Chapter 8 - Stay at my place

Lyra

“Who’s that from?”

Mirae’s voice snapped me out of my daze. I flinched. My fingers instinctively tried to lock my phone screen, but it was too late. She was already leaning over, eyes squinting like a detective sniffing out a secret.

“No one,” I said quickly, voice too sharp, too defensive.

She raised a brow, unconvinced. “I know it’s from Nick.”

I froze. My mouth opened, but nothing came out. The way she said it, so casually, yet with certainty, made sweat bead along my hairline.

She smirked, leaning against the wall “He seems serious about you. This is getting more and more interesting.”

I looked away, biting my lower lip.

I didn’t say anything. I couldn’t. Because the truth was, I didn’t trust him. Nick was dangerous in the way fire was: warm and tempting… but only if you didn’t get too close. And I was already starting to burn.

Just then, a voice cut through the hallway like a whip.

“What are you girls still doing? Follow me now!”

We both jerked, startled. The dorm head’s sharp tone echoed against the walls like a warning siren.

Mirae quickly stood, grabbing my hand. “Let’s go,” she whispered.

As we followed her down the cold hallway, our footsteps muffled and tense, Mirae glanced sideways at me. Her grip tightened. “I’m scared,” she said under her breath. “I hope things go smoothly for us.”

I didn’t respond. My throat was too tight.

Inside her cramped office, the dorm head adjusted her glasses with a sigh so heavy it felt like a judgment on its own. Without a word, she pushed two forms toward us.

“Sign.”

We obeyed, hands trembling. My pen barely touched the paper before the weight of it all crashed down on me again.

“If you don’t bring your parents tomorrow,” she snapped, her eyes piercing right through me, “you’ll face your punishment. Now leave!”

Her voice boomed like a final verdict.

Mirae and I didn’t need to be told twice, we bolted.

Back in our room, I couldn't sit still. My feet kept pacing, heart pounding like a war drum.

“Calm down,” Mirae said softly, perching on the edge of her bed. “We’ll find a way.”

I shook my head, laughing bitterly. “What way? There’s no way. If I lose my scholarship... that’s it for me.”

“You won’t,” she said quickly, but her voice lacked its usual fire.

“Tell me how, Mirae. My stepdad won’t come here..you know that.”

She hesitated for a second, then her face lit up with a stubborn kind of hope. “Just try. Call him. Now.”

“What?” I stared at her like she’d lost her mind.

“Call him!” she said again, this time grabbing my phone before I could protest. Her fingers dialed quickly, like she was afraid I’d snatch it back.

It rang.

Once.

Twice, then connected to voicemail.

I grabbed it back before she could try again. “Never mind,” I said, my voice small. “I know him. He won’t pick.”

But Mirae wasn’t giving up. She lunged forward and hit redial.

It rang again, longer this time, and then, finally, his voice crackled through the line.

“What do I owe this call, big woman?”

His voice made my stomach drop. Cold. Mocking. The same tone I’d heard the night I walked out and swore never to come back.

Mirae leaned in, whispering, “Now, speak!”

I swallowed. My fingers tightened around the phone.

“I need your presence in school,” I said, voice shaking. Every syllable felt like glass in my throat.

He laughed. A long, cruel laugh.

“Really? So now you need my help? Wow. When you walked out of my house like you owned the world, I thought that was the end. I’ll only come to your school on one condition: marry the man I picked for you.”

My body went still. The blood drained from my face.

I didn’t respond. I just ended the call.

“I told you,” I said numbly. “It’s no use.” I sank to the floor, pressing my palms against my forehead. My whole body shook.

Mirae stared at me in silence. Then, carefully, she said, “What if…”

“What if what?” I snapped, my voice breaking. “You’re the reason we got in trouble in the first place! If you didn’t drag me out—”

Her face fell.

She stared at me like I’d slapped her, eyes wide with hurt.

And instantly, regret hit me like a slap to the chest.

“I’m sorry,” I said quickly, standing up, my hands reaching for her. But she was already walking away.

“Mirae—wait!”

She didn’t.

She slipped into her bed, pulled the covers over her head.

I chased after her, kneeling beside her bed, grabbing her hand.

“I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean to yell. I’m just…God, I’m not thinking straight. I’m scared. I don’t have anyone, and I can’t lose this scholarship. It’s all I have.”

