Until The Rain Stops

The Boy Behind The Mask

Episode 9:

After the kiss, everything changed.

Xavier became softer around her and more open.

Not fully honest yet but trying.

And Amara started seeing parts of him nobody else saw.

Like how he secretly donated money to struggling students online or how he stayed awake all night helping Bella's younger brother get hospital treatment (Bella is Amara's best friend)

Or the fact that he hated being alone.

"The perfect boy image is fake," Xavier admitted one night while they sat inside his car.

Amara smiled softly.

"I already figured that out"

He looked at her carefully

"You're not scared of me?"

"I probably should be"

Xavier laughed quietly.

Then suddenly his expression darkened.

"There's something i still haven't told you"

Amara became curious

"What?"

Before he could answer, a loud crash shattered nearby. Both of them turned instantly. A motorcycle sped past and something landed directly on Xavier's windshield.

Another envelope.

Amara's hands shook as Xavier opened it. Inside was a single sentence.

Inside "You should've protected Valerie better"

"Who is Valerie?" Amara whispered.

Xavier looked completely frozen and for the first time since meeting him

Amara saw genuine fear in his eyes.

Xavier’s grip on the steering wheel tightened until his knuckles turned entirely white. The silence inside the car became suffocating, heavy with a dread Amara had never felt from him before.