The soft golden light of dawn seeped through the curtains, pulling her from sleep. She stretched lazily, her dark curls spilling over her pillow, a bright smile already forming on her lips. Something about today felt special, though she couldn't quite place why.
Sliding out of bed, she hurried through her morning routine, her warm brown eyes gleaming with excitement. As she stepped into the kitchen, the usual scene greeted her—her brother sitting at the table, sipping his coffee, and him standing near the counter, arms crossed, his expression unreadable.
The family friend.
He was always like this—cold, distant, his sharp features set in an emotionless mask. But not with her.
His dark eyes flicked up when she walked in, lingering on her for a moment before returning to his untouched cup of coffee.
"You're up early," her brother muttered, scrolling through his phone.
She ignored him, grabbing a piece of toast before flashing a quick glance at the family friend. "Morning," she said lightly.
He said nothing, but his gaze softened—just a little. Only she would notice.
Her brother scoffed. "He's not gonna answer you. He doesn't do mornings."
Still, she didn't mind. She was used to his silence. She knew him better than anyone.
At School
The school hallways buzzed with life—laughter, chatter, footsteps echoing off the walls. She moved through the crowd with ease until a familiar voice called out.
"There you are!"
She turned just in time to be pulled into a tight hug.
Her best friend.
"Where have you been? I've been waiting for you all morning!" her friend huffed, pulling back with a dramatic pout.
She laughed. "I was just—"
"—daydreaming again," her friend finished, rolling her eyes. "Typical."
The two of them walked side by side, falling into their usual rhythm. Whatever excitement had been bubbling in her chest that morning hadn't faded. If anything, it had only grown stronger.
But she still didn't know why.
And deep down, she couldn't shake the feeling that today would be different.
As they stepped into the classroom, the usual chatter filled the air. Students settled into their seats, some still groggy from the early morning, others already lost in conversation.
She walked with confidence, her best friend beside her, the two of them heading toward their usual seats near the window.
But just as she was about to sit down—
"Hey, beautiful."
Her smile faded instantly.
Him.
The boy who had been bothering her for weeks. Always finding some excuse to talk to her, always trying to get her attention. And she had perfected the art of ignoring him.
She barely spared him a glance, sliding into her seat as if he didn't exist.
"Oh, come on," he continued, leaning against her desk with an exaggerated sigh. "Why do you keep pretending I'm not here?"
Her best friend rolled her eyes. "Because she doesn't want to talk to you."
The boy smirked. "I wasn't talking to you."
Her friend crossed her arms. "And she isn't talking to you either. Move."
The girl bit the inside of her cheek, resisting the urge to smile. Her best friend always had her back.
But the boy wasn't done. He leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. "I don't get it. You talk to everyone else, but me? Nothing. What did I do?"
She finally met his gaze, her expression unreadable. Then, with a calmness that made his smirk falter, she said—
"You exist."
His friends burst into laughter, and even her best friend let out a surprised gasp before grinning. The boy, however, stood there, momentarily speechless.
Before he could recover, the teacher walked in, signaling the start of class. He had no choice but to slink back to his seat, and she turned away, satisfied.
Maybe today really was going to be a good day.
The final bell rang, signaling the end of the school day. Students poured into the hallways, chattering excitedly about their plans, but she took her time packing her things.
Her best friend leaned against the desk. "You sure you don't want to walk home together today?"
She shook her head, slinging her bag over her shoulder. "He's picking me up."
Her friend raised an eyebrow. "Your ice-cold bodyguard?"
She sighed. "He's not my bodyguard."
"He acts like one."
She didn't argue. There was no point. No one understood the way he was with her—how his sharp edges softened just enough when it came to her.
As they stepped outside, her eyes immediately found him.
He stood near the school gate, leaning against his sleek black car, his posture relaxed yet somehow unapproachable. His sharp features remained impassive as his gaze swept over the crowd, ignoring everyone—until his eyes landed on her.
For a brief second, something unreadable flickered across his face. Then, just as quickly, it was gone.
Her best friend nudged her. "Yep. Total bodyguard."
She rolled her eyes but couldn't stop the small smile tugging at her lips. "I'll see you tomorrow."
With that, she walked toward him.
The second she was close enough, he pulled open the car door without a word. She slid inside, and he shut it behind her before moving to the driver's seat.
The car ride was silent at first. It always was.
She glanced at him, his hands gripping the wheel, his expression unreadable. "Long day?" she asked lightly.
He didn't answer immediately, but then— "You didn't tell me about that boy."
Her stomach dropped. "What?"
His jaw tightened, eyes still on the road. "The one bothering you. He was too close today."
She blinked. "You were watching?"
Silence.
She sighed. "It's nothing. I handle it."
His fingers flexed slightly against the wheel. "Next time, I will."
She turned to him fully now, studying his profile. His tone was calm, but she could feel the underlying threat in his words.
He was always cold. But when it came to her, he was something else entirely.
And she still didn't know why.