Rafa's POV:
If someone told me a week ago that I'd hit 10 million followers overnight…
I wouldn't have believed them.
If someone told me it would happen because of drama, fake scandals, and emotional damage?
Yeah. Definitely not.
And yet—
"Ten. Million." CJ said slowly, like he still couldn't process it. "Do you realize how insane that is?"
"I'm trying not to," I muttered, closing my locker. "If I think about it too much, I might actually lose it."
"You already lost it," Sam added. "You just gained followers while doing it."
"Supportive," I said dryly.
Angela laughed, looping her arm through mine. "Ignore them. You're iconic now."
"I don't want to be iconic," I sighed. "I want a normal day."
"Too late for that," Keagan said.
Yeah.
Way too late.
ISA was back to normal.
Well… as normal as it could be.
People were nicer again. The whispers were back to being excited instead of judgmental. And my phone?
Still blowing up every five seconds.
But somehow—
The chaos from yesterday felt… quieter now.
Like the storm had passed.
"Hey, Rafa."
I didn't even have to turn around.
I already knew.
"Hi, Felix."
I turned anyway.
And there he was—
Leaning casually against the lockers, hands in his pockets, that stupid smirk already on his face.
I narrowed my eyes slightly. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Like what?"
"Like you know something I don't."
His smirk widened.
Oh my—
"Can you not?" I said, already turning back to my locker.
"No."
"Felix."
He stepped closer.
Way closer.
I could feel it before I even looked at him again.
"Can you stop?" I said, my voice quieter now.
"No," he repeated, completely unbothered.
I turned my head—
Big mistake.
He was right there.
Way too close.
Close enough that I could actually notice things I usually ignored—
The way his eyes didn't leave mine.The slight tilt of his head.That annoying, confident smirk that somehow made everything worse.
—or better.
My heart stuttered.
"Felix," I said, barely above a whisper now. "Personal space exists."
"Does it?" he replied softly.
I swallowed.
Why was he not backing up?
"People are literally watching," I added.
"Let them."
That did not help.
I should move.
I should definitely move.
So why wasn't I?
His gaze dropped—just slightly.
Then back to my eyes.
And suddenly, the space between us felt even smaller.
"Say it again," he murmured.
"What?"
"Tell me to stop."
I frowned. "Stop."
He didn't move.
"Felix—"
"Make me."
My brain short-circuited.
"Excuse me??"
That smirk again.
I swear—
"One step closer and—"
"And what?"
I opened my mouth—
And then—
Nothing came out.
Because now?
He was really close.
Close enough that if I moved even a little—
"ARE YOU GUYS SERIOUS RIGHT NOW?!"
I jumped back so fast I almost hit the locker behind me.
CJ stood there, staring at us like he had just witnessed the most shocking event of his life.
"WHAT WAS THAT??" he demanded.
"Nothing," I said way too quickly.
Felix, on the other hand?
Didn't even look embarrassed.
Of course he didn't.
He just straightened slightly, glancing at CJ with that same calm expression.
"Relax."
"RELAX??" CJ repeated. "You were like—THIS CLOSE—" he held his fingers dramatically close together "—TO KISSING."
"We weren't," I snapped.
"You WERE."
"We weren't."
"You paused!"
"I did not—"
"You DID."
I turned away, crossing my arms. "You're being dramatic."
"I'm being accurate," CJ shot back. "This is the second time I've caught you two doing this weird almost-kiss thing. Are you guys ever going to actually—"
"CJ."
"—or are we just going to keep pretending like this isn't a whole situation—"
"CJ."
"—because I'm telling you right now, the tension is getting ridiculous—"
"CJ!"
"What??"
"Stop talking."
Silence.
For two seconds.
Then—
Sam appeared, immediately sensing chaos. "What did I miss?"
"THEY ALMOST KISSED," CJ said instantly.
"We did not!" I said.
Felix just… laughed.
Actually laughed.
I turned to him. "Why are you laughing??"
"Because," he said, still amused, "this is entertaining."
"Oh, I'm glad my stress is entertaining for you."
"It is."
"Felix."
"Rafa."
I stared at him.
He stared back.
And then—
That smirk again.
I groaned, turning away. "You're actually insufferable."
"And you didn't move," he pointed out.
I froze.
"…I hate you."
"You don't."
My heart was still racing.
Way too fast.
