A TASTE OF CANDY POISON

CHAP 26🌸

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A week had passed since Arkie had forced his way into my life, drawing invisible boundaries around me that I couldn't ignore. He'd been possessive from the start, his grip over me tightening in subtle ways I hadn't anticipated.

The flashback of that midnight conversation still echoed in my mind, a night when I hadn't been able to sleep, and Arkie had decided that was the perfect time to set some ground rules.

The memory sharpened as I recalled his low voice in the darkness, soft but unyielding. "There are a few things you need to know, Sebastian," he'd whispered, lying beside me on my bed, close enough that I felt the warmth of his breath. "First rule-no talking to your friends anymore. Especially not Adam or Mark. And you're definitely not allowed near Kylle. Understood?"

I remembered how my stomach had twisted, a small spark of rebellion flaring up. "But... they're my friends, Arkie," I'd protested, shifting uneasily under the weight of his gaze. "I can't just ignore them."

Arkie's hand had slipped to my chin, forcing me to meet his eyes, cold and unmoving. "You can, and you will. You have me now; you don't need anyone else." His voice had softened, but the underlying threat remained. "Trust me, Sebastian. It's better this way."

Caught in that web of intensity, I'd finally given in, nodding quietly. I hadn't wanted to, but his expression had left no room for disagreement.

Back to the present.

The week had passed in a blur of avoidance and silent dread. I'd dodged every attempt Adam and Mark made to get close, doing my best to stay out of sight and out of trouble. But today, they'd caught on, chasing me down the empty hallways, their footsteps echoing behind me as I tried to escape their barrage of questions.

"Seb! Wait up!" Adam's voice called out, frustration clear in his tone.

"Come on, seb! Why are you ignoring us?" Mark chimed in, sounding genuinely confused.

I quickened my pace, my heart hammering in my chest as I turned a corner, hoping to lose them. But instead, I collided with something solid. I looked up, feeling my face flush as my gaze met a familiar pair of warm brown eyes.

It was Kylle.

He tilted his head, a look of confusion crossing his face as he glanced down at me. For a moment, I was frozen, staring at him with wide eyes and a racing heart. Then, without thinking, I grabbed his wrist and tugged him down a quieter hallway, needing to escape the inevitable questions from Adam and Mark.

When we reached an empty classroom, I let go of his wrist, sliding down against the wall as I caught my breath. I looked up at Kylle, who was watching me with a mixture of concern and amusement.

"Sebastian," he began slowly, crossing his arms as he leaned against the doorframe. "What's going on? You look like you're running from the devil himself."

I laughed nervously, rubbing the back of my neck. "Something like that," I muttered, avoiding his gaze.

Kylle raised an eyebrow, stepping closer. "You've been avoiding your friends for a week now. They're worried about you." He paused, studying my face. "I'm worried about you."

worried about me?

The sincerity in his tone made my chest tighten, and for a split second, I forgot Arkie's rules. "It's... complicated, Kylle," I whispered, glancing away.

"Complicated how?" He crouched down, bringing his face level with mine. His proximity made it hard to think straight, my heart doing an uncomfortable flip.