CHAPTER FIVE -A TEST OF THE HEARTS
1380 Words
Kyra hurried across the school courtyard where her friends, Sasha and Leah, were waiting under a tree.
“You’re late again,” Sasha teased.
“And looking different,” Leah added with a grin. “Where’d you get that dress?”
Kyra flushed. “Long story.”
“Mmh,” Sasha hummed suspiciously. “A handsome kind of story?”
“Shut up,” Kyra muttered, brushing past them as her heart raced.
A few meters away, Elisa and her clique — Luna and Skye — walked past, eyeing Kyra and her friends with thinly veiled contempt.
“Look who’s trying to look rich today,” Luna whispered.
Elisa didn’t reply. Her gaze lingered on Kyra’s dress — recognition flickering in her eyes. She’d seen that brand before. On Liam.
⸻
At the End of the Lecture
Liam walked down the hall, half-distracted by his phone, when Lucia appeared beside him. Her smile was warm but tense.
“Liam,” she said softly. “Can we talk?”
He sighed. “Lucia, I just had a long day—”
“Please,” she said quickly, her voice trembling slightly. “Just… a minute.”
He stopped. “What is it?”
Lucia looked at him with eyes that had been holding back for weeks. “I can’t keep pretending. I like you, Liam. More than I should.”
He stared at her blankly. “Lucia—”
“I know,” she said quickly. “You’re not looking for anything. You have your own world. But you’ve been the only one who ever made me feel seen.”
Liam’s expression softened, but only a little. “Lucia, you don’t have to—”
Before he could finish, Elisa appeared at the corner. “Oh,” she said, her tone sharp. “Am I interrupting something?”
Lucia’s lips pressed into a thin line. “Actually, we were just—”
“Leaving,” Liam said, cutting her off.
Lucia’s shoulders stiffened. She nodded and turned away, her face pale as she hurried off.
Elisa’s eyes followed her before turning back to Liam. “You okay?”
He looked at her for a second, unreadable. “Yeah.”
“You sure? You don’t look—”
“I said I’m fine.”
He brushed past her, leaving Elisa standing alone in the hallway, confusion and jealousy twisting inside her chest.
⸻
That night, the rain started again — soft, steady, unending.
Kyra sat by her window, staring out into the city lights, her thoughts returning to the stranger who’d splashed her that morning — and the strange warmth that lingered in her chest whenever she thought of his voice.
Somewhere across town, Liam lay awake too, staring at the ceiling, unable to explain why that girl’s defiant eyes refused to leave his mind.
Neither of them knew their worlds had just collided — and nothing would ever be the same again.
Next day
The sunlight spilled gently across the dorm room, catching the edges of Kyra’s desk and dancing over the soft curls of her hair. She sat by the window, chin resting on her palm, lost in thought — and for once, not about school or her grades.
Her heart fluttered like the birds outside. Every time her phone lit up, she hoped it was him.
Sasha dropped her bag onto the bed with a thud. “Okay, what’s up with you lately? You’ve been smiling like someone dropped a diamond ring in your cereal.”
Leah snorted. “Or maybe someone dropped a love in her heart.”
Kyra nearly choked on air. “What? No—what are you talking about?”
Sasha raised a brow. “Don’t even try to hide it. You’ve been different. Happier. Glowing, even.”
Leah leaned closer with a teasing grin. “Yeah. Our girl’s in love. I can smell it.”
Kyra’s cheeks flushed a soft pink. “You guys are being ridiculous.”
Sasha crossed her arms. “Fine, if we’re wrong, then you won’t mind proving it.”
Kyra’s eyes narrowed. “Proving what, exactly?”
Leah smirked. “Let’s see if your mystery guy actually cares. You’ll pretend to be sick, and if he shows up? Boom — true love confirmed.”
Kyra gasped. “That’s childish!”
“Maybe,” Sasha said with a shrug, “but real love doesn’t hide behind excuses. It shows up.”
Kyra hesitated. The idea was silly, but… deep down, she wanted to know. Would Liam really come?
Across town, the Gustaf prince was shirtless and distracted, searching his wardrobe for a clean jacket. The California air was warm, carrying a faint hint of salt from the sea beyond.
Jason lounged on the couch, pretending to scroll through his phone, though his eyes occasionally flicked toward Liam. The way he moved — calm, unbothered, every gesture full of quiet power — made it impossible not to notice.
But then Liam turned. “Jason.”
Jason froze. “Y-yeah?”
“Stop staring,” Liam said simply, amusement tugging at his mouth.
Jason flushed. “Sorry, I didn’t mean—”
Liam chuckled. “Relax. You just look like you’re about to paint me and besides you should have this thing of your for a girl huh.”
Jason laughed nervously. “Well, can you blame me? Even angels would envy your genetics.”
That made Liam actually laugh — the deep, rare kind of laugh that softened his usually guarded face.
But before the moment could linger, his phone rang. The name on the screen made his smile fade. Father.
He sighed and answered, putting it on loudspeaker.
“Liam.” King Gustaf’s voice filled the room, sharp and powerful. “You’ve ignored my calls again.”
“I’ve been busy,” Liam muttered, buttoning his shirt.
“Busy wasting your life?” the King snapped. “Do you think I don’t hear what happens there? You’re still reckless — parties, chaos, everything I sent you away to fix!”
Jason glanced at Liam, uneasy.
Liam clenched his jaw. “You sent me away to forget who I am, not fix me.”
“You are my son,” the King said, voice like steel. “And you will act like it.”
“Your son?” Liam’s tone turned cold. “You made that clear years ago — I’m just your royal disappointment.”
The line went silent for a moment, then clicked off.
Jason exhaled. “Wow. So that’s the King, huh?”
Liam didn’t answer right away. His hands trembled slightly as he set the phone down.
Jason sat forward, his voice softer now. “Liam… maybe it’s time you stop living like this. The drinking, the anger — it’s not you.”
Liam looked at him, eyes tired but thoughtful. “And what if I don’t know who I am anymore?”
“Then start remembering,” Jason said with a small smile. “You don’t need a crown to be better. Just… be you.”
Liam nodded slowly, his guard breaking just a little. “You know what, Jason? Maybe you’re right.”
Jason grinned. “I usually am.”
⸻
That night, in a dimly lit dorm room, Kyra lay curled under her blanket, phone clutched to her chest. Her “sickness” was part of the plan — Sasha’s silly test.
But each second without a call felt heavier than the last.
Leah peeked through the doorway. “Any word from him?”
Kyra shook her head softly. “No.”
Sasha frowned. “Maybe he’s busy.”
“Maybe,” Kyra whispered, though the ache in her chest said otherwise.
The room went silent except for the quiet hum of her phone on the table. One missed call appeared — Unknown Number.
She reached for it too late.
⸻
Across town, Liam stared at the same missed call on his own screen. Something about the number felt… familiar.
He held the phone for a long time, a strange pull in his chest he couldn’t explain.
Then, with a tired sigh, he placed it face down and walked away — not knowing that the heart waiting on the other end was slowly breaking.
- Writer