Her hand stayed limp in mine for a moment.

Then, slowly, she squeezed back.

“I get it,” she whispered. “You’re not alone, Lyra. We’ll figure something out.” Mirae whispered, her arms wrapping around me tightly. Her hug was warm, reassuring, and a little shaky, like she was trying to be strong for both of us.

“For now, let’s sleep. It’s already late,” she added gently, pulling back and brushing her hair behind her ear.

I nodded, even though sleep felt like an impossible task right now.

I turned slowly and entered mine, closing it behind me with a soft click.

The room was still and silent. I dropped my bag and collapsed onto the bed, phone still in hand.

Nick’s message was still glowing on the screen like it was taunting me.

“Three days… to accept being my woman.”

My eyes lingered on the words, heart thudding hard in my chest.

His woman?

Why would someone like him want someone like me? He could have anyone, and yet he was suddenly acting like I mattered. Was it a joke? A twisted game? Was he playing with me the way guys like him always did?

I rolled over, groaning, pressing my face into the pillow.

This is insane.

After a while, I sat up and went over to my bag. That’s when I saw it again, his watch.

I pulled it out gently. It was expensive-looking, heavy in my palm, gleaming under the dim light. I was sure he hadn’t noticed it was missing. A guy like Nick probably had ten more just like it.

I stared at it, heart pounding. I needed money for my medication. The pills were almost finished, and I didn’t have a refill.

Maybe I could sell it. He wouldn’t miss it.

Guilt twisted in my chest as I tucked it back into my bag carefully, burying it under some books.

I laid back on my bed again, hoping for sleep to come, but it didn’t. Instead, my mind went rogue.

The kiss.

His lips on mine.

Why did it keep replaying in my head like some damn love song? Why couldn’t I stop thinking about him?

I groaned and kicked the covers, tossing and turning.

“Get it together, Lyra,” I muttered, slapping my cheeks lightly. “Snap out of it.”

Men are the same. All of them. Even if I did want to be with someone, it definitely wouldn’t be Nick.

Just then, a knock snapped me out of my thoughts.

I blinked.

Then again. A bit louder this time.

“Open up, Lyra.”

Mirae’s voice.

I glanced at my phone. 12:04 a.m. I hadn’t even slept for an hour.

I groaned as I dragged myself out of bed, hair a mess, eyes still heavy. I shuffled to the door, unlocking it with one eye half open.

“What is it?” I croaked.

Her face lit up like a Christmas tree. “You’re not going to believe this,” she whispered excitedly, bouncing slightly on her feet. “The dorm mistress agreed to forgive us!”

I blinked, not fully processing.

“What?” My brows furrowed. “You’re serious?”

“She said someone spoke to her. Someone important.”

My heart skipped.

“Who?” I asked, more awake now.

“She said to come to her office. Let’s go!” Mirae grabbed my hand before I could argue, and we dashed down the hall in our pajamas like two kids running from trouble.

When we got to the office and the door creaked open, I stopped dead in my tracks.

There he was.

Nick.

Sitting casually on the edge of the desk, arms folded, as if he owned the place.

“You should thank him,” the dorm mistress said, her voice stern but oddly respectful. “He’s the chairman’s son.”

My jaw dropped.

Mirae’s did too.

I stared at him in disbelief.

How the heck did I not know that?

Nick turned slowly, that lazy smile playing on his lips. “Hi, babe.”

Babe?

I flushed so hard I felt my skin heating up like a kettle. “Don’t call me that,” I muttered, suddenly finding the floor more interesting than his face.

The dorm mistress cleared her throat. “He explained the situation. I’ve decided to drop the suspension.”

Relief flooded me. I could breathe again.

“But,” she added firmly, “there’s still a punishment.”

Our smiles faded.

“What kind of punishment?” Mirae asked, clearly nervous.

“A week off from the hostel,” she replied sharply. “Starting tomorrow.”

“A week off?” I echoed. “Where are we supposed to stay?”

Before she could answer, Nick chimed in, standing up casually and slipping his hands into his pockets.

“At my place.”

My mouth dropped open again.

“You can’t be serious.”

“Oh, I’m very serious,” he said, smirking. “It’s only fair. I saved your scholarship. You stay at mine.”

Mirae nudged me hard, grinning like a maniac. “Girl, your life just became a drama series.”

I groaned inwardly.

This was going to be a long week.