CHAPTER 5: Is he jealous?

I stood up from the dining table, my plate still half full. I couldn't eat anymore. Not with him staring at me like that. Not after what my mom said about Trex.

"I'll get going, I said quietly, picking up my bag. "My lecture is by eight."

I was already at the door when my dad's voice stopped me.

"Andrel," he called out, not even looking up from his newspaper. "Aren't you going her way? Help me drop her off at school."

My heart sank straight to my stomach.

The air left my lungs.

"No," I said too quickly. "Dad, don't worry. I can go by myself. I can take a cab."

My dad finally looked up and frowned at me. "Why are you stressing yourself? He's going the same way. Let him drop you. Fuel is expensive."

I looked at Andrel. Pleading with my eyes for him to say no. To say he was busy.

He didn't say anything. He just stood up slowly, picked up his car keys from the table, and looked at me. His face was unreadable.

That silence made it worse than any word.

We walked out to the car together. He opened the passenger door for me. His hand brushed mine for a second and I flinched like I had been burned.

The drive started.

It was quiet. Too quiet.

The AC was on full blast, cold air hitting my legs, but inside the car, it felt like fire. My skin was hot. My thighs felt sticky against the leather seat. My school shirt suddenly felt too tight around my chest. I stared out the window, but I could feel him. I could feel his eyes leaving the road and landing on me every few seconds. On my legs. On my lips.

The silence was louder than any argument.

I wanted to say something. To explain that Trex was nobody. That I didn't like him. But my pride wouldn't let me. Why should I explain myself to my dad's best friend? Why should I explain myself to my mom's ex?

We reached the school gate. He stopped the car but didn't unlock the door immediately.

Finally, he turned to look at me fully. His eyes were dark. His jaw was clenched so tight I could see the muscle moving.

His voice was cold when he spoke. Too calm. The kind of calm that comes before a storm.

"Get down," he said.

Then he added, with a small, humorless smile, I hope you and Trex have a nice day."

My chest tightened. So he was jealous. He was so jealous it was eating him alive, but he was trying to hide it under anger.

Trex meant nothing to me. Absolutely nothing. Andrel was the only man in my head since yesterday. Since he pushed me against that hallway wall.

I thought to myself, why is he so jealous? What right does he have to be jealous?

I didn't reply. I couldn't. If I opened my mouth, I would say something stupid.

I just pushed the door open, got down, and walked straight into the school compound without looking back. My hips swayed more than usual. I knew he was watching.

I entered my class and sat by the window. My heart was still beating too fast.

I looked outside.

His black car was still there. Parked by the gate.

He hadn't driven off.

He was still there, watching me.