𝗪𝗛𝗜𝗦𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗦 𝗜𝗡 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗗𝗔𝗥𝗞 > 𝗞𝗮𝗶 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗶

act i; part vi

Unplanned Encounters

I hadn't planned on seeing Kai. In fact, I had been doing everything possible to avoid him. The more I thought about our situation, the more overwhelming it became. There was so much I hadn't told him, so much I wasn't ready to confront. How could I? Every time I thought of seeing him, of facing those intense eyes, I felt like I might shatter.

So I avoided him. I ignored his messages, stayed out of our usual places, and tried to keep to myself. I told myself I needed space, time to figure things out. But deep down, I knew I was just scared. Scared of what he'd say, scared of how I'd feel, scared of the truth.

But of course, Kai wouldn't let me hide forever.

It was a typical day, or so I thought. I was walking through the crowded streets, trying to lose myself in the bustle of the city, when I suddenly felt someone's presence beside me. I didn't even have to look up to know who it was-my heart recognized him before my mind did.

"Evie," Kai's voice was a mix of relief and frustration, and it stopped me in my tracks.

I looked up, and there he was. Casual as always, but with that air of intensity that made it impossible to ignore him. My pulse quickened, and I forced myself to smile, though I could tell it didn't quite reach my eyes.

"Kai," I said, trying to sound surprised. "What are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same thing," he shot back, his tone sharper than I expected. "You've been avoiding me."

My stomach twisted with guilt. "I'm sorry," I murmured, my voice barely audible over the noise of the street. "I've just... I've had a lot on my mind."

Kai's jaw tightened, and I could see the frustration in his eyes. "I've been trying to reach you for days, Evie. You couldn't answer even one of my messages?"

I looked away, unable to meet his gaze. "I didn't know what to say."

There was a long pause, and I could feel his eyes on me, scrutinizing, trying to understand. Then, without warning, he took my hand. His grip was firm, his touch warm against my cold skin.

"You don't have to say anything right now," he said, his voice softer than before. "But we're not going to keep playing this game of cat and mouse. I'm taking you out tonight."

My eyes snapped up to his, my heart skipping a beat. "What?"

"Tonight," he repeated, more insistent this time. "You and me. We're going out. No more avoiding me."

I hesitated, the thought of spending the evening with him both thrilling and terrifying. But the way he looked at me, the way his eyes softened when he said my name... it made it impossible to say no.

"Okay," I finally agreed, my voice trembling slightly.

He nodded, looking satisfied. "Good. I'll pick you up at eight."

"I'll be ready," I promised, though I wasn't sure if I was ready for any of this.

We stood there, the tension between us thick, until he reached out and gently tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. His touch was so tender it made my chest ache.

"I've missed you, Evie," he said, his voice low and sincere.

Before I could respond, though, the moment was shattered by the sound of laughter. I turned, startled, and saw two men approaching. They both had that same confident, almost arrogant air that Kai carried, and I knew immediately that they were his friends. recognised them from the other day. Will and Micheal. Trailing behind them was a stunning blonde woman, her eyes sharp as they took me in.

"Look who we have here!" the taller of the two men called out, grinning widely.

Kai rolled his eyes, though I could see the faintest hint of a smile tugging at his lips. "Will. Michael. What are you doing here?"

Will, the taller one, flashed a mischievous grin. "Just out for a walk, saw you two lovebirds, and thought we'd say hello."

Michael, the other man, shook his head but couldn't hide his amusement. "More like we were wondering why you've been so distracted lately. Now we see why."

My face flushed with embarrassment as they looked me up and down, clearly appraising me. Kai noticed my discomfort and quickly slipped an arm around my waist, pulling me closer.

"Guys, this is Evie," he said, his tone protective but warm. "Evie, these are my friends Will and Michael. They were a the restaurant the other day. And this is Michael's girlfriend, Rika."

Rika stepped forward, her expression softening as she gave me a warm smile. "It's nice to meet you, Evie. I've heard a lot about you."

I forced a smile, though I felt suddenly self-conscious under their scrutiny. "All good things, I hope?"

Will let out a laugh, clapping Michael on the shoulder. "Oh, definitely. Especially about that little run-in you had with Nikova. That was epic."

Michael chuckled, nodding in agreement. "You've got guts, I'll give you that."

My cheeks burned as they continued to tease me, but I couldn't help but smile. It felt strange, being welcomed into Kai's world like this, especially after everything that had happened.

"Thanks," I mumbled, stealing a glance at Kai. He was watching me with a small, amused smile, clearly enjoying my discomfort.

"She's crazy, that one," Will added with a shake of his head. "But in a good way."

Rika, who had been watching quietly, stepped forward and offered me another warm smile. "We should hang out sometime, Evie. I think we'd get along."

I hesitated, caught off guard by the offer. "Maybe," I replied, trying to sound casual. But the truth was, I wasn't sure I could handle getting close to anyone else in Kai's world, not with everything I was hiding.

Kai must have sensed my hesitation because he gave my waist a gentle squeeze, as if to say I didn't have to do anything I wasn't comfortable with. "It's up to you," he whispered, his voice so soft that only I could hear.

I nodded, grateful for his understanding. "We'll see," I said to Rika, who seemed to understand my reluctance.

She nodded back, her smile never wavering. "Whenever you're ready."

The conversation drifted after that, the group falling into an easy banter. Kai's friends were charming and funny, and despite my initial nerves, I found myself relaxing a little. It was easier than I expected to fall into their rhythm, laughing at their jokes and even teasing them back a little. But underneath it all, the fear remained-a constant, gnawing presence that I couldn't shake.

As we talked, I couldn't stop thinking about Nikova. Did she tell Kai? Did he already know? Every time Kai looked at me for a little too long or asked if I was okay, my heart raced with panic. But if Nikova had said anything, Kai didn't let on.

By the time we parted ways, with promises of seeing each other again soon, I was emotionally drained. Kai walked me back to my apartment, his arm still securely around me, grounding me. But the closer we got to my door, the more I could feel the anxiety creeping back in.

When we reached my door, he turned to face me, his eyes filled with concern. "Are you okay?" he asked, his voice gentle.

I forced a smile, though it felt like my heart was in my throat. "Yeah, I'm fine."

He studied me for a moment, his expression softening. Then, he leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to my forehead. "I'll see you tonight," he murmured, his lips lingering against my skin.

My heart fluttered, and for a brief moment, I allowed myself to believe that maybe things could be okay. Maybe, if I played my cards right, I could keep my secret hidden a little longer.

"See you tonight," I whispered back, watching as he turned and walked away, disappearing down the hallway.

As soon as he was out of sight, I let out a shaky breath, leaning against the door for support. My mind was racing, my emotions a tangled mess. I had no idea how I was going to get through the evening without breaking down, but one thing was certain-Kai wasn't going to let me keep running. And despite everything, a small part of me was relieved.