Chapter 13: Blurred Heart

Darren nudged him with his elbow, a wide grin on his face.

"Damn, Kayden," he said with a smirk. "You're catching a big fish."

Kayden turned to him, eyes narrowing. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Oh, don't act clueless," Darren chuckled. "That was Ariz. Final year golden boy. Rich, good-looking, drives a car that screams, 'Don't talk to me unless you're ready to fall in love.' And he asked for your number."

Kayden rolled his eyes, his cheeks flushing slightly. "It was just casual. He was being polite."

"Polite?" Darren arched a brow. "Kayden, he literally walked past a sea of screaming fans to talk to you. That's not polite. That's interest."

Kayden bit his bottom lip, unsure how to respond. He glanced at his phone again, still seeing Thaddeus's messages and missed calls.

"I don't even know him like that," he muttered. "And besides... I'm not looking for anything."

Darren gave him a side-eye. "You're not looking, but someone might be."

Kayden gave a half-smile, his gaze drifting toward the sky as the cool evening breeze swept over them.

Maybe Darren was right.

Time passed quickly. Before Thaddeus realized it, the city was drenched in moonlight, and the bar buzzed with laughter, music, and the clinking of glasses.

Clarisse had insisted he come out just for a little drink to unwind after a long day of meetings. Thaddeus intended to stay an hour at most. Just a few sips. Then back to the hotel.

But plans had a cruel way of twisting themselves.

Soon, the group started a drinking game. Simple rules. Whoever lost… drank.

At first, it was harmless.

Until Thaddeus kept losing.

Again. And again.

Every time, Clarisse's sly smile widened. Her laughter was a little too sweet, her eyes a little too calculating. She was doing something, manipulating the games. And he was falling straight into the trap.

Shot after shot burned down his throat. His head got heavier, his vision a little slower, his guard slipping.

Clarisse leaned in, pretending to whisper something, but her hand brushed against his thigh. Thaddeus stiffened.

That was enough.

He stood abruptly. "I need the restroom."

He didn't wait for a response.

The music faded behind him as he staggered toward the hallway. Cold water. Air. Anything to steady him. But fate had other plans.

As he turned the corner, someone called his name.

"Thaddeus?"

He froze.

No…

It couldn't be.

He turned slowly, and there she was.

Valerie.

The woman who shattered his trust two years ago. The one who taught him that love could be fake, that affection could be bought, that being used didn't always come with a warning.

"Wow… I didn't expect to see you here," she said, approaching cautiously. "You look drunk."

"I need to get back…" Thaddeus murmured, his words slurred. "To my hotel. Can't go back to the table.

Valerie saw the opportunity and took it. "Come on. I'll help you."

She guided him out, hailing a cab and taking him straight to the hotel he mentioned. Thaddeus barely made it into the room before stumbling and vomiting right onto her clothes.

Valerie grimaced but didn't complain. She quickly changed into the only thing she could find, one of Thaddeus's shirts hanging on the rack. She wore it loosely over her frame and helped Thaddeus settle into the bed, now fully knocked out.

Just then, his phone buzzed.

Incoming call: Kayden.

The screen lit up. Then it stopped.

Then rang again. Video Call.

Valerie looked at the screen, hesitating. Thaddeus didn't stir. She swiped to answer.

The moment the camera opened, Kayden's face filled the screen.

Valerie tilted the phone toward her face, brushing her hair back with a tired sigh.

"He's sleeping," she said. "You can call back in the morning. It's already midnight."

The call ended.

Silence.

On the other end, Kayden's hand slowly lowered the phone.

He stared blankly at the darkness of his room, the only light coming from his screen.

There was no denying what he saw.

A woman in his shirt.

Thaddeus's shirt.

It felt like a knife in his chest.

His throat tightened.

The woman didn't even seem surprised to answer the call. She was calm and familiar. Like she had every right to be there.

His heart sank lower and lower.

He lay back on the bed, staring at the ceiling, blinking fast.

But the more he tried not to cry, the more his vision blurred.

A dull ache pulsed behind Thaddeus's eyes as he slowly blinked awake.

