God of Mischief (Light of Obsession #2)

Chapter 4

Amelie

I leaned against the doorframe, feeling the weight of Yuto's presence fill the small space of our apartment. I wasn't sure what had prompted my roommate to let him in, but now that he was here, I felt like a marionette with my strings tugged tight. My heart raced, and my palms began sweating despite the brisk air wafting in from the open door.

"Yuto," I said, letting his name roll off my tongue like a bitter pill, "I don't have time for whatever game you're playing today."

"Who said anything about games?" he countered, tilting his head in that infuriatingly charming way that made me want to both laugh and retort. "I just wanted to hang out. You seem fun."

"Fun? You must have a special definition for that," I shot back, my voice sharper than I intended.

As I stood there, I could feel Ari peeking from the kitchen, barely contained excitement dancing in her eyes. I could practically hear her whispering support in my mind: "Go get him, Amelie!" But I wasn't sure whether it was the thrill of the rivalry or genuine interest that occupied the space between us, and that's what drove me mad.

"Look, I know I'm an archenemy," Yuto said, his smirk softening slightly. "But that doesn't mean we can't coexist peacefully—at least for today."

"Peacefully?" I scoffed, crossing my arms defensively. "What part of your existence screams 'peaceful'?"

His laugh filled the room, a rich, infectious sound. "Okay, fair point. But I'm not here to provoke you, at least not today. I have something I want to discuss."

With that, curiosity spiked within me like a bubble struggling to surface. What could Yuto Orlov-Hitori possibly have to discuss that didn't involve some elaborate prank at my expense? "And what, pray tell, is so important that it requires my attention?"

He leaned closer, lowering his voice conspiratorially. "The Heathens are planning an event next week, and I thought you might want to join. It's a charity fundraiser, and I think you'd enjoy it."

My brow furrowed in confusion. "Why would I want to go to a Heathens' event? You think I'm just going to mingle with your crowd after basically being your sparring partner for half the semester?"

He shrugged, the movement smooth and careless, yet I could tell it was anything but. "You're the only one I can think of who would add real value to it. Besides, it might be nice to have a little friendly competition—don't you think?"

"Friendly competition?" I echoed, incredulous. "You call sending flowers to someone's desk friendly?"

Yuto's expression shifted slightly from playfulness to mild annoyance. "You're right; maybe I went a little overboard. But we both know that's not everything I am. I'm trying to prove a point, Amelie."

"And what point is that?" I shot back, impatience creeping into my tone. "That you can annoy the hell out of me while looking good doing it?"

"No, not that!" he said, laughter dancing in his tone again, which infuriated me even more. "Listen, we've had our fair share of verbal battles, but I know we can be more than that. You're intelligent and resourceful. I respect that. Joining forces could be mutually beneficial."

"Join forces?" I couldn't help but laugh. "Why would I team up with the very person I'm trying to outsmart every day? You know what I think about you and your 'Heathens'? It's all just a big joke to you! You thrive on rivalry."

Yuto's gaze intensified, a flicker of something deeper shimmering beneath the surface—a vulnerability I didn't expect to see from him. "Maybe I do, but life's too short to focus solely on battles without a purpose. And this charity event is a good one. Helping people, bringing in donations, making a difference—things that matter beyond our playful hostility."

A silence settled between us. My instinct was to wave off his proposition, dismiss it with a quick return of sarcasm, but I replayed his words in my mind. It felt like he was holding out a hand, asking me to glance beyond our rivalry, and examine the world of possibilities.

"And what if I say no?" I asked, my heart racing from the unusual weight of sincerity hanging in the air. "Are you going to chase me down with flowers again?"

"Only if I can accompany them with an apology," he said, tilting his head in such a way that I could almost hear his thoughts. "I'll admit, I've crossed some lines, but I'm trying to change that."

Glancing over at Ari, I found her leaning against the kitchen counter, eyes wide and clearly enjoying what was spiraling into our not-so-friendly feud.

"Okay, hypothetical situation," I said finally, my voice softer than before. "If I do agreed to help at this event, what's in it for me?"

He paused, his gaze locking onto mine with a seriousness that took my breath away. "Simple: I promise to make sure you leave feeling empowered and maybe—just maybe—you'll acknowledge that I'm not entirely terrible."

"Wow," I replied, half-joking, "what a tempting offer. All that for a sliver of grace?"

"Believe me, I know it sounds crazy, but I'm serious."

A soft sigh fell from my lips. I wasn't entirely sure where this magnetic pull between us originated, but maybe it was worth exploring this peculiar dynamic—a chance to witness a side of Yuto that existed beyond rivalry.

Finally, despite my better judgment, I found myself asking, "If I go, are you going to behave?"

"Hey, consider me a gentleman for the night," he declared, the mischief returning to his smile. "All I ask is that you keep an open mind." He took a step forward, lessening the space between us, and suddenly everything around me felt charged and electric.

"Fine," I said abruptly, my voice steadier than I felt. "I'll go with you, but if you pull any stunts, I won't hesitate to expose your 'gentlemanly' facade."

"Deal."

And just like that, beneath the layers of mutual irritation and undeniable chemistry, we forged an unspoken agreement, encasing us both in this enticing game. Whether I was ready for it or not, I suddenly found myself curious about what would happen when we peeled back the layers of animosity and entered the next round of our glorious, complicated game—and I was more than ready to find out.

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A/N:
Hellooo!!! Sorry I was being late w uploads 😭😭 But I'm back to posting! So, those who have read God of Strength, how would you feel about Vaughn and Alicia cameos? ;)
Thank you for all the support!
Don't forget to vote and comment! <33