Chapter 14

Drasa’s POV 

I don’t know when the words left my lips, but I didn’t regret saying them, not even a little.

My eyes fixed on him. I swallowed hard.

“What did you just say?” he asked, like he couldn’t believe I’d said that so bluntly.

“I said, let me be your acting girlfriend,” I repeated, not caring how it sounded.

If pretending to be his girlfriend would stop everyone from coming after me, then I wouldn’t hold back. I’d do it. I’d be his girlfriend.

“Do you mean it?” He looked surprised, and I nodded. He rubbed his forehead, still in shock, his eyes darting around the corner.

“You’re not going to change your words later, are you?” he asked, raising a brow.

My body trembled. I wasn’t sure if I could promise that, I just wanted the bullying to stop.

“If being your girlfriend will stop the bullying, then I won’t take back my words,” I said firmly, and Cassian suddenly burst out laughing.

My body stiffened. He didn’t look serious, and for some reason, I started to think maybe he’d been playing tricks on me. His expression made me doubt everything.

But I didn’t have time to dwell on it—he suddenly grabbed my wrist and pulled me forward, my head resting against his chest.

His scent filled my nostrils, and I felt my cheeks heat up. He ran his hand gently through my hair like I was a baby, his chin resting lightly on my head.

“When you think of taking back your words, remember this moment,” he said. “I sealed your words with this hug.” He pulled back a little, then pressed me against his chest again.

We stayed like that for a while until someone behind us cleared their throat.

I tried to pull away, but Cassian held me tightly before slowly releasing me. We turned to see his friend standing there, holding Cassian’s bag.

“Class is over. I thought I’d bring your bag,” Kai said, stretching it toward him.

“F*** you, bro!” Cassian snapped, grabbing the bag from him.

“I do you a favor and that’s what I get? F*** you too!” Kai shot back. His voice was sharp. I stood awkwardly between them, unsure of what to do.

“I think I should go now,” I muttered, turning quickly to leave. But before I could take a step, Cassian grabbed my arm and pulled me back.

“Where do you think you’re running off to?” he asked, pulling out his phone.

“I… I’m…” I stammered, unsure of what to say.

“Put your number in,” he said, holding out his phone.

Kai stared at me as if daring me to touch it.

Cassian noticed and shoved him lightly in the chest. “Get the f*** out of here, bro.” Kai stumbled back, almost falling, but Cassian didn’t seem to care.

“Here,” he said again, stretching the phone closer. I took it from him, typed in my number, and handed it back.

He looked at the number and then called it. My phone rang in my hand.

“Save my number,” he said. “I hate hearing ‘who’s this?’ on the phone.” He turned to leave, but after taking a few steps, he glanced back. “Be ready by 9 PM. You’ve got something to do.”

With that, he walked off.

I stared at his retreating figure, my mouth slightly open.

“What was that?” Kai’s voice brought me back to reality.

“What do you mean?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.

“I mean, you’re lucky. He barely talks to girls, not even Elara,” Kai said with a grin.

I frowned. What did he mean by not even Elara? Were they close?

“What about Elara?” I asked.

“You don’t need to know. Have a great day,” he replied, smiling as he walked away. My eyes followed him, but my mind was somewhere else.

I didn’t know what he meant, but his words stayed with me.

A notification popped up on my phone. I glanced at it—it was a message from the number Cassian used to call me.

“Save my number, dear acting girlfriend.”

I nearly burst into laughter but held myself back and typed a short reply:

“Okay.”

“You’re here,” a voice said, and I looked up to see Elara walking toward me. Her eyes scanned me from head to toe.

“How did it feel getting defended by the golden boy?” she asked, eyebrows raised.

“I’m not in the mood for this,” I said flatly.

“You must think highly of yourself if you believe I’m here to argue with you,” she scoffed.

“You’re already doing that,” I replied. “You’re responding to everything I say.”

She looked taken aback—and I loved it.

She stepped closer, her eyes locking with mine. “Stay away from Cassian,” she said seriously.

What the hell was she talking about? Was I holding him hostage or something?

“Do you see me holding him?” I asked, raising my hands. “These are my hands. Do they look like they’re holding Cassian?”

“You sure have a mouth today,” she said with a bitter smile. “Just watch your back.”

She turned and walked away without another word.

I sighed heavily. I didn’t even know who the hell she was. I hadn’t done anything to her, yet she despised me like I’d wronged her.

My phone buzzed again. I thought it was Cassian, but it was a message from Amelia:

“If you still need this job, return early today. The manager is already preparing your sack letter.”

How dare she message me after what she did?

And thinking about it, the photo she took of me last time, my face wasn’t even showing. She had blurred my face and tinted my hair.

What was she trying to do?