Chapter 2 : The Art Of Ruining
397 Words
Janu wasn’t one to back down from a challenge.
She had spent most of her life proving she didn’t need anyone—never asking for help, never letting people see when she was hurting. But Adrian? He had a way of pushing her buttons without even trying.
And worst of all, he knew it.
The next day, she walked into class, fully expecting him to ignore their little exchange from yesterday. That was what people usually did—move on, forget.
But not Adrian.
He was already in his seat at the back, flipping through his notebook lazily. As she passed his desk, she caught his smirk out of the corner of her eye.
“You’re late,” he murmured, just loud enough for her to hear.
Janu rolled her eyes. “The bell hasn’t even rung yet.”
Adrian tapped his watch. “By exactly thirty-seven seconds.”
She scoffed, sitting in her usual spot by the window. “You’re unbelievable.”
“Thank you.”
She turned to glare at him, but he had already gone back to his notebook, his smirk still in place. Infuriating.
But that was only the beginning.
Adrian made it a habit to get under her skin in the most subtle ways.
When she reached for a book in the library, he casually plucked it from the shelf before she could and held it just out of reach.
“Looking for this?” he asked, pretending to read the back cover.
Janu crossed her arms. “Give it back, Adrian.”
“Say please.”
She narrowed her eyes. “I’d rather walk to another library.”
He chuckled but handed it over. “Independent as always.”
At lunch, when she sat under the oak tree like she always did, Adrian showed up, plopping down beside her like he belonged there.
“This is my spot,” she told him, raising an eyebrow.
He leaned back against the tree, closing his eyes. “Not anymore.”
Janu groaned, but deep down, she found herself waiting for his next move.
She wasn’t sure when it happened, but somewhere between his teasing and her stubbornness, something changed.
Adrian wasn’t just a boy who liked to ruin her peace.
He was becoming the one person who made her heart race in a way she wasn’t ready for.
And worse? He knew it.
- Writer
