[ZACH]
Kissing Daphne in front of everyone felt like a reward; like proof that she was mine. But something in her gaze unsettled me. She wouldn’t look me in the eyes.
The countdown echoed around us, voices filled with excitement, yet she seemed distant.
"Hey…" I murmured, gently holding her in place. "Are you okay?"
She swallowed hard, finally meeting my eyes, and that’s when I saw it. Her eyes glistening under the flashing lights.
"Daphne… are you crying?"
Her lips pressed into a thin line.
"Zach… I… I don’t think I deserve a kiss from you."
My heart clenched. The countdown had reached nine, and all the couples around us were already kissing.
"Why?" I searched her face, my voice quieter now. Was she trying to tell me she didn’t want to kiss me? Or did she want to kiss Ryker inste
