Fated To Find You

Chapter 7

The weekend had arrived, and Jasmine kept her promise to study at Radley's house. He had prepared everything meticulously to welcome her. As she entered, the scent of vanilla candles filled the air, and the soft glow of fairy lights created a cozy atmosphere. Radley had laid out textbooks on the table, ready to guide her through the complex subjects they needed to tackle.

As he settled down next to her, their shoulders brushed lightly, sending a jolt of electricity through him. Radley couldn't help but notice how Jasmine looked today. She wore her usual t-shirt and shorts, her hair pulled up in a carefree ponytail that framed her delicate face perfectly. Her laughter rang out as she joked about a difficult math problem, and Radley felt his heart race.

At that moment, he had an overwhelming urge to lean in and kiss her, to taste those full lips that seemed to invite him closer. But he held back, conflicted by his feelings. Memories of Jasmine chatting animatedly with other boys flashed through his mind, and a dark cloud of jealousy settled over him. Why did it bother him so much? Radley prided himself on being composed and aloof, yet here he was, grappling with emotions he hadn't anticipated.

“Radley, what do you think?”

Jasmine's voice pulled him from his thoughts, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. She pointed at a particularly tricky equation, her brow furrowed in concentration.

He shifted, trying to mask his internal turmoil.

“Just simplify it. Start by isolating the variable.”

His tone was steady, but he felt a twinge of frustration. Why couldn’t she see how special she was? Why did she have to share her laughter with anyone else but him?

As they worked through the problems, Jasmine leaned closer, their bodies nearly touching. Radley could feel the warmth radiating from her, and it was all he could do to focus on the task at hand. Each time she smiled at him, it felt like a gentle push and pull, drawing him in deeper. He wanted to be the reason for that smile, to be the one she turned to for everything.

“Do you ever think about what comes next after school?”

Jasmine asked suddenly, her tone shifting to something more serious.

“What do you want to do?”

Radley paused, caught off guard. He had his plans, but the truth was, they felt hollow without her.

“I don’t know. Maybe something in business,”

He replied, trying to keep his voice neutral.

Jasmine nodded, but there was a flicker of something in her eyes doubt? Disappointment? He couldn’t quite place it, but it gnawed at him.

“You’ll be great at whatever you choose,”

She said softly, and for a moment, he saw the admiration in her gaze.

But that admiration wasn’t enough to quell his insecurities. What if she found someone else who could make her happier? Someone more open, more carefree? The thought twisted in his chest, igniting his possessiveness.

“Jasmine,”

He said, his voice low.

“I need to tell you something.”

His heart raced as he gathered his thoughts. This was it. This was the moment to confront his feelings.

“What is it?”

She looked at him, her expression a mixture of curiosity and concern.

“I… I don’t want you to be with anyone else. I want you to be here, with me.”

The confession hung in the air between them, heavy and charged. Jasmine’s eyes widened, surprise etched on her face.

For a heartbeat, they were locked in an unspoken understanding, the world around them fading away. Radley held his breath, waiting for her response, afraid of what it might be.