Hate That I Love You

Chapter 14: Beneath the Surface

Chapter 14: Beneath the Surface

Kael Veyra’s POV

The next morning, I woke up with Sera’s words still ringing in my ears.

When he gets bored of you—and he will—don’t be surprised if you’re left standing in the wreckage.

I wasn’t sure which was more infuriating—the smug look on her face when she said it or the tiny voice in the back of my mind that wondered if she might be right.

“Earth to Kael,” Livia said, waving a hand in front of my face. “You’ve been staring at your cereal for five minutes. What’s up?”

“Nothing,” I said, stabbing a spoon into the bowl with more force than necessary.

Livia raised an eyebrow. “Liar. Is this about Draven?”

“No,” I lied, even though we both knew it was. “It’s about Sera. She cornered me again yesterday.”

Livia groaned. “Of course she did. What did she say this time?”

I hesitated, then told her about the confrontation in the library. By the time I finished, Livia’s eyes were practically shooting daggers.

“That b***h,” she muttered. “She’s just pissed because Draven actually likes you and not her.”

“Does he, though?” I asked, my voice quieter than I intended. “Or is this just a game to him?”

“Kael, come on. You’ve seen the way he looks at you. That’s not a game.”

I wanted to believe her. But after everything Sera had said, I wasn’t so sure.

When I walked into class later that day, the tension was palpable. People were whispering, glancing at me, and shooting me looks that ranged from curious to outright hostile. It didn’t take long to figure out why.

There, plastered across the student-run gossip page, was a post that made my blood run cold. This one featured a staged picture of me and Draven walking out of the library, holding hands—with Sera in the background, dramatically walking away, her face turned just enough to show what looked like tears. The caption was what really caught my attention:

Kael Veyra: Blackthorn’s New Mean Girl? Rumor has it she’s not just stealing Sera Langford’s ex—she’s breaking her heart and humiliating her in front of the whole school while she’s at it.

To make it worse, the comments section was flooded with messages sympathizing with Sera:

Poor Sera. First, she loses Draven, and now Kael’s turning everyone against her?

Wow, Kael. Ever heard of girl code?

Sera doesn’t deserve this. She’s been through enough.

“Unbelievable,” I muttered under my breath, shoving my phone back into my bag.

As I made my way to my seat, I caught sight of Sera sitting near the front of the room, her lips curling into a triumphant smile. I clenched my jaw and forced myself to look away, but my hands were trembling with barely suppressed anger.

“Kael, calm down,” Draven said quietly as I slid into the seat beside him. “You okay?”

“Fine,” I lied.

He didn’t look convinced, but he didn’t push it—not yet, anyway.

After class, I tried to slip out unnoticed, but Draven was already waiting for me in the hallway.

“Hey,” he said, falling into step beside me. “Talk to me. What the hell’s going on?”

“Nothing to talk about?” I snapped, my voice rising despite myself. “You’ve seen that post, right? They’re ripping me apart out there, Draven, and it’s because of you!”

“Kael.”

I spun around to face him, my chest heaving. “Why are they coming at me like this? What the hell did I even do, Draven? You’re the one who’s been bugging me since day one, but somehow, I’m the villain here!”

Draven looked taken aback, his eyes narrowing. “It’s not your fault. You know that, right? They’re just jealous.”

“Jealous?” I laughed bitterly. “No, they hate me, and you’re acting like it’s no big deal. Well, it’s a big f*****g deal to me!”

“Kael—”

“And what am I even to you, Draven?” I cut him off, my voice trembling with frustration and something I didn’t want to name. “What the f**k is this?” I gestured between us, feeling my pulse racing. “Because right now, it feels like I’m just collateral damage in whatever twisted game you’re playing.”

He reached out and gently took my hand, lacing his fingers through mine—a move so unexpected, so intimate, that it left me momentarily speechless.

Draven sighed, stepping closer. “It’s not a game, Kael. I’m here because I want to be. With you.”

His words caught me off guard, and for a moment, I just stared at him, trying to figure out if he was serious or just saying what he thought I wanted to hear.

My heart skipped a beat, and for the first time in days, I felt the tiniest flicker of hope.

But before I could say anything, a voice interrupted us.

“Well, isn’t this adorable.”

We both turned to see Sera standing a few feet away, her arms crossed and a cruel smile playing on her lips.

“Enjoying tearing people down, Kael?” she sneered, loud enough for the nearby students to hear. “You really think people won’t see through you eventually?”

I could feel the weight of everyone’s eyes on me, but I refused to back down.

“Funny coming from you,” I shot back, my voice sharp. “You’ve been playing the victim since day one, Sera. But we both know you’re the one who pulls the strings around here.”

Sera’s eyes narrowed, and for a moment, I thought she might actually lunge at me. But then she smiled—a cold, calculating smile that sent a chill down my spine.

“Careful, Kael,” Sera said softly, her smile razor-sharp.

"Your fifteen minutes of fame are almost up. And when they are, you’ll be the one left out in the cold."

I crossed my arms and tilted my head, giving her a slow, mocking smile. “You’re just mad because, for once, people are seeing through your little act. Guess your damsel-in-distress routine isn’t working as well as it used to.”

With that, she turned and walked away, leaving us standing there in the middle of the hallway, surrounded by curious onlookers.