MARKED BY THE ENEMY

REALIZATIONS..

Chapter 11— Realizations

The weekend came quickly, but Ashley couldn’t shake off what had happened in the gym. Every time she closed her eyes, she could still hear Devin’s voice: We’re just friends.

She tried to push the feelings aside, burying herself in study notes, but the sting lingered.

Meanwhile, across town, Devin lounged in Jace’s basement, the dim light of the TV flickering as the three friends played video games. Kai leaned back against the couch, munching on chips while Jace kept smirking at Devin.

“You’ve been quiet all night,” Jace said finally, tossing his controller down. “What’s up with you? Still brooding over Kika?”

Devin scoffed. “Please. Kika’s the last thing on my mind.”

Kai raised a brow. “Really? ‘Cause it looked to me like you were ready to fight the entire school when she messed with Ashley.”

Devin’s grip on his controller tightened. “I wasn’t going to let her humiliate someone like that. Anyone would’ve done the same.”

“Anyone?” Jace leaned forward, grinning. “Nah, man. You don’t throw your jacket over just anyone. You don’t walk them to the nurse’s office. And you definitely don’t glare at Kika like you were about to end her. You care about her.”

Kai chuckled. “More than you want to admit.”

Devin opened his mouth to argue, but the words stuck. Instead, memories of Ashley flashed in his mind—her shy smile when she tried to thank him, the way she concentrated while tutoring him, the warmth in her eyes even after he brushed her off.

It was annoying. Confusing. And yet… it felt different.

He ran a hand through his hair, muttering under his breath, “Maybe I do care.”

Jace smirked knowingly. “Finally. Took you long enough.”

“Shut up,” Devin muttered, but his lips twitched, almost forming a smile.

---

Later that night, Devin sat on his bed, phone in hand. He scrolled through his contacts until his thumb hovered over Ashley’s name. He hesitated, debating with himself.

Then, before he could overthink it, he hit call.

On the other side of town, Ashley nearly dropped her pencil when her phone buzzed. She stared at the screen, wide-eyed. Devin Park was calling her.

“H-hello?” she answered, trying to keep her voice steady.

“Hey,” his voice came through, a little rougher than usual. “Listen… I was thinking. About what happened at school. And…” He trailed off for a second, then cleared his throat. “You wanna hang out? Just you and me. Not tutoring. Not school. Just… a date.”

Ashley froze, her heart thundering in her chest. A date. Did he really just say that?

She bit her lip, fighting back a smile. “Yeah. I’d like that.”

There was a pause, and for once, she swore she heard the hint of a smile in his voice too.

“Good. Then it’s a date.”