Chapter 21: The Red Line

We were sitting on the train, lulled by the steady movement of the carriage as it moved through the green meadows, heading toward Onkawa.

The landscape passed by slowly under a pale sky dotted with a few scattered clouds.

There were still four stops left before our destination.

The calm soothed me for now, no one seemed to be paying attention to us—and that was exactly what I wanted.

I had to stay under the radar. For now, I needed to be just another face in the crowd.

I didn't want any unnecessary attention.

Any disruption, any rumor could interfere with my plan, with the revenge I was patiently preparing.

It was better to leave no trace, no memorable impression on anyone's mind.

Mia was holding my left hand, her head resting gently on my shoulder.

I felt her warmth, soft and comforting, against me. It made me smile.

I had made the right choice traveling through a remote area, away from curious eyes.

The chances of someone we knew seeing us here were slim, and I was more than fine with reducing any risk. It wasn't worth the danger.

After a few more minutes rocked by the monotonous rolling of the train, we finally reached our station.

We got off with a few other passengers, though the crowd was thin.

Fifteen minutes of walking later, we arrived at the edge of the Onkawa campus.

Just as we rounded the final corner, a familiar voice called out.

"Hey Jessy! Uh… and M-mia..."

It was Isabelle. She was walking toward us, clearly surprised.

She shot a questioning glance at Mia before continuing, a bit hesitant:

"Hmm… Mia, you don't usually come this early… You always arrive with Saya what are you doing here early with Jessy?"

Mia blushed instantly, caught off guard."I-I just… wanted to make an exception today… I just arrived… I just ran into Jessy, that's all."

She looked down, her cheeks turning crimson with embarrassment.

I smiled inwardly at her innocent awkwardness.

Without giving room for more questions, I grabbed both Mia's and Isabelle's hands in mine and declared cheerfully:

"Come on, let's stop chatting. Otherwise, we're really going to be late!"

We then walked through the school's large front gate.

In the courtyard, a whisper began to spread among the students—a wave of murmurs sweeping through like wildfire.

"Look over there..." a boy murmured, pointing behind us."You can tell he's up to something again..." another said."Shh! Stop staring or he'll come over here!" a girl warned in a low voice.

They were talking about a young man sitting alone, his face bruised and scratched. It was Jason.His dark gaze was fixed on the ground. He seemed lost in grim thoughts, reliving yesterday's incident—the one where he had clashed with me and walked away humiliated.

Last night, when he got home, his father greeted him with shouts and insults.

"Idiot! I got a call from the principal because of you! Don't embarrass me again or I'll send you to a boarding school in Zurich, understand?"

Jason clenched his fists in rage, responding with a muttered "Yes, sir," seething inside.He hadn't slept that night, replaying the moment over and over—me, humiliating him in front of his crew.

And this morning... Like a fresh stab to the heart, he saw us—Mia and me—holding hands.

His gaze locked on us. Or rather, on her.

Mia Atlehi.His Mia. The one he had secretly admired, the one he had dreamed about but never dared confess to... And now, right in front of him, she was laughing softly, holding hands with someone else.

Jason's world collapsed in that instant.A black hatred ignited in his eyes. This wasn't just a grudge anymore—it was personal, it was deep.

Mia, for her part, didn't even notice him. She kept walking peacefully, laughing at something I had said. To her, Jason was just a shadow. Just another face in the bustling courtyard.

But I noticed the murderous glare Jason shot me.I simply smiled calmly as we stepped through the school building's doors. That smile made him boil inside. Jason trembled with rage.

The bell rang, summoning the students to their classes. Gradually, the courtyard emptied, leaving Jason alone with his fury.

He stood there, fists shaking, alone in the crisp morning air.A whisper escaped his lips, a low growl thick with anger and despair:

"This is bullshit... You're mine, Mia... Mine alone..."

The veins on his neck were bulging. His bloodshot eyes fixated on the door we had vanished through.

With a sudden motion, he opened his bag. His fingers trembled, but his movements were deliberate. He discreetly pulled out an object hidden deep inside—a folded blade in a black sheath. His smile twisted into something sinister.

"Hehe… Jessy Kedwell…" he muttered darkly."You crossed the red line… trying to steal what's mine..."

He gripped the blade tightly.

"This ends today. You're going to pay for your insolence. No one humiliates Jason without consequences."

His eyes turned wild, consumed by a wicked fire.

The bell had rung, the courtyard was empty… and yet Jason still stood there, whispering words of vengeance into the cold morning air.