As Alex and I sat in the university café, he casually mentioned Nadia's father, a distinguished professor at our university.
"I heard Nadia's father just got promoted to a higher rank," Alex said hesitantly, curiosity gleaming in his eyes.
Before I could respond, a loud and grating voice cut through the air from a nearby table.
Nadia.
Her voice was as insufferable as ever, ranting about something completely trivial, disrupting our conversation like an unwanted storm.
Startled, I turned toward the noise and saw her practically throwing herself onto Canim, as if seeking protection from her own shrill voice. Alex and I exchanged a knowing glance—both silently acknowledging the struggle of being near Nadia when she was in one of her dramatic episodes.
"Looks like Nadia is in rare form today," I muttered, trying to stifle a chuckle.
Alex nodded, amusement flickering in his eyes. Despite the interruption, we continued our conversation, knowing this was just another episode in our daily university drama.
I took a sip of the juice Alex had given me, only to nearly choke when I heard Nadia's next words.
"Did you enjoy the sandwich I gave you last night?"
I immediately gagged, coughing violently. My glare shot toward Canim, my eyes burning with rage.
How dare he?
So that sandwich last night was from her?
Canim's lips curled into a smirk, and to my utter disbelief, he even winked at me.
I could punch him right now—hard—if I were as much of a troublemaker as his clingy, psychotic girlfriend.
"You okay?" Lara asked, handing me a glass of water.
I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself. Without a word, I grabbed my bag and stood up.
"Where are you going? You haven't finished your food yet," Alex asked, concerned.
"I have something to take care of," I muttered. "Excuse me for a moment?"
They nodded, and I hurried out of the café.
Outside the university, I tried to flag down a cab, but when none appeared, I decided to walk. I kept moving aimlessly until I reached a secluded area.
Huh. I didn't even know there was a place like this here.
I sighed, stopping to catch my breath—only to feel a sudden, forceful grip on my wrist.
Panic surged through my veins like wildfire.
A strong hand clamped over my mouth before I could even scream, sealing off any chance of calling for help.
My heart pounded furiously.
With trembling limbs, I struggled, trying to break free from his iron-clad hold, but his strength was unyielding. Desperation fueled my resistance, and I stomped down on his foot as hard as I could.
Nothing.
He didn't even flinch.
A chill ran down my spine.
I was trapped. Completely at his mercy.
"Please be quiet, I won't hurt you," he muttered.
Are you insane?
How did he expect me to stay calm when he was holding me like this? This was not how you approach someone!
"Please, this is something you need to know—"
Before he could finish, a powerful kick landed right in his face.
The force knocked him to the ground, and he shook his head, trying to regain consciousness. His hoodie obscured his features, keeping him hidden.
Shock rooted me to the spot. But I was even more shocked when I saw him.
Canim.
His expression was dark, seething with fury. Without hesitation, he threw another punch at the guy, his knuckles colliding with bone.
I couldn't let this go on.
I still needed answers.
Without thinking, I rushed forward and hugged Canim from behind, pressing my forehead against his back and squeezing my eyes shut.
I hated fights. They made me weak. They made me tremble.
His warmth seeped through my skin, and I could hear his steady breathing. His scent—clean, masculine, and strangely comforting—filled my senses.
And then—
Thump.
My heart stuttered.
No. Nope. Not happening.
This was absurd. Kaesu, get a grip!
After a moment, I slowly opened my eyes. The hoodie guy was gone.
I sighed in relief.
"You can take your hands off my chest now," Canim muttered, his voice laced with irritation.
I froze.
My what?
I looked down.
Oh. OH.
Mortified, I pulled away instantly, my hands hovering awkwardly in the air.
I was about to mumble an apology when he added, "Unless you'd rather keep them there."
I panicked.
"Absolutely not!" I stepped back, flustered, dusting myself off in an attempt to act normal.
Canim raised an eyebrow. "Who was that?"
I shrugged, avoiding his gaze. "No idea."
"Come on, let's get you home."
He reached for my wrist again, but I quickly stepped back. "Uh-uh. Too much grabbing for one day."
He exhaled sharply, nodding coldly before turning to walk ahead.
"Thanks for the offer, though," I muttered.
He stopped mid-step and glanced back at me, one brow raised.
"You're coming with me."
I shook my head. "No, thanks. I can manage."
He sighed and took a step toward me. I instinctively stepped back—but his long strides caught up with me effortlessly.
A shiver crawled up my spine.
And then—
He pinched me.
Hard.
I gasped, eyes widening in disbelief. "What the hell—"
"Why are you so stupid?" he sneered, voice dripping with exasperation. "Do you enjoy making a fool of yourself?"
The sting of his pinch lingered, but his words cut deeper.
For a moment, I was speechless.
Then, anger bubbled in my chest, hot and fierce.
But I bit my tongue, refusing to give him the satisfaction of a reaction.
Instead, I simply glared at him, my silence louder than any retort.
Canim held my gaze for a long moment before exhaling and turning away.
The tension in the air was suffocating, his presence pressing down on me like a shadow I couldn't escape.
And yet…
I followed him anyway.