The curtains were drawn shut, letting only slivers of morning light peek through. His throat felt dry, and his stomach rolled uncomfortably. He sat up, groaning softly and gripping the edge of the bed.

What the hell happened last night?

His mind was hazy, but he remembered the bar… the games… Clarisse. Then... Valerie.

His gaze swept across the room.

There she was. Sitting on the edge of the couch, scrolling through her phone in his shirt.

Thaddeus's heart dropped.

He immediately reached for his phone beside the bed. As the screen lit up, a cold wave rushed through his body.

Missed video call: Kayden

Unread messages: 0

Status: Read.

His fingers hovered over the screen.

His breathing slowed, panic climbing into his chest. He quickly called.

Ringing.

No answer.

He tried again.

Still nothing.

He opened the chat and typed fast:

> Good morning, Kayden.

But no reply came. The dots never showed. The silence was louder than ever.

Behind him, Valerie's voice cut through the tension. "You okay?"

He turned sharply. "Why did you answer my phone?"

She shrugged casually. "You were out cold. I didn't think it mattered. The boy kept calling, and it was already past midnight."

Thaddeus stared at her.

"You knew who it was?"

Valerie gave a small smile. "I figured. He looked young. Pretty eyes. Emotional type."

Thaddeus gritted his teeth. "That wasn't your call to make."

Valerie stood, slowly walking toward him. "You know, Thad… last night reminded me of us. You were vulnerable. And you let me help. Maybe we could start again?"

She reached out, brushing her fingers against his jaw.

Thaddeus flinched and pulled away. "Don't."

"Come on," she said softly. You're hurt.

You're lonely. Let me take care of you, like I used to. You don't need to pretend you're not craving my touch.

Her hand drifted to his chest.

Thaddeus stepped back immediately, fury flashing in his eyes.

"Don't touch me."

Valerie's expression hardened. "You didn't mind me helping you up here."

"I was drunk," he snapped. "And even then, I didn't ask for this."

She rolled her eyes. You are pushing me away after I'd helped you.

"No," he said coldly, "I'm pushing you away because I remember exactly who you are."

Her mouth parted slightly in offence, but Thaddeus didn't flinch.

"You don't get to come back into my life like nothing happened. You broke something in me, Valerie. And you don't get to touch me again just because I was too drunk to fight back last night."

Valerie crossed her arms, her pride wounded. "Fine. Whatever. Don't say I didn't try."

"Get out."

She paused for a moment, lips tensed.

"I said get out," Thaddeus repeated, quieter this time, but sharper.

She finally grabbed her things, peeled off his shirt, and left without another word.

When the door shut, Thaddeus collapsed onto the bed, running a hand through his hair.

The weight in his chest was unbearable.

He didn't care about Valerie. He didn't care about Clarisse. None of them mattered.

All he could think about was Kayden.

And the sound of silence on the other end of the line.

Kayden woke up to the soft buzz of his phone vibrating on the nightstand.

He turned over lazily, sunlight pouring through the curtains. His eyes landed on the screen.

8 Missed Calls

5 Messages

All from one name.

Thaddeus.

The most recent one blinked at him:

> Please call me back.

Kayden stared at it for a moment, expression unreadable, heart unreadable even to himself.

He placed the phone face down.

No reply.

Not even a glance at the messages he hadn't opened yet.

Not because he didn't care.

But because he cared too much.

He dragged himself out of bed, walked to the bathroom, and let the water hit his skin. It was warm, soothing, but it couldn't wash away the confusion and hurt clinging to his chest.

After dressing up in silence, he ate a quiet breakfast.

Then he walked out of the house and got into the car as his driver greeted him.

"Good morning, young master."

"Morning," Kayden mumbled.

The drive to school was short, but his thoughts were longer. Messier.

Was she his girlfriend? Has she always been? Why didn't he say anything? Was everything between us a lie?

His phone buzzed again in his pocket.

Another call from Thaddeus.

He didn't answer.

He just sat back, eyes on the road ahead, telling himself over and over again.

I'm fine.

Even if his heart was slowly caving in.