly impressed.

Dangerous combination.

A second later, Tolu appeared out of nowhere and threw an arm around Kai’s shoulders.

“There you are,” he said loudly. “Your mom’s looking for you before the press steals you.”

“Press?” I repeated.

Tolu looked confused. “You didn’t know? Mercer Holdings invited media coverage.”

Of course they did.

Rich people really couldn’t do anything quietly.

Kai looked irritated suddenly. “I’ll deal with it later.”

But cameras were already turning toward us.

Instinctively, I stepped back.

Kai noticed immediately.

Something flickered across his expression.

Understanding.

Without another word, he shifted slightly, blocking most of the camera angle toward me.

Small gesture.

Small enough that nobody else would notice.

Except I did.

And somehow that made it worse.

---

That evening, the graduation afterparty took over half the city.

I didn’t go.

In my first life, I’d spent the entire night watching Kai dance with girls who looked effortless beside him.

I had no interest in repeating that experience.

Instead, I stayed home on the balcony outside my room, watching city lights blur beneath the summer heat.

My acceptance documents for Chen Group sat unopened beside me.

A fresh start.

A different future.

That was the point of all this, wasn’t it?

To stop revolving around Kai Mercer.

My phone buzzed suddenly.

Unknown Number.

I frowned before opening the message.

Kai:

You skipped the party.

I stared at the screen.

Me:

How did you get my number?

Kai:

I have resources.

Me:

That sounds illegal.

Kai:

Only slightly.

Despite myself, I smiled faintly.

Then another message appeared.

Kai:

Congrats today, by the way. You looked happy.

The words hit unexpectedly hard.

Happy.

I had been.

For once, my life hadn’t centered around him.

Maybe that was why he noticed.

Me:

Thanks. You did okay too.

Three dots appeared instantly.

Kai:

“Okay” is devastating. Recovering as we speak.

I rolled my eyes.

Then his next message came slower.

Kai:

I’m leaving tomorrow.

My chest tightened.

I hated how quickly it happened.

Me:

For Mercer Holdings training?

Kai:

Yeah. Dad’s sending me to the Singapore branch for six months.

Six months.

Good.

Distance was good.

Necessary.

So why did disappointment settle so heavily in my chest?

Kai:

You going to miss me, Chen?

I stared at the message for a long second before replying.

Me:

Probably not.

His response came immediately.

Kai:

Liar.

I didn’t answer after that.

Because maybe he was right.

---

The next morning, I told myself I wasn’t going to the airport.

That would have been insane.

Ridiculous.

Embarrassing.

So naturally, I ended up there anyway.

Not inside.

Just outside the terminal entrance with Eva, who looked deeply entertained by my bad decisions.

“You know this is basically a drama scene now,” she said, sipping iced coffee.

“I’m not here for him.”

“Sure.”

“I’m serious.”

“Lila, you’re wearing lip gloss.”

I glared at her.

Before she could continue bullying me, black SUVs pulled up near the entrance.

Mercer family security.

Of course.

Kai stepped out moments later wearing a black hoodie and carrying a duffel bag over one shoulder.

Even at an airport, he looked annoyingly cinematic.

Tolu followed behind him, talking loudly about parties again.

Then Kai looked up.

And saw me.

Everything else seemed to pause for half a second.

Surprise crossed his face first.

Then something warmer.

He walked over immediately.

“You came.”

“I was nearby.”

“At the airport.”

“Yes.”

“With lip gloss.”

I shot Eva a murderous look.

Traitor.

Kai laughed quietly.

God, I was going to miss that sound.

The realization hit too suddenly.

Too honestly.

And judging by the way his expression softened slightly—

he knew it too.

For a second, neither of us spoke.

Crowds moved around us.

Announcements echoed overhead.

The world kept moving.

But this moment felt strangely still.

Kai reached into his pocket suddenly before holding something out to me.

A small silver keychain.

Simple.

A tiny compass charm attached to it.

“What’s this?” I asked softly.

“So you don’t get lost without me.”

I looked up. “That’s arrogant.”

“Very.”

Carefully, I took it anyway.

His fingers brushed mine briefly.

Warm.

Dangerous.

“Six months,” he said quietly. “Don’t forget me while I’m gone.”

I swallowed.

“I’ll try.”

His gaze held mine for one long second before boarding announcements echoed again.

Tolu shouted something from behind him.

Kai stepped backward slowly.

Then once more before turning away.

I watched him disappear into the terminal without moving.

Eva sighed beside me.

“You are so doomed.”

This time…

I couldn’t argue with her.

---