And the worst part?
I wasn't even sure why anymore.
From across the hallway—
Freya watched everything.
Her expression unreadable.
But her eyes?
Sharp.
Calculating.
This wasn't over.
Not even close.
And neither was whatever was happening between me and Felix.
I tried to act normal after that.
Keyword: tried.
It didn't work.
Not when CJ kept glancing between me and Felix like he was watching a live drama unfold. Not when Sam wouldn't stop smirking. Not when Angela leaned over and whispered—
"You almost kissed him."
"I did not," I whispered back.
"You literally stopped breathing."
"I—no, I didn't??"
"You did," she said, way too confidently.
I looked away, heat rushing to my face.
This was so embarrassing.
"Alright," CJ suddenly said, clapping his hands together. "New rule."
"Oh no," Keagan muttered.
"No more leaving Rafa and Felix alone together."
"WHAT?" I snapped.
Felix raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "That's not going to work."
"It will work," CJ insisted. "Because I'm making it work."
"You're not in charge," I said.
"I am now."
"You just decided that?"
"Yes."
I stared at him. "…you're actually insane."
"Thank you."
"Or," Sam added casually, "we could just let them kiss and get it over with."
"SAM??" I choked.
"What? It's clearly going to happen at some point."
"It is not!"
Felix glanced at me, that familiar smirk creeping back.
"You seem very sure about that."
I turned to him instantly. "I am."
"Hmm."
"Stop doing that."
"Doing what?"
"That," I said, pointing at his face. "That look."
He leaned slightly closer again—not as close as before, but enough to make my heart betray me all over again.
"Can't help it."
"Try."
"No."
I exhaled sharply, turning away again. "You're impossible."
"And yet," he said lightly, "you're still here."
Why did he always have something to say??
"Okay, that's enough," Angela said, grabbing my arm. "We're leaving before this turns into a full episode."
"Too late," CJ muttered.
We headed toward class, but the energy felt… off again.
Not in a bad way.
Just—
Different.
Like something had shifted.
Halfway down the hallway, I felt it.
That stare.
I turned slightly.
Freya.
Of course.
She was standing with her usual group, looking completely unbothered on the outside.
But I knew better now.
Her eyes met mine.
And for a second—
Neither of us looked away.
She tilted her head slightly.
Almost like she was… thinking.
Planning.
Then—
A small smile.
Not the confident one from before.
Something quieter.
More dangerous.
My stomach dropped.
"Rafa?" Angela's voice pulled me back. "You coming?"
"Yeah," I said quickly, tearing my gaze away.
But I could still feel it.
Freya wasn't done.
Not even close.
Classes felt longer than usual.
I couldn't focus.
Not when my mind kept replaying everything—
The fake video.
The comeback.
This morning.
Felix—
No.
I stopped myself.
I was not thinking about that again.
The bell rang, snapping me out of it.
Finally.
I packed my bag quickly, standing up—
Only to turn and nearly walk straight into someone.
"Whoa—"
Felix.
Again.
Of course.
"Do you just appear out of nowhere?" I asked.
"Maybe."
"Creepy."
"You didn't seem to mind earlier."
I froze for half a second.
"…don't start."
Too late.
That smirk was already back.
We walked out of class together, falling into step like it was normal.
Like it had always been normal.
Neither of us said anything at first.
But the silence wasn't awkward.
Just…
Full.
"You handled it well," he said after a moment.
I glanced at him. "The video?"
"Yeah."
I shrugged slightly. "Didn't really have a choice."
"You did," he said. "You could've stayed quiet."
"Yeah, and let everything burn?"
"Still," he added, looking at me, "not everyone would've done that."
I looked away, a small smile slipping through.
"…thanks."
We kept walking.
Closer than necessary.
Again.
"By the way," he added casually, "you still owe me."
I frowned. "For what?"
"That moment earlier."
I stopped walking. "What moment?"
He turned to face me, clearly enjoying this.
"The one CJ interrupted."
My brain immediately went blank.
"…you're unbelievable."
"So I've been told."
I started walking again, faster this time. "You're not getting anything."
"We'll see."
"Felix."
"Rafa."
I glared at him.
He just smiled.
And somehow—
Even with everything going on…
Freya watching.
The drama not fully over.
Everything still unpredictable—
This?
Felt like the beginning of something.
And that might've been the most dangerous part of all.