My Forbidden Lover

CHAPTER 4 – The Misunderstanding

As Juen walked down the hallway, he glanced around, thinking Zackarya was still somewhere on campus.

The place was unusually quiet-students had already gone home, and the late afternoon light spilled through the windows, painting golden lines on the tiled floor.

That's when someone called out to him.

"Hey! Are you Juen?"

Juen turned, startled, to see a tall guy leaning casually against the wall - broad-shouldered, with sharp features and an easy smile.

"Uh-yes. I am."

"By the way, I'm Kaoro, Zackarya's best friend."

"Oh, hello! Nice to meet you!" Juen said politely, forcing a small smile.

Kaoro chuckled.

"What are you doing here, by the way?"

"Ah... I was looking for Zackarya."

Kaoro frowned slightly.

"What the-he went home a while ago. Looked pissed off too. You want me to give you a ride?"

"Ahh... No, it's fine! Tha-THANK YOU though!"

"No, really, it's okay," Kaoro insisted with a grin. "Your aunt and uncle know me. They won't mind."

Before Juen could protest further, Kaoro had already opened the car door for him, gesturing for him to get in.

Kaoro's POV

So this is the reason Zackarya's so damn protective, huh?

He's actually got someone this cute at home.

If he weren't Zack's little brother... f**k, why not?

He smirked to himself, glancing through the rear-view mirror at Juen, who was quietly scrolling on his phone.

But maybe I can change that. Maybe I'll win him over - even if it means going against Zackarya.

As the car rolled down the empty road, Kaoro couldn't help but steal glances at Juen's reflection in the mirror - the soft curve of his smile, the way his eyes seemed to light up whenever he thought no one was watching.

Juen's POV

He's kind of like Zackarya... but also not.

Maybe a little too confident, but somehow-gentler.

In his head, Juen started rating him, trying not to laugh at himself.

Height: 6'2 ✅

Sharp nose: ✅

Kissable lips: ✅

Fair skin: ✅

Deep voice: ✅

Personality: big question mark ❓

Maybe a 99.9... the last 0.1 depends if he's actually nice, he thought, smiling to himself.

Kaoro caught the little grin from the mirror and let out a soft laugh.

"Juen, we're here."

"Ah-thank you!" Juen said as he unbuckled his seatbelt.

At Zackarya's House

"Oh, Kaoro! What brings you here?" Zackarya's mother greeted warmly as she opened the door.

"Good evening, ma'am. I saw Juen walking alone, so I offered him a ride home."

"That's very kind of you. But where's Zackarya?" she asked, confused.

"He left right after class. He didn't mention where he was going."

Meanwhile - Zackarya's POV

As Zackarya drove down the main road, the irritation on his face was obvious. His jaw clenched, the steering wheel creaking under his grip.

"Damn it," he muttered. "I forgot Juen!"

Without thinking, he pressed down on the accelerator. The car roared forward, speeding past the traffic as his heart pounded faster. He knew it was reckless - he could lose his license for this - but the thought of Juen waiting alone somewhere made his chest tighten.

When he arrived back at campus, he jumped out of the car, scanning the area.

"Oh, man, you came back?" said Arthit, one of his classmates, raising a brow.

Zackarya shot him a glare so cold it could kill.

"Get lost. Now."

Arthit immediately backed off, sensing the storm behind Zackarya's eyes.

He stormed into the classroom where Juen was supposed to be, throwing open the door.

Everyone inside turned to look.

"Mr. Zackarya?" the professor said, startled. "Can I help you?"

"Where's Juen?" Zackarya demanded.

"Ah-his afternoon class was canceled," the teacher replied.

Margo, the daughter of one of his family's business partners, leaned forward in her seat.

"Someone picked him up earlier, while he was walking in the hallway," she added with a small, knowing smile.

Her voice was gentle, but her eyes flickered with envy. She had always admired Zackarya from afar - but his arrogance, his indifference, made him impossible to reach. Every gift she'd ever sent him ended up in the trash, discarded by his bodyguards before it even reached his hands.

Zackarya froze.

Someone... picked him up?

He turned sharply, storming back toward his car. His hands trembled slightly - from anger, jealousy, or fear, he wasn't sure.

As he slammed the car door shut, he muttered under his breath, his eyes dark and dangerous.

"No one touches what's mine."

"He's mine alone."

"Only mine."

And with that, Zackarya drove off, a mix of possessiveness and regret burning in his chest - unaware that the person who had taken Juen home... was his best friend.