Chapter 12 – If It’s Nothing, Why Does It Hurt?
(Astria's POV)
I should've known she wouldn't just let it go.
Because the next day, as I was leaving class, Morana was waiting.
Leaning against the wall, arms crossed, staring straight at me.
My stomach twisted. This wasn't good.
"Hey, princess," she said smoothly. "Running away again?"
I glared. "I wasn't running."
She pushed off the wall, taking a slow step toward me. "Oh? So you just happen to disappear every time we have a moment?"
I scoffed. "There are no moments."
She tilted her head, studying me. "Liar."
The word hit harder than it should have.
I turned away. "I don't know what you're talking about."
She let out a soft laugh—but there was no humor in it.
"You know exactly what I'm talking about."
Her voice was quiet. Dangerous.
I swallowed. I had to end this conversation. Now.
"Whatever you think happened," I said, forcing myself to sound steady, "it didn't."
Silence.
Then—Morana exhaled, stepping back. Letting me go.
And for some reason, that made my chest ache.
"Alright," she murmured. "If that's how you want to play it."
And just like that, she walked away.
I should've been relieved.
But I wasn't.
Not even close.
---
The Jealousy I Shouldn't Have Felt
A few hours later, I found myself at the campus coffee shop, trying to focus on my notes.
I was totally fine.
Morana letting it go was what I wanted. Right?
But then—I saw her.
Across the café, laughing.
With someone else.
A girl.
She had short, choppy hair, a lip piercing, and was leaning in way too close.
And Morana?
She was smirking, teasing, completely unbothered.
Like she hadn't just spent the morning calling me a liar.
Like she didn't care at all.
My stomach twisted—hard.
I looked away, gripping my cup. This was stupid.
I didn't care.
I didn't.
So why did it feel like something inside me was shattering?