HE SAID I WAS JUST A BET

Chapter 88: Between Fear And Desire

Maria spent the rest of the day trying to avoid Daniel, but it was impossible. Every corner she turned, every classroom she entered, it felt like he was there. Sometimes he didn’t speak—just watched her with that unreadable look that made her heart uneasy.

By evening, Maria escaped to the school garden. It was the one place she thought she could breathe, surrounded by quiet and flowers that didn’t judge her choices. She sat on the stone bench, hugging her knees, and whispered to herself, “This is madness. I can’t let him get to me.”

“Too late for that.”

The voice jolted her. She turned sharply to find Daniel leaning against a tree, hands tucked into his pockets like he’d been waiting for her all along.

“Do you ever stop following me?” she snapped, though her pulse betrayed her irritation by racing faster.

Daniel’s lips quirked into a faint smile, but his eyes were serious. “No. Not when you’re running away from what we both feel.”

Maria shook her head. “You don’t get it. Even if… even if I liked you, it doesn’t erase what happened. The bet—”

“I told you,” Daniel cut in firmly, stepping closer. “It started as a stupid game, but it’s not anymore. Not with you. I was an i***t, Maria, but I’m not playing now. You’re the one thing I’ve never wanted to lose.”

Her chest tightened. The rawness in his tone made her defenses wobble. But fear pressed harder. “And what happens when everyone finds out? When they remind me I was just a dare? Do you know how humiliating that is?”

For the first time, Daniel’s mask cracked. His voice dropped, rough and unguarded. “Then let them talk. I don’t care about them—I care about you. Tell me you don’t feel anything, and I’ll walk away. Right now.”

Maria froze. She opened her mouth, but no words came. The silence stretched between them, heavy, fragile, dangerous.

Because the truth was, she couldn’t tell him that. Not when her heart was already betraying her with every beat.