I Know You Hate Sakura

Mia awoke to the sound of children laughing and running about, the smell of dampness hanging in the air. Her eyes snapped open as she registered the unfamiliar surroundings.

"Good morning," Kei's voice broke through the fog, calm and cool, as he sat opposite her in a worn-out chair by the window.

Mia sat up slowly, the bed creaking beneath her, her head pounding. She pressed her hand to her forehead, trying to shake the fogginess from her mind. "Where am I?" she asked, her voice low but sharp.

Kei's expression remained unchanged. "How are you feeling?" he asked, dodging her question.

"I'm fine," Mia snapped, her patience thinning. "Now tell me, Kei. Where am I?"

He leaned back in the chair, his arms folded. "You're at my place. I texted your parents from your phone. Told them you were staying over at Sakura's."

Mia's body tensed at the mention of Sakura's name, fury bubbling up inside her. "You know where I live. Why didn't you just take me and Sakura to my place?" Her voice rose, frustration twisting her words.

"Because I didn't want you to get in trouble." Kei's tone was matter-of-fact, but there was a hardness in his eyes that made Mia's stomach twist.

A thought struck her, cutting through the haze. "Where's Sakura?" she demanded, her voice suddenly tight with panic.

"She's at Haru's." Kei's words landed like a blow.

Mia's blood ran cold. She felt the world shift under her feet, a wave of anger crashing through her chest. Sakura at Haru's place? She thought.

"Is that a problem?" Kei asked, his gaze flickering to her. There was something in his eyes now, something that made Mia pause. For someone who'd had their drink spiked, she seemed strangely composed.

"What?" Mia blinked, the sharpness of his question pulling her back to the present.

"Is it a problem that Sakura's at Haru's?" Kei's voice was slow, almost too careful, as though he were reading her every reaction.

Mia didn't answer. She pushed past him, her mind spiraling. She didn't even know why she was acting this way, but all she could think of was Sakura—Sakura and Haru. The jealousy and betrayal she felt burned through her.

She moved toward the door, but Kei blocked her path, his presence solid and unyielding.

"I know you hate Sakura," he said, his voice low.

Mia froze, her hand gripping the door handle, the words stinging. "What are you talking about?" she said with a sweet, forced smile. "Sakura's my best friend."

Kei stepped closer, his gaze steady, unflinching. "Then why'd you spike her drink last night?"

Mia's breath hitched, her heart racing. "I didn't spike her drink," she said, her voice tight. "My drink was spiked too, remember?"

Kei's expression didn't soften. "You think you're so clever, don't you? You spiked her drink, then spiked your own to cover your tracks." His voice dropped lower, the accusation hanging heavy in the air.

Mia's stomach twisted, the words sinking in with the weight of a thousand unspoken truths. She hadn't thought anyone would notice. She hadn't thought she'd be caught.

Kei took a dangerous step forward, his eyes narrowing. "I found it strange yesterday how Kenji and Ryo were only targeting Sakura at the mixer. But that was probably your plan all along, wasn't it?"

Mia's heart skipped a beat. "I don't know what you're talking about," she stammered, her voice rising in panic. "I—"

Kei's hand shot out, and before Mia could react, he tossed her handbag in front of her. The bag landed on the floor with a sharp thud, and from it, Kei pulled out a small sachet of powder. He held it up for her to see.

Mia's body went stiff, her hands numb as she stared at the evidence. Her thoughts scattered like broken glass, each shard cutting through the haze she'd tried to create. The cold, bitter reality of what she'd done crashed down on her like a tidal wave. She wanted to scream, to deny it, but no words came.

"I—I didn't—" she started, but the words barely left her lips, weak and fragile, as if she were already losing the battle.

Kei's expression was unreadable as he held up the sachet. "Look what I found in your handbag, Mia. You're not as smart as you think you are."

Mia's fingers trembled as she snatched her handbag back, her palms sweating as she gripped the leather strap. She pushed Kei away with more force than she intended, the contact startling her. Her feet moved instinctively toward the door, but before she could get far, Kei blocked her again, his presence suffocating.

"Are you doing this because Haru chose Sakura over you on your wedding day?"