thx for saving me

But after a few seconds, reality hit me like a slap.

I was literally standing in a shirtless guy's arms.

Leo's arms.

And not just any random moment—after crying, thanking him, and full-on hugging him like we were in a drama scene.

What the hell was I doing?

I stepped back quickly, my face burning like fire.

I could feel the heat crawling up my neck, ears, even down my spine.

I avoided looking directly at him—because how does someone survive standing that close to a shirtless enemy who just happened to be the person that once saved you from being assaulted?!

This wasn't some fairytale. This was Leo. Arrogant, annoying, smug Leo.

And now he was standing there, chest bare, a soft smirk playing at his lips like he knew exactly what kind of mess my brain had turned into.

"Blushing already?" he teased, tilting his head slightly.

"I'm not blushing," I snapped, voice a little too high-pitched to be convincing. "It's just… hot."

"Oh, it's hot?" he echoed, raising an eyebrow, eyes glinting. "Should I take off more, then?"

"Shut. Up."

But the way I spun around to hide my face only made him laugh—and damn, that laugh made my heart do something stupid.

beneath the surface:

LEO'S POV

The second his body relaxed into mine, I froze.

Not because I didn't want it—but because I did.

Too much.

I could feel his heartbeat. Fast. Uneven. Like mine.

His breath hitched the moment I pulled him in, and I don't know what I expected—maybe a shove, maybe another sarcastic jab—but instead… he let himself fall apart. Just a little.

That tear? That cracked "thank you"? It hit deeper than any damn punch I've ever taken.

And for a split second, it felt like everything between us—the fights, the insults, the way we acted like we hated each other just to hide everything else—it all slipped away.

He felt… safe.

With me.

I held him a little tighter, maybe too tightly, like I was afraid the moment would vanish.

But then, as expected, reality sucker-punched him.

Hard.

He suddenly pulled away like I'd burned him.

Eyes wide. Cheeks flushed.

Cute.

I'd never admit it out loud, but God, he looked like a deer caught in headlights. Eyes darting everywhere but me. His mouth opened like he was going to say something, but all that came out was a little squeak of panic.

Was I supposed to look away? Pretend I didn't notice the way he was spiraling?

Yeah. Maybe.

Did I?

Absolutely not.

I tilted my head and grinned. "Blushing already?"

He jumped like I'd shot him. "I'm not blushing! It's just… hot."

Hot, huh?

I raised a brow, enjoying this way too much. "Oh, it's hot? Should I take off more, then?"

He spun so fast to hide his face I thought his neck would snap. "Shut. Up."

And there it was—his signature defense move. The turn-away, pretend-it-didn't-happen, act-tough thing he always did when he was overwhelmed.

But it was different this time.

Because I saw it.

The way his fingers trembled slightly. The way his voice cracked just a little. The way my laugh made his shoulders tense… but not in a bad way.

God, he was scared. Not of me.

Of this.

Of whatever was starting to burn between us.

And that made me smirk—softly this time. Not to tease, not to taunt, but because… I got it.

I felt it too.

We weren't enemies anymore.

Not really.

We were something in between.

And maybe—just maybe—we were one heartbeat away from falling into something neither of us could walk away from.

Kael's pov ;

My face was burning. I could feel the heat rising all the way to my ears and down my spine. I glanced at Leo for just a second—just a peek.

He was still standing there. Shirtless. Smirking. Like he knew exactly what kind of mess I had turned into.

I looked at him—and then quickly looked away, pretending like I didn't care at all.

Cool. Untouched. Unbothered.

As if his half-naked, perfect self didn't affect me in the slightest.

But inside?

Chaos.

And then…

He started walking toward me. Slowly. Calmly. Like a storm pretending to be gentle.

I stayed frozen, inhaling sharply.

I didn't blink. I didn't move.

Like if I even flinched, he'd figure out everything I was trying to hide.

Each step he took felt like it landed right in sync with my heartbeat.

Closer.

Closer.

Until I could feel his breath near my ear.

Leo leaned in, his voice low and teasing:

"You can pretend all you want…

but the blush creeping up to your ears? Not very subtle."

My eyes widened slightly, but I refused to look at him.

"Say one more word," I warned, voice sharp but shaky, "and I swear the blush'll end up on your face too—from a slap."

He chuckled—deep, husky, stupidly attractive.

That laugh made my knees feel like jelly.

He knew me. He knew how to push, when to pull back, how to unravel every shield I tried to put up.

And worst of all?

He was enjoying it.

I didn't move, and neither did he.

We were locked in this stupid standoff—too close, too aware, too damn stubborn to back away first.

His eyes were sharp, daring me to blink. Daring me to flinch. Daring me to give in.

But I didn't.

I raised my chin instead. "Are you done trying to be dramatic, or do you want to add some background music next?"

Leo tilted his head like he was genuinely considering it.

"Depends. You want the seductive violin... or the slow-mo enemies sharing a forbidden glance soundtrack?"

I rolled my eyes so hard I almost saw another dimension. "God, you're exhausting."

He grinned. "Funny. You keep calling me names, but you never seem to leave."

I stepped around him—just slightly brushing his arm on purpose. Not that I was flustered. Not at all.

"Maybe I like watching you make a fool of yourself," I said over my shoulder.

His chuckle followed me like a shadow. "Or maybe you're hoping one day, I'll surprise you."

I stopped at the door, one hand on the frame.

"Only surprise I want from you is you falling down the stairs."

"Careful," he called out behind me, smug as ever. "You keep talking like that, people might think you actually enjoy this little game we play."

I didn't answer.

I just smirked to myself as I walked away, because even if I didn't admit it out loud

he wasn't completely wrong.

But suddenly his phone rangs, he took out phone from his pocket , his expression is serious while he was on phone and then in sharp tone he said,

"Okay ! I'll come "

Leo's pov ;

Uhhhh! My phone always on wrong timing but when I checked it was manager such asshole he is he hates my good moods , I rolled eyes and picked up

And in serious tone I said ," What's the problem now ?"

His voice is shakey he said," Mr.leo your dad ....your dad "

I calmly ask him ," What happen ?"

He said ," your dad is in bar right now his in angry mood and if he finds out your not in his office , then your screwed "