Two weeks.
Four sleepless nights, three near ntal breakdowns, and one unforgettable night when Celestia made studying feel like foreplay.
But we finished it. The project.
Top of the class. Professor Halifax looked stunned. Like he was expecting chaos and got a dissertation instead. Our na was announced first. Applause followed. Celestia winked at . I tried not to smile. Tried not to let it feel like victory.
But it did.
For about five hours.
Until everything fell apart.
I was heading to the parking lot alone — Celestia had gone to grab coffee from the campus cafe. We agreed to et at the entrance.
But I never made it there.
They ca out of nowhere. Four of them.
Jocks. One of them was in our class — Derek? Devin? I didn’t care. Tall. Cocky. Built like a protein shake with anger issues.
He stepped in front of . "You think you can keep her?"
I blinked. "What?"
He got in my face. "Celestia. You think soone like you deserves soone like her?"
I didn’t answer.
Didn’t get the chance.
A hand shoved back into a wall. Another grabbed my shirt. A fist hit my jaw. Not hard enough to knock out. Just enough to bruise. To make a point.
"Stay away from her," one of them hissed. "Before soone does more than just warn you."
They left. Just like that, laughing.
And I stood there, pulse racing, lips bleeding, and dignity in the dumpster.
I didn’t go back to Celestia, didn’t pick up her calls.
I just went ho, shut the door, sat in the dark.
And tried not to feel like I was exactly what they said I was — a nerd playing house with a goddess.
---
An hour later, she showed up.
She must’ve tracked sohow. Or maybe just guessed. Either way, when I heard the knock, I knew it was her.
I didn’t answer, didn’t matter though.
She let herself in.
Don’t ask how.
Celestia stepped inside, eyes scanning. Then she saw .
And her smile died.
"Kai?" she asked.
I turned.
Her gaze locked on the bruise.
"Who," she said, voice suddenly razor-sharp, "touched you?"
"It’s nothi—"
"Don’t lie to ." She took a step closer. "That’s a knuckle mark. I know what that looks like.
"I tripped."
She squinted. "You tripped and fell into soone’s punch?"
I stayed silent.
She walked up slowly, crouched beside on the couch, and lifted my chin gently.
Her fingers ghosted over the bruise. "You don’t think I’ll burn this entire school down to find out who did this?"
"Celestia—"
> "I’ve made grown n cry over a parking space, Kai. I will ruin lives for this."
"It’s not worth—"
Her eyes flashed. "It’s you. It’s worth everything."
That shut up.
She exhaled. Her voice dropped. "Who did it?"
I told her, not because I wanted to.
But because I saw what would happen if I didn’t.
She listened. Didn’t interrupt. And then stood.
Walked to the window.
And stood there for a while then, quietly:
"Why do you let people talk about you like that?"
My throat was tight. "Because they’re not wrong."
She turned.
> "What?"
"I’ve heard it a hundred tis before. Nerd. Nobody. Virgin loser. I pretend it doesn’t get to but... it does.
You walk into a room and everything bends around you. You look like you own the world — because you kinda do. And ? I’m... background noise. I’m the guy professors only rember because of his GPA. I’m the guy no one glances at twice unless they need howork answers.
I don’t have a nice car. I don’t have money. I don’t have abs or six-foot confidence or family empires or connections or any of the shit people use to matter in this world.
I’ve been invisible my whole life, Celestia. And suddenly, you’re here — looking at like I’m sothing worth wanting. And I want to believe that. God, I do.
But every ti I start to... soone reminds that I’m not good enough for you. That I’ll never be. That I’m a placeholder until you wake up and realize this was just so twisted ga. And when that happens, I’ll be right back where I started.
Alone."
I t her eyes. "I’m not like you. I don’t co from money. I don’t have perfect skin or connections or even confidence. I don’t know why you picked ."
Sothing in her face cracked.
I kept going. "You could have anyone. Any guy in this school. Any city. Any country."
She walked back. Sat beside .
Her voice was low now. No sarcasm. No smug.
"Do you know what it feels like to be seen as just a na?" she said. "To have everything and still feel like no one gives a damn about you? Not your money. Not your family. Just you?"
I didn’t answer.
She touched my hand. "You were the first person who looked at and didn’t try to get anything. You just helped . No flirt. No ga. Just... human."
She leaned in.
> "You make feel real, Kai. Like I’m not a circus act or a trophy or a monster. You see . And that’s why you’re more than enough."
I stared at her.
Then broke.
Tears didn’t fall. But I felt them behind my eyes.
She pulled into her arms, pressing my face into her shoulder.
And held .
No flirting. No gas.
Just warmth.
"I love you," she whispered. "Even if you never believe you deserve it."
And in that mont, I hated that she was right.
But I also didn’t want her to let go.
---
To be continued...
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