Lahat ng Kabanata ng Love Wasn’t Part Of The Plan: Kabanata 21 - Kabanata 30

The next morning, the school felt like it was humming. Whispers trailed behind me down every hallway — not cruel this time, just curious and charged. Everyone was talking about one thing: the play. No one knew who had gotten what part yet. The only thing Mr. Hales had confirmed was that everyone who registered was expected at the auditorium after school for what he called a “chemistry reading.” Whatever that meant, it had everyone on edge.Zoe met me at my locker, her bag half-zipped and filled with snacks. “Today’s the day,” she announced with a grin that could light up a blackout.I groaned, slamming my locker shut. “Don’t remind me.”“Oh, come on. You’ll be amazing. Everyone knows you’ve got this.”“Tell that to Chloe,” I muttered. “She’s been glaring at me since first period.”Zoe snorted. “She glares at anything that threatens her spotlight. So basically, you.”I wanted to laugh, but my stomach felt too heavy. When we passed the noticeboard, I caught sight of Adrian leaning again

I told myself it was a bad idea even as I stood in front of his house. The sky had already turned indigo, the faint orange from the streetlight catching the edges of the driveway. My fingers curled tighter around my phone. I could still see the last message he’d sent me.> Unless it’s at my place, I’m a little busy.And yet… here I was.When the door opened, Adrian stood there — barefoot, sleeves rolled up, and an apron tied loosely around his waist. The sight was so unexpected that I froze.He grinned. “You’re right on time, Juliet.”“I’m not staying long,” I said quickly. “I just came to clear something up.”“Sure,” he said easily, stepping aside. “We can talk in the kitchen.”I blinked. “The kitchen?”“Unless you’d rather I burn the house down,” he said dryly.Before I could argue, he was already walking down the hallway, the scent of garlic and something warm filling the air.When I followed him, I stopped short. Pots simmered on the stove, vegetables half-chopped on the counter.

By the time morning came, it felt like I hadn’t slept at all. My father’s voice still echoed in my head — the sharp edge of it, the ultimatum that wouldn’t stop replaying.> “Either he meets him, or you withdraw from that play.”I dressed slowly, moving like someone walking through fog. My mom said little over breakfast — a faint, careful “Eat something, sweetheart” — and my dad barely looked up from his newspaper. The tension in the air felt thick enough to choke on.By the time I stepped out the door, I was already exhausted. And terrified. How was I supposed to tell Adrian that my father wanted to meet him? That my dad — the strict, traditional man who still asked when any boy who texted her “why is he texting you” — had decided Adrian was now a threat?I didn’t even know what scared me more: my dad’s reaction… or Adrian’s.The school hallway buzzed with its usual Monday chaos — lockers slamming, sneakers squeaking, laughter echoing down the tiled corridor. For a second, it almost

For a second, no one moved.The late afternoon sun spilled across the driveway, catching on the petals of the flower Asher held, making it glow a dull orange-red. His expression wasn’t angry — not yet. It was worse. It was confusion, disbelief, and hurt all tangled together, carved deep into the lines of his face.Adrian froze beside me, halfway down the porch steps, his usual composure slipping. His gaze flicked between me and Asher, like he was silently calculating the best way out of this.“Asher,” I breathed, my voice barely a whisper. The word caught in my throat.He blinked once, his jaw tightening slightly. “Hey,” he said, too quietly. His eyes darted to Adrian, then back to me. “Didn’t mean to interrupt.”“You’re not—” I started, but my voice cracked before I could finish. I stepped forward, heart pounding, the weight of everything I’d been hiding pressing down like lead.Adrian shifted slightly, hands sliding into his pockets. “I should probably go,” he said, his tone measure

By lunchtime, I’d almost convinced myself things were normal again.Almost.Zoe and I were sitting under the big oak tree near the courtyard, our trays between us, sunlight cutting through the branches in lazy stripes. She was talking about something—probably about who wore what and why it was a crime—but my brain kept drifting back to this morning. To Asher. To how he said he’s still hurt, but here.It wasn’t forgiveness, but it was something. Enough to breathe again.“Ivy,” Zoe said, snapping her fingers in front of my face. “You’ve officially spaced out for the fifth time. Either you’re planning your wedding or you’re worrying again. Which is it?”I blinked, half-smiling. “Neither. Just thinking.”“Uh-huh.” She squinted. “Thinking about Asher or Adrian?”I froze. “Why would you say Adrian?”“Because he’s staring at you right now,” she said flatly, tilting her head toward the cafeteria steps.I followed her gaze. Adrian stood near the entrance, hands in his pockets, his usual confid