Chapter 16: Hayeon

Pain shot through my stomach, sharp and relentless. I doubled over, clutching my side, feeling like someone was kicking me repeatedly in the ribs. Gritting my teeth, I made my way to my room and locked myself in the bathroom.

"I'm bleeding," I whispered, cringing at the sight. My hands trembled as I washed them, pacing the small space.

"What should I do?" I muttered to myself, over and over, panic creeping in.

A knock at the door startled me, and I cracked it open to peek through.

"Shavon!" I shrieked, both relieved and embarrassed.

"Someone said you looked pale and sick on your way to your room. Are you okay?" he asked, his sharp eyes scanning me, trying to see past the door.

I bit my lip nervously before opening the door to let him in. "I'm... I'm bleeding," I blurted out, my face burning with shame.

Shavon's mouth dropped open, and he froze, clearly not expecting that. He rubbed the back of his head awkwardly.

"Alright then... your first period," he said, his voice uneven. I nodded, avoiding his gaze, feeling more awkward by the second.

"You need proper supplies. I'll cancel your training for today. Go lie down," he ordered, regaining his composure as he headed out of the room.

A few minutes later, the maids arrived, each carrying various period products, patiently explaining how to use them. I wanted to crawl under the bed and disappear, but I nodded along, trying to understand.

When they left, Shavon returned. An awkward silence filled the room as he stood by the door.

"So," he said, breaking the tension, "the maids helped you?"

"Yep," I replied, staring at the floor.

He nodded, stepping closer. "Things like this happen. It's not surprising since you're thirteen now. You'll probably start growing hair in... places. And, well, I think it's time for 'the talk,'" he said, swallowing hard.

My nose wrinkled in disgust. "I know about body hair and body parts. I take anatomy, and you've taught me about... torturing," I reminded him.

"Yes, but this is different. Now you need to know about the birds and the bees," he said firmly.

I tilted my head in confusion.

He sighed heavily and sat on the edge of my bed. What followed was an excruciatingly thorough explanation of everything—genital parts, what goes where, and his awkward emphasis on "only doing it if you're in love."

By the end, I wanted to hide under the bed.

"Okay... okay," I mumbled, frowning.

Shavon laughed—a rare, unexpected sound that caught me off guard.

"Alright," he said, his tone softer now. "I just wanted to make sure you were properly educated."

I fiddled with the edge of my blanket. "Is that why Revien's been acting weird? Did he know this was going to happen to me?" I asked in a small voice.

Shavon inhaled sharply, looking uncomfortable. "No, he didn't know."

I knew Shavon didn't like Revien. It was obvious in the way he stiffened whenever his name came up. But Revien was my only real friend.

Well, maybe more than a friend. I had a crush on him—a stupid, hopeless crush I knew would get rejected. But still, there was hope. He was charming, made me laugh, and seemed to care about me in a way no one else did.

"I think you should stop thinking about Azail," Shavon said, his tone turning harsh.

"Why?" I exclaimed, startled.

"Because I said so. And no more sleepovers," he snapped.

He knew. He'd known all along.

"Yes, I knew," he said sharply. "And if I know, so does Mikha'il Ra Ghul."

My stomach twisted at the mention of his name. Since my fight with Mikha'il Ra Ghul, his name made my skin crawl. At first, I didn't understand why everyone spoke it with such caution.

But now I realized it wasn't respect. It was fear.

Shavon left the room but not before making me promise to talk to Revien about it.

That night, at exactly 9 p.m., Revien came in, just as he always did.

"Hey," I greeted him, my voice uneasy.

"Hey," he replied, his tone just as tense.

I looked up at him—he had grown at least four inches taller in the past few months. As he walked toward the bed, I stood quickly, my heart racing.

"What's wrong?" he asked, pausing.

"I think we should stop our Friday night sleepovers," I said, my words coming out in a rush.

Revien froze, his face darkening. "Did Shavon tell you to do that?" he hissed.

"Yes," I admitted, "but it was also my idea."

He scoffed, stepping back toward the door.

"I'm going to kill him," he growled.

My eyes widened, and I rushed to block the door. "No, you're not!" I shouted.

He clenched his fists, his body shaking with frustration. "What's wrong with you? You've been acting weird for the past two days," he said, raking his fingers through his hair.

"I'm leaving," he admitted after a pause. "Going on a mission."

I froze, swallowing hard. "You told me your next mission would be with me," I pointed out.

"You're not ready," he said flatly.

"You don't believe in me," I said, my voice cracking.

He stepped closer, his tone softening. "I do believe in you. Let's just go to sleep or play cards," he pleaded.

I shook my head violently. "No! You promised me! I told you how excited I was, and now..." I trailed off, glaring at him.

Revien laughed bitterly, shaking his head. "I don't want to fight with you," he muttered.

"You don't have to," I snapped, stepping aside and opening the door. "Leave."

He stared at me for a long moment before scoffing. "Fine. I have homework to do anyway," he said, brushing past me.

I slammed the door behind him and collapsed onto my bed, curling up with my stuffed bear.

Maybe tomorrow, when I'd cooled down, I could talk to him again.