Chapter 14: Mine
345 Words
The teacher called it a “collaborative research presentation.” But everyone in class knew it meant: group project hell.
Five teams.
Five leaders.
And I was one of them.
When she read off the names of the chosen leaders, I wasn’t surprised. I just looked around, already calculating. Evren was at the back, arms crossed, head down, headphones in—but not playing anything. I knew that posture by now.
He was listening.
The teacher let each of us pick our group members one by one.
First leader called a name. Then another. The third. The fourth.
Each time, I scanned their eyes—watching their flicker toward the back row.
Watching their gaze catch on him.
And I glared.
Not loudly.
Not obviously.
Just enough.
A subtle, sharp warning.
Mine.
When the fourth leader hesitated, looked toward Evren like he might speak his name—
I smiled.
Not the friendly kind.
The kind you give right before someone steps somewhere dangerous.
He looked away.
Smart boy.
Then the teacher nodded to me.
“Your turn,” she said.
I stood up slowly, letting my hand drift along the desk, eyes sweeping the class. Casual. Unbothered.
Then I looked right at him.
And said his name.
“Evren.”
The class fell into a quiet rustle—half reactions, half surprise.
He looked up.
Eyes sharp.
Confused.
But he didn’t speak.
He just blinked.
Tensed.
Like he was wondering if he’d heard me right.
The teacher wrote his name under mine on the board. Ink sealing fate.
And for the first time since the resort, he had to look at me.
Because now?
He was mine.
For the next two weeks.
In every meeting.
Every shared note.
Every eye contact that will last one beat too long.
He shifted in his seat. Looked down. Said nothing.
But I caught the way his hand flexed in his lap, like he was already bracing himself for what I’d do with this.
He should be.
Because we both know this isn’t about academics.
It never was.
- Writer
