His Broken Obsession

Chapter 3

ALORA

Dilora stands there staring at me awkwardly. Neither of us seems to know what to say, so I walk into the lecture hall, leaving her there.

It’s already crowded with faces excited for the start of the new chapter of their lives. I scan the rows for somewhere to sit that won’t draw too much attention. This is one place I don’t need it.

“Dilora!”

I look up to see a beautiful Asian girl waving from near the back with a wide grin on her face.

Her expression baffles me. Why will anyone be happy to see Dilora?

Beside me, Dilora waves back with a genuine smile. Has she really changed?

The Dilora I knew in high school always wore a smirk as she looked at people like they were less than dirt.

Her smile turns cautious when she faces me.

“Do you want to sit with us?” she asks quietly.

I open my mouth to decline, but she continues.

“I promise they’re different from my… friends in high school. They’re nice.”

I glance back at the girl, who is still smiling. She seems friendly enough from here.

“Okay.” I shrug.

Most of the other available seats are at the front, and I don’t want to sit there. Besides, I should be able to defend myself if they try to bully me.

I’m stronger now.

“Great!” Dilora exclaims, her smile widening.

I follow her up the steps to two empty seats beside the girl and a boy with long blonde hair. Both of them watch me with curiosity as we sit down.

“Who’s your friend, Di?” The girl who waved asks.

“Guys, this is Alora. We went to high school together. Alora, this is Hani and Harvey.”

Harvey has blue eyes and long lashes that make him look almost unfairly pretty. His light makeup also suits his features. Hani has warm brown hair and eyes and a full smile.

“It’s nice to meet you,” I say with an uncertain smile.

I really hope Dilora is telling the truth about them being nice.

“Baby girl, first of all, you are gorgeous.” Hani squeals, shuffling closer. “You have us all in a chokehold. Chocolate and caramel, ooh-wee.” She sings the last part, which I assume are lyrics from a song.

I haven’t noticed the attention until she mentions it. When I turn, it feels as though half the class is staring at me.

I feel goosebumps creep up my arms.

“It’s because it’s the first day. They’ll get bored soon.”

I hate how insecure I sound. I hate that I wanted the words to be lies, but I know better.

Dilora opens her mouth to respond, but a sudden commotion interrupts her. I look towards the front of the hall to find the cause.

There in front of the class, making their way up the stairs, are three boys who look like they would rather be anywhere else. They move with the kind of confidence I have to rehearse in front of a mirror before I execute it.

There is something both intriguing and frightening with how easily they command attention without a word. I’ve never seen them before, but I’m certain they belong to the top one percent.

And judging from their expression, they know exactly what people see when they look at them.

My eyes meet those of the boy in the middle. He has striking grey eyes that look like winter on a dull day. He carries himself like a king who owns the world.

Unhurried and precise.

His shirt is half-buttoned, and a ring gleams on his lower lip.

He looks rugged. Dangerous.

Something screams at me to look away. It warns me that he is dangerous and I need to avoid him, but I can’t.

It is almost like I am trapped under his gaze.

“Shit.”

Hani tugs my arm, forcing me to break the contact.

“What?” I ask, irritated.

The sharpness in my voice startles me. Why am I acting like this?

“You want to avoid those three.” She says. “They are bad news.”

Her goofy expression is gone. I look at Dilora and Harvey. Neither looks amused.

“Why?” I ask, suddenly uneasy.

“They are the Bastons. Well, the ones in the middle and left are.” Hani lowers her voice. “But Mason Richards is just as dangerous. Rumor has it he’s a psychopath. A real one.”

“But those are rumors, right?”

People make s**t up all the time about others they know nothing about. I knew firsthand about it.

My eyes stray to the back of the hall, where the boys have taken their seats. Dilora catches my hand, pulling my attention back.

Is it the name that scares them?

Baston Conglomerates practically runs the country. People have joked before that if the owners coughed, the economy would crumble, but that’s all I know about the family.

“They’re dangerous, Alora," Harvey says. “There are rumors about them being tied to the mafia and the underworld. You shouldn’t get involved with them.”

There’s an edge to his voice. His gaze flicks towards the boys, so briefly that I don’t think the others notice.

But hold on.

“Wait. Why are you guys telling me this? I don’t remember saying that I wanted to get involved with any of them.”

Hani looks at me with an unimpressed look. “Are you kidding me? You were practically looking at Kian with f**k-me eyes.” She deadpans.

My face flames up.

“That…that’s not true,” I sputter.

Where did she get that from?

“Come on. Lie and tell me that you weren’t staring at him,” Dilora challenges.

“Kian.” I say slowly, testing the name on my tongue instead of answering her question. I like the sound of it more than I should.

“He’s got her addicted,” Harvey chuckles, and that pushes me to pull myself together. I’m behaving ridiculously over a stranger, and it is not who I am.

“I’m not addicted to anyone, and I wasn’t looking at him with f**k-me eyes.” I huff, avoiding their gazes.

“Yes, you were,” they reply together.

“Just avoid him, okay? He’s trouble,” Dilora pleads. Her expression is serious now.

I want to. But something tells me it’s going to be a challenge.

“I’ll try,”

It’s the only answer I can give for now because I am already fighting the urge to look at him again.

I want more.