It's You, Again.

Would someone's presence irritate you? Maybe it's because you see them every day... or maybe there's something about them that unsettles something in you, something you've tried so hard to ignore.

Mikhaela thought she hated Maraiah-too calm, too composed, too good at pretending Mikhaela didn't bother her. But the more they clashed, the more Mikhaela noticed the quiet pull beneath the tension. It wasn't annoyance-it was attention. It wasn't rivalry-it was longing. And somewhere between the silence, the stolen glances, and the ache of almost-touch, Mikhaela realized it had never been hate at all. It was love, masked by fear.