The Guy In 4B Has My Heart

Chapter Two

Chapter Two

‘I can’t move out,’ I whispered.

‘Why not?’ Tivere whispered back.

I sat on my bed. ‘I can't afford to leave.’

I cleared my throat and added, ‘My mother did not want me living off-campus in the first place. I used all my money to pay for this apartment.’

‘I can make room for you in my hostel. I’ll talk to my roommates. Maybe you could stay for a month?’

Tivere looked at me, but I looked away, around my space; my heart trembled at the thought of giving it up.

‘That's the thing. I have always wanted a place of my own. I want to stay off-campus.’

‘Eloho, you are not thinking.’

‘I could just avoid him. Go to school, come home and lock myself inside.’

‘Gosh, don’t be stubborn, Eloho!’

But I wasn’t budging.

‘I need this.’ I held eye contact with Tivere.

For the first time, I get to be free. I have a space to call mine without anyone breathing down my neck.

‘Living on campus is not so bad.’

‘Tivere. If there is an issue, you will be the first to know.’

She walked up to me. ‘Eloho, you are not hearing me. The black fangs.’ She looked to the wall and then back at me, her voice dropping lower. ‘They kill. They cause all sorts of atrocities. Kase, he moves all the time. Because of clashes with their rival, the Blue River. I don’t want you in the crossfire.’

‘If anything happens, I will come running to you immediately.’

Tivere’s face fell.

‘Your rice is getting cold.’

She sighed.

‘I promise it will be school and indoors! Until my lease expires.’

‘No association.’

‘Promise.’

And so it was for about a week.

Until one afternoon I returned home drained from four hours of lectures and was slurping my noodles when someone knocked on my door.

I froze.

Tiptoed to the door and peeped through the hole.

My heart stopped.

Kase!

What?

What am I going to do?

Act like I am not home.

The knock came again. Firm but gentle, invading my thoughts.

I jumped.

He knows I am home.

With shaky hands, I opened the door.

Then I realised my mouth was still full of noodles.

I swallowed.

Kase was in a black hoodie paired with black jeans, his hands in his pockets.

I blinked.

The past days flashed through my mind. I had lived quietly like a mouse, literally tiptoeing past his door.

I was certain he had no reason to remember me.

There had been no head-banging music since that day, which I was grateful for.

But now… he is here, and I don’t know why.

I opened my mouth to offer him an apology for… anything.

But he beat me to it.

‘I’m sorry for disturbing your afternoon.’

Hold up! Kase is apologising to ME! Why is he apologising?

‘I am organising a get-together for my birthday. At Frills Bar. Tonight. It's just across the street. Come through?’

His words stunned me into silence!

Worse, Kase topped up his invitation with the brightest smile.

But I was still butt-stiff.

Why invite me though?

We have never really spoken.

We just share a wall.

‘Sur—sure!’

What else could I say?

‘Great.’ He turned, went to his door, and freed his hand from his pocket. I spotted a dark scar running across his hand.

I wondered how he'd gotten it.

A knife? Or perhaps a bottle?

He turned his key and opened his door. Before shutting it, he said, ‘See you around.’

I stood with my door ajar for an extra five seconds before finally shutting it.

I grabbed my phone and ran into my bathroom. Securely shut the door and dialled Tivere.

‘Hello?’ She sounded like she had been roused from sleep. ‘I am in class.’

‘Oh! Okay. We’ll talk later.’

I sat on my toilet seat, alone with my thoughts.

‘If I don’t go, he will probably kill me.’

Kill you? Did we just speak to the same man? He doesn’t even look like a killer.

I blew out a breath noisily to shut the voice in my head.

I stood in front of the mirror.

My eyes were ringed with dark circles, but my freshly done cornrows framed my face nicely. Even the sweat on my skin had given me a glow.

Huh.

I looked… good.

The true question was, why was this making me so happy?

You think he is cute.

‘Oh my God, shut up!’

But why does he have to be dangerous, though? He seems so proper.

If he ditched the hoodie and embraced a more corporate look, he could pass for the best-behaved student.

What if the whole secret society talk is just that— talk?

All week I have kept my ears pinned for any talk about Black Fangs and Blue River. Nothing.

I even went further, scouring the internet and the library. Nothing.

Decided to leave it alone and just live, but now I have an invitation on my table.

So what’s it going to be?