Chapter 14
1148 Words
Kingsley Salvatore
I walked into the classroom five minutes early, marker already in hand, sleeves rolled up like always.
The room was silent as usual, her notebook open and laptop glowing. My eyes found her immediately.
Sara sat near the back again, pink top soft against the gray chair, blonde hair falling over one shoulder as she bent over her notebook. She was writing fast, focused, like the world didn’t exist outside those pages.
She no makeup today either—just that natural flush on her cheeks and the faint shadows under her eyes that made me want to ask if she’d slept.
I cleared my throat and started.
“Alright, let’s pick up where we left off yesterday. Today we’re diving into wireframing and basic UI logic. Grab your sketchpad or open Figma if you prefer digital.”
I turned to the board and began drawing...simple boxes, arrows, flow lines. I kept my voice steady, kept my explanations clear. But every few sentences I glanced back.
She was locked in, with her moving. Eyes narrowed in concentration. No distractions or fidgeting. But just pure focus.
It did something to me as I kept watching her like that. She wasn’t here to flirt or kill time. She was here to learn.
And damn if that didn’t make her even more beautiful.
I was mid-sentence explaining grid systems when Jaden—my assistant—walked in with a sheet of handout. He tripped and stumbled forward, and the metal clipboard in his hand caught the edge of my shirt.
Riiip.
The sound was loud. My eyes widened as I watched my short get exposed.
My shirt tore straight down the front—clean from collar to mid-chest. Buttons popped, fabric parted and cool air hit skin.
I looked down.
My chest was exposed....tattoos curling across my pecs, down my ribs, disappearing into the waistband of my jeans. The ink was dark, sharp, old stories etched in black and gray.
I sighed.
“Seriously, Jaden?”
He was already red, stammering. “Boss, I’m so—s**t, sorry—”
I waved him off. “It’s fine. Just… get a spare shirt from my office. And maybe don’t trip next time.”
But I felt her eyes on me.
I didn’t look at her right away, I want to make it worse, but when I finally glanced back in a casual way like I was checking on something important...our gazes locked.
Her cheeks were flushed in heat.
Her lips parted slightly. She swallowed hard and looked away fast.
I felt the corner of my mouth twitch.
Good to know I wasn’t the only one affected.
Class ended at 3:30 sharp.
I stayed at the front, wiping the board, giving her time to pack up.
She didn’t leave right away.
******
Sara felt disturbed about the text she has received, she felt like nothing was ever going to he easy as long as Tom controller her life.
She had changed her mind about Kingsley's request for the drive, she shrugged it off thinking it would be a terrible idea.. But seeing Emily post pictures praising Tom. She felt her blood boil and returned back inside to Kingsley.
She bit her lip. “About the drive… I can still go. If you want.”
I studied her face. “You sure? You looked like you had somewhere to be.”
“I do,” she admitted. “But it can wait a little longer.”
I nodded. “Then let’s go.”
We walked out together...side by side, not touching, but close enough that I could smell her shampoo. Vanilla, strawberry and something soft.
I drove with the windows down. The city noise mixed with wind. She stared out at the buildings sliding past, rose still tucked carefully in her bag.
I broke the silence first.
“So… hobbies. What do you do when you’re in my class?”
She laughed like surprised. “Cooking is my main hobby lately.”
“Wow...That must he really fun..." I said, keeping my eyes focused on the road.
She thought for a second. “I used to read. A lot. Romance mostly. The kind where the guy grovels in the end.” A tiny, bitter smile. “Guess I like fiction better than reality.”
I glanced at her. “And now?”
“Now I code...or at least I’m trying to. And… I visit my mom. That’s the only thing that feels real.”
I nodded. “Family is important. I can't wait to have mine too.” I said, before realizing what I just wait.
She stared at me like she could read my soul.
We pulled into a drive-thru—nothing fancy, just burgers and fries. She ordered a milkshake. Vanilla. I paid before she could protest.
We ate in the car—parked in the shade and engine off, The radio playing low, soft music that she hummed to. She was so beautiful.
She dipped a fry in her shake. “Don’t judge.”
“Never,” I said. “It’s genius.”
She smiled brightly as we talked more about hobbies, dreams. Stupid childhood stories. She laughed when I told her about the time I tried to code my first game and accidentally made a virus that crashed the school computer lab. She told me about the summer she spent trying to teach herself guitar and only learned three chords before giving up.
Time slipped away.
Eventually she checked her phone. Sigh.
“I should go soon.”
I started the car. “Where to?”
“Salvation Hospital.”
My hands tightened on the wheel.
“That’s… not close.”
“I know.” She looked out the window. “I visit my mom every chance I get. I don’t want her worrying.”
I drove in silence for a minute.
Then I said, “I’m coming in with you.”
She turned fast. “You don’t have to—”
“I want to.”
She studied me for a long time as if she was searching for clues of sanity. Then she nodded.
“Okay.”
The hospital parking lot was dark when we arrived. Streetlights flickered. Cold air rushed in when I opened my door.
She hesitated before getting out.
I walked around, opened her door, offered my hand.
She took it.
Her fingers were cold but I didn't let go.
We walked inside together—past the sliding doors, past the smell of antiseptic, past the security guard who barely looked up.
At the corner of my eye, I saw Tom McCarthy, entering a nurse's office. He didn't see Sara, as she was in front of me now, buried by my broad chest.
We stared at each other really hard. He snarled.
I disliked Tom, for making Sara so depressed. i could see it.
- Writer
