「 bewitched 」 ᴋᴀʏɴ x ᴍᴀʟᴇ ʀᴇᴀᴅᴇʀ

chapter XIII

You and Sylas finish up your reunion at the cafe, laughter still lingering between you two from your conversation. With a smile, you get up, suddenly remembering your plan to make something special for Kayn tonight after his band rehearsal. You wave to your manager as you step behind the counter.

“Hey, can I clock out a bit early? Got a few things I need to pick up,” you say, already grinning at the thought of surprising Kayn.

Your manager, clearly fond of you, gives you an amused nod. “Sure thing, you’ve earned it.”

Stepping outside, Sylas gives you a curious look as he follows. “Got something planned?” he asks, and you can sense the warmth behind his usual smirk.

You chuckle. “Yeah, just… want to make a nice dinner for Kayn when he gets back. Figured I’d pick up a few ingredients.”

Sylas raises an eyebrow but doesn’t question it further, his easygoing nature allowing him to just roll with your excitement. “Alright, wow. First time seeing you tryna impress someone. I'm coming with you.”

The walk to the convenience store is meant to be quick, but as you near the shop, you notice something off. A group of people, mostly young fans wearing band tees, huddles outside, clearly lingering around. At first, you think they’re just loitering, but when a girl with brightly dyed hair notices you, her eyes narrow. It’s only then that you realize they aren’t just here by chance—they recognize you. The girl nudges her friend, and in seconds, they’re staring you down.

“Hey, isn’t that him?” she sneers, loud enough for everyone else to hear.

You instinctively take a step back, but Sylas is already at your side, his gaze darkening as he notices the change in their expressions. A tall guy with a piercing glare and a sneer steps forward, his words biting.

“Damn, this is the one who’s been messing around with Kayn? I mean, look at him,” he says, eyeing you up and down like you’re some unworthy opponent. “Thought Kayn would have better taste.”

You flinch, the hurt sinking deep. Their voices only grow louder.

Another girl scoffs, crossing her arms. “What did you do to him? Turning him gay? Seriously? Like, just because you’re all over him doesn’t mean he’s suddenly into guys. Quit messing with him.”

“Or maybe he’s just desperate,” someone else mutters, adding a bitter laugh. “Kayn could do so much better than… this. What a fucking joke.”

The comments hit hard, each one piercing through whatever shield you thought you’d built. It’s not like you didn’t know how possessive fans could get—but this? This was personal, cutting right into who you were and who you were to Kayn. You try to keep your expression neutral, but the words sting like a thousand tiny cuts.

Sylas steps in, his voice low but filled with a dangerous edge. “You don’t know a damn thing about him, or Kayn. So back off.” he growls, eyes narrowed at the crowd.

“Why? He’s fair game, coming into our space like he deserves Kayn,” sneers a guy near the back. “Look at him. He’s nothing but a leech, clinging to Kayn like some desperate slu—”

“That’s enough!” Sylas snaps, stepping closer, his shoulders squared, his expression unwavering. “Unless one of you wants to step up, I’d suggest you shut the hell up and let us through.”

The crowd goes quiet, a mixture of glares and nervous looks exchanged among them. They clearly hadn’t anticipated Sylas’s reaction, his stance making them hesitate. Finally, after a tense silence, they mutter a few last insults under their breath and slowly disperse, casting you disdainful glances as they walk away.