CHAPTER 28: You'll Get Your Answers

“Hey, Kevin.”

Kevin lifted his gaze the moment Alicia called his name. His eyes locked onto hers, but no words came. He simply stood there, staring as if her sudden appearance had wiped every coherent thought from his mind.

Alicia tilted her head, studying him.

“Should we just continue staring at each other?” she asked quietly.

The teasing note in her voice finally snapped him out of it.

Kevin let out a soft breath. “Oh…”

He stepped aside and opened the door wider, silently allowing her in. As he did, he caught sight of several curious faces lingering in the hallway. A few students pretended to walk past, but their attention was clearly fixed on the two of them.

Kevin knew exactly why.

They had heard everything earlier.

Alicia walked into the room and stopped in the middle.

Her gaze swept around briefly, taking in the small space. Almost immediately, she noticed Kevin’s roommate wasn’t there.

Perfect.

Kevin returned to his desk and sat down, picking up the book he had been reading earlier. He tried to focus on the pages, but it was useless. His attention kept drifting back to her.

Alicia was smiling.

That smile.

Something about it made his chest tighten.

Before he could even ask why she had come, Alicia started walking toward him. His eyes followed her despite himself, catching the gentle sway of her hips as she crossed the room.

She stopped beside his desk and leaned lightly against it, resting one hand on the surface. From where he sat, she was looking down at him.

“You didn’t attend any lectures after we had lunch together,” she said slowly. “And you left so abruptly.”

Her gaze remained steady.

Patient.

She wasn’t merely asking.

She was waiting.

Alicia had come here with a purpose.

And she intended to make Kevin talk.

“I felt like reading,” Kevin replied.

Even to his own ears, the excuse sounded weak.

His eyes dropped to the book in his hands.

Alicia leaned closer.

Her fingers reached out, gently touching his chin and lifting it until his face tilted upward.

“My eyes are here, Kevin,” she murmured softly. “Don’t look away.”

His gaze snapped back to hers.

For a moment, he felt completely trapped.

The warmth of her fingers against his skin sent a strange heat rushing through him, something unfamiliar and difficult to ignore.

And Alicia didn’t remove her hand right away.

She knew exactly what she was doing.

Closeness always made persuasion easier.

“I just wanted to spend a little time with you,” she said, her smile bright and innocent.

Kevin nodded, trying to steady himself.

“What would you like to read?” he asked.

Alicia chuckled.

Then she turned and walked toward his bed.

It was only a few steps from the desk.

She bent slightly, smoothing the bedspread with an absent motion before sitting down casually.

Kevin tried to return to his book.

But concentration was impossible.

His gaze drifted again.

Her legs.

The way the fabric of her dress shifted when she bent.

His eyes lingered longer than they should have.

He didn’t understand why her presence felt so distracting tonight.

But she was definitely getting to him.

“I didn’t come here to read a book, Kev,” Alicia said lightly. “Don’t be boring.”

She leaned back against the bed, relaxed and comfortable.

“Maybe we could play a fun game,” she added playfully. “Or we could just talk.”

Her eyes met his again.

“You could tell me where you actually went after lunch.”

Kevin hesitated.

His gaze shifted from her eyes to the low neckline of her dress before he forced himself to look away.

“I don’t know, Alicia,” he said quietly. “I told you I left to read.”

“If you say so,” she replied in a sing-song tone.

Then she stood.

Kevin’s heart skipped.

He knew she was coming back.

This time, Alicia didn’t touch him.

Instead, she stepped closer, leaning forward slightly until the distance between them almost vanished. From where he sat, the angle made the view dangerously distracting.

Her scent drifted toward him, soft and sweet.

Kevin frowned faintly.

Did she change her perfume?

“I want answers, Kev,” she said quietly.

Her voice carried a strange mix of softness and insistence.

She knew she had his full attention.

Kevin lifted his eyes to meet hers, uncertain what to say.

So he said nothing.

But Alicia had expected that.

She leaned even closer.

Their noses were nearly touching now.

If she spoke again, her breath would brush his lips.

And yet…

Kevin didn’t pull away.

He knew he probably should but part of him didn’t want to.

Then Alicia’s hand moved.

Her fingers settled gently on his thigh.

The reaction was immediate.

Kevin nearly shot up from his chair as a jolt of sensation rushed through him.

Alicia noticed right away.

A small, satisfied smile curved at the corner of her lips.

She leaned closer, her breath brushing his cheek as she whispered,

“You’re the only friend I have here, Kev.”

Her fingers pressed lightly against his thigh.

“Will you give me answers now?”

Kevin felt strangely dazed.

His thoughts tangled, slipping out of order.

And before he could stop himself, the words escaped.

“You’ll get your answers… if you meet me in the school library.”

The moment the sentence left his mouth, he realized what he had done.

But it was already too late.

Alicia’s face lit up instantly.

Excitement sparkled in her eyes as she straightened, a wide, satisfied smile spreading across her lips.

Exactly what she wanted.

She looked directly into his eyes.

“Then let’s go.”

Before Kevin could react, she grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the door.

Her excitement was impossible to hide.

She clearly couldn’t wait.

Kevin opened his mouth to speak but suddenly…

The door burst open with a loud bang.Both of them turned sharply.

Raymond stood in the doorway.

His expression was terrifying.

His blue eyes burned with fury, thick veins bulging along the side of his temple.

Slowly, his gaze moved.

From Alicia…

To the way her hand was still holding Kevin’s…

And finally to the revealing dress she had chosen to wear into Kevin’s room.

Alicia frowned slightly.

“Why are you here?” she asked.

Raymond didn’t respond.

Instead, he stepped forward until he was standing directly in front of them.

When he spoke, his voice was low, dangerously cold.

“Leave him.”

Kevin immediately stood, ready to confront him.

But Raymond’s eyes snapped toward him.

The warning in that look was lethal.

Kevin froze.

He knew Raymond was stronger than him.

And in this state of anger… Raymond might not hold back.

Still, Kevin didn’t release Alicia’s hand.

Instead, his grip tightened.

Raymond saw it.

The silent defiance.

And that was the final thread holding his patience together.

It snapped.

In one swift movement, Raymond stepped forward, tore their hands apart, and lifted Alicia over his shoulder before she could even react.

Everything happened too fast.

One moment she was standing beside Kevin,

The next, she was being carried toward the door.

“Raymond!” Kevin shouted behind them. “You’re crazy!”

But Raymond didn’t stop.

He had already taken what he came for.

Alicia struggled against him, protesting loudly, but his grip was unyielding. No matter how much she twisted, his strength made it impossible for her to break free.

After a few seconds, she stopped fighting.

Not because she had given up.

But because she noticed something.

The hallway had gone silent.

Students were staring.

All of them.

Some quickly stepped aside the moment Raymond appeared.

Others turned and hurried away entirely.

No one wanted to be anywhere near him when he looked like this.

Alicia sighed in frustration.

“You better have a good explanation for this,” she said sharply.

Raymond didn’t answer.

He simply kept walking down the hallway with her still draped over his shoulder.

His grip never loosened.

And the silence between them felt far more dangerous than anything he could have said.