MasukRyker’s POVI couldn’t take it anymore.The quiet chuckles kept slipping through the room like they had a life of their own. Every time I tried to focus on the board, another sound followed, another whisper, another stifled laugh that didn’t need to be loud to be heard. It was in the air, in the way people shifted in their seats, in the way their shoulders shook like they were holding something back just for the professor’s sake.My grip tightened around my pen as I stared down at my notes, the words blurring together until they stopped making any sense at all. I tried to breathe through it, tried to ignore it like it would just fade if I gave it time, but it didn’t, instead It stayed, Pressed, and grew.Enough.I packed my books quickly, the sound louder than I intended, but I didn’t care. A few heads turned immediately, already smiling like they knew exactly why I was leaving. That look on their faces made something twist in my chest, but I forced it down.I stood up and walked stra
Ryker’s POVI shot up from the bed, heart racing, eyes darting to the clock like maybe it would change if I stared hard enough.It didn’t.“Shit.”I got up late.I dragged a hand down my face, already swinging my legs off the bed. Ronaldo was still asleep, sprawled across his side like the world hadn’t ended ten seconds ago.Oliver’s bed was empty.He hadn’t come back from his night with Veronica.Chris was gone too. Probably left early for class like a sane person.“Oh God.”Missing today’s class would be the worst possible thing that could happen right now.I had read the course outline three times. The professor didn’t joke around. No grace periods, no excuses, no sympathy for late submissions or absences. And there was something
Leonardo’s POVRyan shoved my shoulder.“What the hell is your problem?” My jaw was already tight, my hands still clenched from a moment ago.“Back off,” I said.Warren let out a short laugh, stepping in and pushing me harder this time. “No, seriously, man. What the fuck is your problem?”I steadied myself, glaring at him now. “I can’t do this right now.”“Do what?” he shot back. “Have a little fun?”I didn’t answer. This was stupid and I refused to lower myself to pointless banter.Warren tilted his head, then gestured lazily toward the bench. “No, no. You’re confusing your poor, innocent fiancée.”Catherine was sitting there, watching, her expression unreadable.“Do you love her,” Warren continued, stretching his arms out slightly, “or do you love Mr. Scholarship Student?”“Shut up,” I snapped, even though I could feel how heavy my heart was beating on my chest.“No,” he said immediately, stepping closer. “I’m not gonna shut up.”Ryan nodded, crossing his arms. “Yeah, this isn’t ma
Ryker's povI turned slightly, pulling my shoulder free. “I’m sorry. I just want to get back to my room.”Warren grinned like I had just said something funny. “No, no. You’re not going anywhere. Come here.”He steered me toward the open space near the court where people gathered. Where things happened. Where reputations were made or ruined depending on who was watching.And people were watching.A lot of them.Ryan was there, spinning a basketball in his hands, already smirking like he knew exactly where this was going. A few others lingered around, conversations dying down as attention shifted.Leo on the other hand stood a few feet away, Catherine beside him, his expression blank while his hands lingered on her waist.For a second, I thought I saw something flicker in his eyes but it was
Ryker’s POV“Sir, step aside.”I blinked once, the sound of the alarm still ringing in my ears as one of the guards reached for my arm.“You need to come with us.” One of the security guards barked.Oh.Shit.It clicked immediately.The lipstick.“Please wait,” I said quickly, pulling back just enough to reach into Vanessa's bag slung over my shoulder. “I know what this is. I’m sorry, it was an accident.”I pulled it out, holding it up. “This. I didn’t mean to walk out with it.”Vanessa’s eyes widened. “Oh my God, the lipstick. I forgot.”She stepped forward. “It’s mine, actually. I gave it to him to hold for me. We were talking and I guess he just slipped it into the bag without thinking. T
Leonardo’s POVThis was the third time in a row that I was being summoned into my father’s office like I had nothing better to do than stand in front of him and get reminded of exactly who I was in this house.I stood there, hands at my sides, standing perfectly still awaiting his cruel judgement.He didn’t look up at me, just kept flipping through whatever document was in front of him.“You’re becoming a joke.” He finally spoke in his casual and dismissive tone.“At first I thought it was nerves. Adjustment. But now?” He closed the file and leaned back in his chair, his eyes finally settling on me. “Now it looks like you’re deliberately trying to make a mess of things.”My jaw tightened slightly but I didn't dare speak.He continued “The public is starting to notice. Your distance. Your lack of enthusiasm. It doesn’t look like love, Leonardo. And that is a problem.”His fingers tapped once against the desk.“If you don’t get your act together and start behaving like a man who is deep
Leonardo’s POVThe last thing I wanted right now was to be here.The music was loud—too loud—vibrating through the floor, crawling up my spine like something invasive. Lights flashed in obnoxious colors, bodies pressed against each other
Leonardo’s POVI didn’t think.I just moved.My hand wrapped around Catherine’s wrist, and before she could even question it, I pulled her toward the dance floor.“Leo?” she laughed l
Ryker’s POVThe club was loud.The kind of loud that didn’t just fill your ears it crawled into your bones and stayed there.Lights flashed in violent colors purple, blue, red cutting through the dark like blades. The bass thumped so hard it felt like it was punching straight through my chest, sync
Ryker’s POVI don’t know how long I walked.Minutes.Hours.It all blurred together.By the time I slowed down, my legs felt heavy, like they were barely holding me up. My chest ached, harda tonot from runnin







