God of Mischief (Light of Obsession #2)

Chapter 13

Yuto

This was not the plan. This was not the fucking plan at all.

I wasn't meant to get attached. I wasn't meant to be so irrevocably obsessed with her that I'd rather peel my skin off than upset her.

This was not the plan.

We've been official for a week, Amelie wasted no time in staking her claim and showing basically every person on both campuses that I'm hers.

And fuck, am I hers.

"Do you have to go?" I ask as she puts on her shoes.

"Yes, I have to go." She rolls her eyes with a smile. "See you tonight?"

"You bet." She smiles and pecks my lips, then draws back with a smirk.

"Bye~!" She teases, extending the e.

"Bye, Kotyonok." When I hear the door click, I grab my phone. Calling him, he immediately replies.

"I need time."

"Boss, there's only so much we can delay." He replies.

"You will fucking delay because I said so. Are we clear?" I say, tone leaving no room for negotiation.

After a beat passes, he answers. "Yes, boss."

"Good." I hang up, throwing my phone on the bed.

As the door clicked shut behind Amelie, the warmth of her presence lingered in the air, wrapping around me like a cocoon. I stared at the spot where she'd been, my heart still racing from the brief kiss we shared. God, how did I let this happen? Getting involved with her. Getting attached. This wasn't just a casual fling anymore. No, this was something I hadn't anticipated, and it scared the hell out of me.

I couldn't shake the feeling that I was walking a tightrope, balancing between my responsibilities, the life I'd built, and this new connection that felt like it had anchored itself within me. The thrill of it was exhilarating, yet the terror was almost suffocating.

Pushing myself from the bed, I crossed the room, glancing out the window at the crisp, blue sky. The sun was shining brightly, casting a warm glow over the campus buildings in the distance. Students were scattered across the lawns, some studying, others eating, while a few were just socializing, laughter ringing through the air. They looked carefree, their lives a raw canvas untouched by complications. How I envied them.

But I didn't have that luxury. The looming weight of responsibilities hung over me. The phone call I'd just had filled my mind with unrest. We had been planning for months—everything had been organized and mapped out with military precision. I wasn't supposed to disrupt that. But Amelie was an irresistible force, one I couldn't ignore.

My mind drifted back to the plans we'd laid out. The upcoming project, the negotiations—everything needed to be executed flawlessly. But now, with Amelie in my life, I felt like I was playing a different game, and it was messy. I needed that information, I just didn't know how to ask her.

I moved back to my bed, flopping onto it with a heavy sigh. The cool fabric of the sheets felt good against my skin, contrasting with the hot turmoil stirring in my chest. It wasn't just the logistics of my life that upset me. It was realizing that I wanted this—that I wanted her—and that I'd willingly throw my carefully crafted schedule into chaos just to steal moments with her.

I had originally avoided relationships like the plague. I'd seen too many of my friends get burned, too many commitments turn toxic. I don't know what made me think I'd be any different. But here I was, knee-deep in it less than a week after putting a label on us.

The memories of our first week together washed over me. Amelie had made everything brighter. From our ridiculous inside jokes to the late-night study sessions that turned into spontaneous adventures—we barely spent a minute apart, and I craved her company like an addict needing their next fix. I smiled at the memory of her teasing smile, the way her eyes sparkled when she was excited about something. She had this innate ability to pull laughter from the depths of me, even when I didn't think I could.

But my heart clenched at the thought of what could potentially threaten our happiness. My responsibilities were in the shadows, creeping ever closer, ready to rear their ugly heads at any moment. I had already put my team on edge, and the murmurs of dissent were growing louder. They were depending on me to make the right decisions. And here I was, caught in a storm of contrasting emotions.

As I scrolled through my contacts, her name popped up again—Amelie, her smile forever imprinted on my mind. Part of me saw the potential in our connection. There was something about her that felt right, like the universe had conspired to bring us together at this moment. But then the other part cursed at my own miscalculations, my reckless heart leading the way instead of my mind.

No, I was doing this right. I told myself I would protect this happiness, even if it meant tussling with outside pressures. I'd find a way to set boundaries, to keep the professional life from contaminating the personal one. With one final sigh, I switched my phone back to standby, tossing it next to my pillow.

The sound of my phone vibrating jolted me out of my thoughts minutes later. I glanced at the screen, finding my father's name flashing brightly. My stomach dropped. With a swipe, I answered.

"Yuto," came his voice, authoritative and unyielding. "Son, this is not exactly a leisurely call."

"Yeah, I know."

"You need more time? Why haven't you gotten what we need?"

I took a deep breath, sensing the storm already brewing on the other line. "I'm working on everything, just need a little more time."

"Time is not something we have in abundance. The deadline is approaching, and I can't afford any more setbacks. We're relying on you. Don't make me question my trust in you."

The words stung like a slap, and my jaw tightened. "I understand the stakes, but my hands are tied. I need more time to ensure we get it right. Just give me a bit."

"Very well," he conceded, but there was a weighty pause I could feel through the phone. "Ah, your mother says hello and to eat your vegetables. Mio, I swear."

"Hah, tell mom hi for me." I replied, my voice clipped. I hung up before he could say anything else.

I lay back against my pillow, staring at the ceiling as I wrestled with my thoughts. One part of my mind was racing at the approaching deadline, while the rest of me was lost, yearning for Amelie's presence. I could already imagine her laughter filling the space around me, lightening the suffocating clouds of anxiety.

Sighing, I grabbed my phone once again, a smile creeping to my lips as I scrolled through the dozens of photos of us that I'd secretly taken over the week—the way her hair caught the sunlight, that goofy mid-laugh moment when she'd been telling me about her ridiculous project, the way she'd bitten her lip while thinking. Each image pulled me deeper into a whirlpool of thoughts—could this be something real?

Tentatively, I opened a new message and began typing, hesitating before hitting send. "Hey, just finished a call. I miss you already. Are you free later? I could use a distraction."

The reply came quickly, her enthusiasm palpable. "Duh, I'll be done at 5. Can't wait to see you."

I felt a rush of warmth at her response. Despite the chaos, despite the pressure, I wanted to believe that this was worth it. I was not just a cog in the machine; I could be more than that for her.

As the minutes passed, I focused on my work, pushing away the worry for a little while. I would find a way to balance both worlds, and for today, that started with looking forward to my time with Amelie. After all, it was in her eyes that I saw the potential for something more—something beautiful that deserved fighting for.

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A/N:
Yuto you stupid lovable thing
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