Under His Spell

Yvienna walked peacefully down the hall, her thoughts lost in the mundane routine of the day, when an all-too-familiar scent suddenly filled the air. Without thinking, her eyes scanned the area until they locked onto the one person she never expected to see at this moment. Her heart skipped a beat, then raced, pounding in her chest as if it was trying to escape. It was as if her heart, terrified like prey running from a predator, was out of control—fast, erratic, and almost deafening. She feared it would give her away.

And then, he was there, moving toward her with that same deliberate calmness she had never been able to ignore. For reasons she couldn't quite grasp, Yvienna instinctively took a step back, her feet almost betraying her. She couldn't tear her gaze away from him, and before she realized it, her back hit the wall. Panic rose in her chest. A breath caught in her throat. She was trapped.

His body came closer, and she could feel the heat of his presence, his very being closing in on her. His arms, like a silent threat, framed her against the wall.

"G-Go away!" Yvienna stammered, her voice a mere whisper against the intense, suffocating air between them.

Her breath hitched when his forehead lightly brushed against hers, so close that she could feel the warmth of his skin against hers. The sensation sent a jolt through her body, and cold sweat beaded on her skin. Goosebumps rose as he rubbed his forehead against hers, a silent intimacy that left her stunned. What was he doing? Didn't he realize she was about to have a heart attack? This wasn't normal. This wasn't like how it had been with her ex. With him, her heart had never beaten this fast—never this wild.

"You're blushing, baby," his voice was low, almost teasing, and it made her stomach flutter in a way she hadn't expected.

Yvienna pushed at his chest, but it was like pushing against a stone wall. His smirk only deepened as he met her eyes.

"W-What do you want?" she managed, though her voice shook.

His gaze never left hers as his hand gently cupped her chin, forcing her to look up at him. "I want you..." he murmured, his words carrying a weight that made her pulse stutter in her chest.

For a moment, she thought she might collapse from the intensity of it all. Her breath caught in her throat. He wanted her. The realization sent shockwaves through her body, and just as quickly, he pinched her cheek with that same playful smirk. Without another word, he turned and walked away, leaving her standing there, breathless.

Her legs slid down the wall as her body crumpled to the floor, her thoughts a jumble. He wanted her. The words echoed in her mind, suffocating her. Her heart pounded, a frantic beat that almost drowned her thoughts. What had he done to her? Was this some sort of game to him? Was this how he made women fall for him?

She couldn't shake the thought. Was she falling for him? Was this his plan all along? If it was, it was far too effective. She feared that one day, she wouldn't be able to ignore him anymore. One day, she might just hold on to him—and never let go.

Her head swam as she tried to collect her thoughts. She needed to get out of here, needed to escape the whirlwind he'd created inside her. She couldn't go to class—not with him constantly on her mind.

The quiet of the field was a relief, and she found herself seated on the bleachers, trying to distract herself by watching the soccer players practice. But before she could settle her thoughts, the sound of footsteps drew her attention. Someone sat beside her, breaking her concentration.

"Drink this," came a voice, and Yvienna blinked as she saw Nico holding out a bottle of banana milk.

"Nico?" She frowned in confusion. What was he doing here?

"Our professor had an emergency," he explained, smiling as he handed her the drink. "I didn't expect to find you here."

Yvienna stared at the bottle, her mind still on Kyle, but after a moment, she accepted it and took a sip. "Do you want some?" she asked absently.

"I'm fine," Nico replied, his tone warm and gentle. "Just drink it."

She nodded, offering him a smile before taking another sip.

When she finished, she stood up, ready to find a trash can. But as she glanced around, something caught her attention out of the corner of her eye—a soccer ball speeding toward her. She froze, her body tense, and then—without warning—strong arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her back.

"Are you okay?" a familiar voice asked, sending a shiver down her spine.

"Kyle?" The name escaped her before she could stop it, and she realized, too late, that it had slipped from her lips so naturally.

"I'm happy you remember me," Kyle murmured, his voice a low whisper against her ear. "But are you okay, my lady?"

Her heart skipped, the same feelings stirring deep inside her. Only he could make her feel like this. Only he could make her heart race with such intensity.

"I'm okay," she managed, but before she could process what had happened, he pulled away. His hand slid down her arm, taking hers in his, guiding her out of the area.

"Your bag's in my car," he said with determination. "I'm taking you to the hospital."

Yvienna stopped in her tracks. "What?! Hospital? I'm not hurt! You're overreacting!"

The commotion from the lobby caught their attention, and the two of them made their way there, only to be met by a crowd of students murmuring excitedly.

"He's so handsome!" one of them said.

Yvienna rolled her eyes, already knowing what was coming.

"I know," Kyle responded with an air of arrogance.

The crowd's attention shifted, and she stifled a laugh as Kyle grinned.

"Yeah, you are," she muttered under her breath. 

Before he could respond, someone else's voice cut through the crowd.

"Hi, love. Let's go."

Yvienna froze. Her gaze landed on the person speaking, and her jaw dropped. "What are you doing here?!" she demanded, recognizing her cousin among the chaos.

Of course. He was the reason for all of this. Her cousin was the one stirring up this nonsense.

Kyle's hand tightened around hers. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm his boyfriend," her cousin said arrogantly, stepping closer. "I'm here to fetch her, so don't meddle in our relationship."

Yvienna started to protest, but before she could get a word out, chaos erupted.

Kyle's fist collided with her cousin's jaw, and the force sent shockwaves through her. Her cousin was known for his pride in his looks, and she knew he wasn't about to let anyone mess with his face.

"Stop it!" she shouted, her heart pounding. But it was too late. Her cousin swung back, landing a punch on Kyle's side, drawing blood from his lip.

"You're just her boyfriend, so don't act like she's yours!" Kyle shouted back, fury in his eyes.

What was happening? Why did it feel like her world was spinning out of control? Before she could piece it all together, another punch was thrown, and she couldn't take it anymore.

"Stop it, Kyle! For goodness' sake, he's my cousin! Stop hurting him!" she cried, panic rising in her chest.

She turned to her cousin, her voice cold. "And you! Stop playing around! Don't you dare hurt my man!"

The words were out before she could stop them, and her heart stopped in that instant as she realized what she'd said. Kyle smirked.