What Are You Hiding ?

The drive back to the penthouse was unusually quiet.

Not awkward, not hostile, Just quiet.

The kind of silence that settles after an emotional day….

The city lights of Vancouver blurred outside the windows while soft music played from the speakers.

Auren had fallen asleep in the backseat few minutes ago, his head rested against the window, his arms folded across his chest..

For once, the energetic boy wasn't talking, the hospital had exhausted him and judging from the shadows beneath Kaizen's eyes…

It had exhausted him too, I sat quietly beside him, Stealing glances occasionally.

Okay.

More than occasionally, the problem was...I couldn't stop thinking about everything I had seen today.

The Kaizen everyone knew wasn't real, 

The campus king

The rich playboy.

The arrogant flirt.

None of it was real.

Or maybe it was, Just not all of him.. Because behind all those masks was a son fighting desperately to save his mother.

A son carrying burdens nobody knew about.

And somehow…..That version of him felt impossible to hate, The traffic light turned red and the car slowed.

For a brief moment, silence swallowed us again then curiosity crept in. 

"What do you actually do?"

Kaizen didn't look at me, his eyes remained fixed on the road.

I frowned, "You heard me."

Nothing.

The silence stretched long annoying and intentional.

The jerk was absolutely ignoring me. 

"Kaizen."

Still nothing…. Yeah. The jerk in him is back. 

I folded my arms.

"Wow."

Nothing.

"That's rude."

The corner of his mouth twitched slightly.

Barely, 

The idiot was enjoying this.

"Fine."

I leaned back dramatically, looking for words to get him pissed to make him talk.

"Be mysterious."

No response.

"Be secretive."

Nothing.

"Die alone with your secrets."

Still nothing, I groaned loudly and frustrated.

That finally earned me a reaction, a small laugh escaped him, very real…not a mocking one, not sarcastic but Genuine.

My eyes widened.

"Did you just laugh?"

"No."

"You did."

"No."

"You absolutely did."

"No."

I pointed at him.

"You smiled."

He smirked.

"Can't prove it."

The red light changed and the car moved again….

But this time the atmosphere felt lighter, Easier and warmer…

Without really thinking, I reached across the center console, my fingers wrapped gently around his wrist.

The reaction was immediate, His muscles tensed, his eyes flickered toward my hand, then towards me…the air suddenly felt different.

Too aware, Too charged.

My heartbeat stumbled, but I didn't let go.

"Talk to me tonight."

My voice came out softer than expected.

During our tutorial session."

He looked away first, Which somehow felt like a victory.

"I have good news for you."

That got his attention.

"What?"

A smile tugged at my lips.

"You passed."

His eyebrows lifted.

"What?"

"You scored above average in the last test."

For the first time...The confidence disappeared from his face, replaced by genuine surprise.

"No way."

" Yes Way." LoL…

"No."

"Yes.”

"You're lying."

"I'm literally your tutor."

"Exactly." I laughed.

"Kaizen."

"You must've mistaken it for someone else's paper."

I slapped his shoulder, Lightly….

"Silly Jerk."

A small smile appeared on his face.

Then another , Until he was actually smiling And somehow...that felt more rewarding than it should have.

"I'm serious."

I looked at him.

"I'm so proud of you."

The words escaped before I could stop them.

Silence followed…..

Kaizen's grip tightened slightly around the steering wheel.

His expression changed, dramatically enough…

As if nobody had said those words to him in a very long time.

"Thanks."

The answer came quietly, Unexpectedly sincerity.

"I tried."

I blinked, Because that wasn't the response I expected.

"I studied while you were in the hospital."

His eyes remained on the road.

"I didn't want my failures affecting your scholarship."

My chest tightened, the statement sounded so simple…Yet somehow it wasn't.

Because for Kaizen, ...That was probably the closest thing to caring he'd admit.

The city lights reflected across his face, he looked tired, Older..though still strikingly handsome. 

Like the weight he carried had finally become visible, I squeezed his wrist gently Then released it.

"Then tell me."

His jaw tightened.

"What do you do?”.

Silence…… she's so persistent. He thought 

"How are you paying those hospital bills?"

Kaizen said nothing.

"How are you planning to save your mom?"

Still nothing.

I turned toward him completely.

"Kaizen."

My voice softened.

"You can tell me."

The car slowed into the penthouse parking lot, Neither of us moved not got out of the car.

"You don't have to carry everything alone."

The words hung between us, dangerously heavy. 

He wants to carry his burden alone and doesn't want to drag her into his mess.

" Honestly, If you don't tell me as a friend..."

I smiled weakly.

"Then tell me as your lodge mate."

A brief pause, 

"If not your lodge mate...Then tell me as your tutor."

For several seconds he simply stared at me, the look in his eyes was unreadable.

Conflicted.

Guarded.

Touched.

Afraid.

Then finally, He exhaled slowly…A long defeated breath.

"Okay."

My heart jumped.

Okay?

His eyes met mine Directly…

"I'll tell you."

My pulse quickened.

"What?"

"Tonight."

He opened the car door…

"After tutorial."

I blinked then grinned.

"Seriously?"

"Seriously Yeah."

A small smile appeared on his lips Rare and

Beautiful.

"And..."

He paused.

"Thanks, Tutor Nyra."

My stupid heart immediately misbehaved.

"For what?"

I asked.

"For not giving up on an unserious Boy."

He chuckled. 

Before I could respond, he stepped out of the car, Leaving me sitting there….

A smile slowly spread across my face, 

Tonight, Finally….

I was going to learn the truth.

The real truth About Kaizen Arclair.

Unfortunately...Neither of us knew that someone else had been listening, And by nightfall…..

Everything would change.

I braced myself knowing fully well that I'll learn about Kaizen's top most dangerous secret or secrets….. ready for the consequences and repercussions. 

I don't mind, now I'm interested in helping him…not physically but emotionally. 

Later that afternoon, Auren greeted me goodbye and left for high school.