A Secret That Bind Us

Chapter 5-The Girl Who Wasn't Listening

Ethan POV

The classroom buzzed with low chatter, chairs scraping lightly against the floor as students settled in. Ethan leaned back in his seat, one arm draped lazily over the chair beside him, gaze half-focused on the front.

Half-focused.

Because the other half?

Was on her.

Belle sat near the window, exactly where he expected. Same posture. Same quiet presence. Same headphones tucked neatly over her ears like the world outside didn’t exist.

Like they didn’t exist.

Ethan’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“She does that everywhere…” he muttered under his breath.

The lecturer’s voice cut through the room, sharp and commanding.

“Settle down.”

Silence followed almost immediately.

A middle-aged man with a strict posture and even stricter expression, he turned to the board and began writing, chalk scratching loudly against the surface.

Ethan tried—he really did—to focus.

But his gaze kept drifting.

Back to her.

She hadn’t moved.

Hadn’t looked up.

Hadn’t even pretended to care.

Her pen rested loosely in her hand, notebook open… blank.

But her fingers tapped lightly against the page.

To a rhythm.

Not the lecture.

Her music.

Ethan exhaled slowly, something unreadable flickering across his face.

“She’s not even trying…”

Minutes passed.

The lecture grew more intense, the teacher pacing slowly as he explained, occasionally turning to ask questions.

Students answered.

Some confidently.

Some not.

Then—

The teacher stopped.

His eyes scanned the room.

And landed on her.

Ethan noticed instantly.

Of course he did.

“You.”

The room stilled slightly.

No response.

The teacher’s expression darkened.

“You with the headphones.”

A few students shifted, glancing toward Belle.

Still—

Nothing.

Ethan’s lips twitched faintly.

“This should be interesting…”

The teacher took a step forward, voice sharper now.

“Remove them.”

That—

That got her attention.

Slowly, Belle reached up and slid one side of her headphones down.

Not rushed.

Not nervous.

Just… calm.

Her eyes lifted.

“What?” she asked softly.

A few students exchanged looks.

Ethan leaned forward slightly, interest sharpening.

The teacher crossed his arms.

“Since you seem too busy to listen, maybe you can tell us the answer to this.”

He turned, scribbling something quickly on the board before stepping aside.

A complex question.

The kind that made students avoid eye contact.

The kind that required actual attention.

A quiet wave of anticipation spread across the room.

People shifted.

Some smirked.

Others waited.

Ethan’s gaze flicked from the board back to Belle.

“She’s definitely not getting this…”

Belle stared at the board for a moment.

Just a moment.

Then—

She answered.

Calm.

Clear.

Precise.

Every word exactly where it needed to be.

No hesitation.

No uncertainty.

The room went completely silent.

Ethan blinked once.

“…what?”

The teacher didn’t react immediately either.

Like he was processing.

Then—

“…correct.”

A ripple moved through the class.

Whispers.

Confusion.

Surprise.

Ethan straightened fully now, eyes locked on her.

That wasn’t luck.

That wasn’t guessing.

She knew.

Belle didn’t look proud.

Didn’t look relieved.

Didn’t look anything.

She just gave a small nod, like it didn’t matter.

Then she added, quietly—

“You explained it ten minutes ago.”

The teacher’s brows pulled together.

“You weren’t even listening.”

Belle tilted her head slightly.

A tiny pause.

Then—

“I was.”

Before he could respond—

She stood up.

Just like that.

The sound of her chair scraping lightly against the floor echoed in the silent room.

Ethan’s eyes followed her every movement.

“What is she doing now…”

She picked up her bag.

Slid her headphones fully back on.

And started walking.

The teacher’s voice cut through sharply—

“Where do you think you’re going?”

Belle didn’t stop.

Didn’t turn.

Her voice came out soft.

“I understand the lesson.”

A pause.

Then—

“I don’t need to stay.”

And just like that—

She walked out.

The door closed quietly behind her.

Silence.

Heavy.

Stunned.

Then—

Whispers exploded across the room.

“Did you see that?”

“How did she—?”

“She wasn’t even paying attention!”

Ethan didn’t speak.

Didn’t move.

His gaze stayed on the door.

Unblinking.

Something shifted in his chest again.

Stronger this time.

Not irritation.

Not curiosity.

Something deeper.

More dangerous.

A slow smile crept onto his lips.

“…interesting.”

He leaned back in his chair again, but this time—

There was nothing lazy about him.

Nothing unfocused.

His mind was sharp.

Locked in.

On her.

“The girl who doesn’t listen…”

His voice dropped, almost thoughtful.

“But hears everything.”

His eyes darkened slightly.

“Yeah…”

A quiet chuckle left him.

“I’m definitely not letting that go.”

For the first time—

Ethan wasn’t just watching her.

He was studying her.

And that?

That was far more dangerous.

Belle POV

The hallway was quieter.

Better.

Belle walked slowly, her music filling the space around her, wrapping her in something familiar.

Something safe.

The classroom—

The people—

The attention—

All of it faded quickly.

Like it didn’t matter.

Like it never did.

Her steps remained steady, but her grip on her bag tightened slightly.

Not because of the question.

Not because of the teacher.

But because—

For a moment—

She had felt it.

Eyes.

Watching her.

Not like the others.

Not curious.

Not judgmental.

Focused.

Sharp.

Persistent.

She exhaled softly.

“…annoying.”

Her fingers brushed lightly against her headphones, pressing them closer.

Turning the volume up.

Drowning it out.

Drowning him out.

Because whatever that was—

Whatever he wanted—

She didn’t have the energy for it.

Didn’t have the space.

Didn’t have the heart.

The music swelled again.

Familiar lyrics.

Familiar pain.

Her ex’s voice filled her ears once more.

And just like that—

Everything else disappeared.

Again.

Just how she liked it.

Just how she needed it.

Just how she wanted it.

She was lost.

Lost in the music

Lost in the lyrics

Her body, mind and soul wasn't in the reality

It was elsewhere.

Wishing.

Gnashing in silence.

And somehow it has come to make her feel at peace

Listening to this particular playlist has made her feel at ease.

She wasn't surprised about this.

She was used to this feeling, the voices and she was so damn okay with it.

Or.....