Kaden

I was in the middle of messing around with my friends—some stupid debate over who’d win in a fight: a bear or a tiger—when she walks past me. And just like that, the noise fades.

I don’t know what it is—maybe the way she moves, like she doesn’t owe anyone a damn thing, or maybe it’s those eyes. Dark, sharp, but there’s a flicker of something soft in them. That contrast? Dangerous. Beautiful. Her black hair falls over her shoulders, wild but somehow perfect. Oversized T-shirt, baggy pants, sneakers. Effortless. She’s not trying to impress anyone. That’s what makes it worse—or better.

She walks toward the professor’s office, and I’m staring. Not even trying to hide it.

Then—smack.

Luis hits the back of my head. “What’s with you, kad?”

“Nothing,” I mutter, brushing it off like I always do. But my brain’s already chasing her silhouette like a dog with a scent. Who the hell is she?

We head to class, and I end up next to the same girl who’s been throwing herself at me all semester. I don’t even remember her name, and I don’t care to. She’s clinging to me again, whispering some nonsense I’m not listening to. My eyes are on the hallway.

And then—bam. There she is.

She walks in, hands some papers to the professor like she owns the moment without even trying. He turns and introduces her as our new classmate. Aera.

Even her name hits different. Sounds like peace. Feels like trouble.

Days go by, and she doesn’t even look in my direction. Not once. Me—Kaden fucking volkov  . Girls chase me. Guys want to be me. But she? She acts like I’m invisible. It pisses me off. But it also? Makes me want her more. I lean back in my chair, grinning to myself. This might be fun.

Lunch is the usual circus. Mia’s glued to Glany again, whining about spicy food. Luis’s being his dramatic clown self—“Lotus flower, I want to eat you”—and Danylo is glaring daggers. Chaos. Background noise.

Then, the shouting starts.

Heads turn. It’s her—Aera. She’s pissed, holding a ripped bag, voice raised and fierce. Clara walks up, all smug and entitled, thinking she’s about to have her way like always.

But Aera? She doesn't flinch.

She slams Clara’s face into the desk.

No hesitation.

The entire room freezes.

My lips twitch. Damn. Now that’s my kind of girl—fiery, fearless, doesn’t give a damn who’s watching.

Our eyes meet for half a second. There’s a storm behind hers. I feel it hit me straight in the gut. Then she’s gone—grabbing her stuff and walking out like she didn’t just blow up the social order.

“Holy shit,” Mike mutters. “She’s so badass.”

Kio glares. “Excuse you?”

Mike just laughs. “Babe, I’m just saying.”

“He’s not wrong,” Danylo nods.

“She’s got serious guts,” Luis chimes in.

“I want a friend like her,” Mia says, and even my sister agrees.

But me? I don’t want to be her friend.

The next day, word gets around. Clara and her little squad are being punished. Classroom cleaning duty. About damn time someone knocked them down a peg. If I’d known what they were pulling before, I would've handled it myself. No hitting girls—I'm not that guy—but I know people who know how to get justice done.

“Let’s go!” Glany yells, dragging us through the halls.

New seating chart today. Part of me hopes—nah, wants—to be paired with her.

And just like that, the universe listens.

My name’s next to hers. My desk, her seat. She’s standing in the corner like she couldn’t care less.

Professor calls her up. She pulls a chit, confused, then walks over—right toward me.

She looks at me, expression unreadable. I slide over.

She sits.

We’re told to introduce ourselves. I lean in, low voice, smirk on my lips. “Kaden,” I say.

She replies. Aera. Again.

Her voice is soft—unexpected. Smooth like a calm after the storm.

We both turn back toward the professor, but I’m not hearing a single word of his lecture.

All I can think about is her. The girl who doesn’t look back. The one who hit like a firestorm and walked away like nothing.

And now… she’s sitting right beside me.

God help her—I will get her attention.

Aera.

The name fits her. Soft on the surface, but I know there’s more underneath. I felt it in the way her fingers trembled slightly against mine. She’s nervous. Around me.

I don’t mind that. I like it, actually.

From the corner of my eye, I catch her sneaking a glance at me.

She thinks I don’t notice.

But I notice everything.

The way she chews the inside of her cheek when she’s flustered. The slight twitch in her hand as she pretends to write. The way her lashes lower quickly when I turn to look at her.

Caught.

I don’t smile. I hold her gaze, steady and unflinching.

Because now I know.

She’s aware of me. Drawn to me. Just like I’m drawn to her.

And it’s dangerous—for her.

I’m not the guy girls like her fall for. I’m the one they’re warned about. The one they try to stay away from, but never quite manage to.

And Aera?

She’s already too close.

She just doesn’t know it yet.

The bell rings, and the professor barely finishes his last sentence before the room erupts into motion. Bags zip, chairs scrape, and students spill out into the corridor like ants on caffeine.

I move at my own pace, slow and unbothered—because I’m in no damn rush.

My friends—Danylo,Luis, Zack, Gaz,Kio,Remi,ryan, yullian and Mike—are already waiting by the lockers, loud as hell and talking shit like usual.

I spot her—Aera—slipping her notebook into her bag with quiet precision, like she’s trying not to draw attention. The moment she stands, she doesn’t even glance at anyone. No lingering goodbyes. No interest in company. She just heads straight toward the exit.

I watch her disappear down the hallway.

Innocent. Private. Too clean for someone like me.

And that’s exactly what makes me want to chase.

“She didn’t even say bye,” I muttered under my breath.

Mike claps me on the back. “Who? That new girl you were sitting with? What’s her name—Anna?”

“Aera,” I corrected him without thinking, eyes still fixed on the spot where she vanished.

“Oho,” Gaz grins. “Look at that. Bad boy Kaden actually remembers a girl’s name.”

“Shut the fuck up,” I grunt, pulling out my phone.

“Damn,” Danylo whistles. “Didn’t even deny it.”

I ignore them. My head’s not in it. I should be joking around, messing with the guys, planning our usual chaos—but I keep thinking about her. How she didn’t even glance back. Like I was just another stranger in the crowd.

No one ignores me. No one.

And now I can’t stop wondering what it would take to get under her skin.

To make her look at me like she means it

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***