Chapter 19 : The mask cracks

As Evan and Mikael walked along the dimly lit path leading to their dorms, the last rays of sunlight fading behind the trees, Evan suddenly slowed his pace.

His steps faltered.

His breath caught.

And his gaze locked straight ahead.

Parked just past the bend in the road, not far from the pedestrian crossing, was a car, engine humming low, headlights off.

Inside, barely visible through the lowered window, was Lucas.

Staring.

Evan stopped completely.

Mikael, a few steps ahead, noticed the hesitation and turned. "Evan?"

Evan didn't answer.

Mikael followed his line of sight, and then he saw it too. Lucas. Motionless in the driver's seat, eyes burning through the glass like a predator waiting to pounce.

Mikael stepped closer to Evan and lowered his voice. "Ignore him. Just keep walking."

But before they could take another step, the car door opened with a sharp metallic creak, and Lucas stepped out slowly, deliberate, calm, but with tension in every line of his body.

He approached them, hands in his pockets, his eyes locked on Evan.

Mikael immediately shifted position, stepping in front of Evan protectively.

Lucas narrowed his eyes.

"I just want to talk to Evan," he said, his voice clipped and disrespectful. "I'll give him a ride."

Mikael didn't move. "He's not going with you."

Lucas gave a mocking smile. "You don't speak for him."

"I'm not speaking for him. I'm protecting him."

Evan gently touched Mikael's arm. "It's okay… I can go-"

"No." Mikael's voice turned firm, serious. "You don't owe him anything, Evan. Go home. Please."

Evan hesitated. His body frozen between fear, confusion, and guilt.

Lucas watched this, then chuckled. The sound was low at first… then louder.

Then louder still.

A bitter, mocking laugh that rang sharply in the empty street.

"Oh, wow," Lucas finally said through his laughter. "Look at this. Mikael the golden boy. Playing knight in shining armor now?"

He took a step closer, eyes gleaming with hostility. "What's the story, huh? Is Evan your damsel in distress now? Your delicate little princess?"

Mikael's face hardened, but he said nothing.

Lucas turned to Evan with a sneer. "You found yourself a new hero to save you, huh? That's cute."

Then he looked back at Mikael. "Or should I say… you two found each other?"

His expression twisted with something cruel and venomous.

"You know what people are saying, right? That you and Evan are a couple now. That the captain of the soccer team and the college freak are together. You've just made your whole team look like a joke."

Mikael's eyes didn't waver.

"I don't care what people say," he said calmly. "Let them gossip. Let them lie. It won't change who I am, or who Evan is."

Lucas's smile dropped instantly.

Mikael continued, firm and unwavering. "But you, Lucas... you should stop. Stop following him. Stop threatening him. And stop acting like you're the victim when you've done nothing but hurt him."

Lucas's jaw tightened.

"Leave Evan alone," Mikael finished, voice like steel. "And mind your own damn business."

Silence fell between them, heavy and charged.

Something dark flickered in Lucas's eyes. Rage. Frustration. Pain.

For a second, he looked like he might say something more, or even do something.

But he didn't.

He just stood there, trembling slightly, his fists clenched at his sides, his breath coming in quick bursts.

Then, without another word, Lucas turned sharply, marched back to his car, slammed the door, and drove off, tires screeching briefly as he vanished down the road.

---

Evan stood behind Mikael, stunned, breathless.

His mind swirled with everything he'd just heard, and everything he didn't understand.

Mikael slowly turned to him, calmer now.

"Let's go," he said gently. "Forget him."

Evan nodded.

But even as they walked the rest of the way home, neither of them said another word.

Because behind them, somewhere deeper than words, something had cracked inside Lucas.

And Evan could feel it:

This… wasn't over.