---
The next morning, school was buzzing like a beehive.
Everyone still buzzed from the festival chaos. People laughed, traded pictures, and posted embarrassing clips from the tent challenge.
But I had one problem.
Me and Theo had ended up in, well... the same tent all night.
Nothing happened. Just stars and maybe an accidental touches.
Still, people had eyes. And mouths.
"Wow, Lila," said Sara (my friend), practically skipping beside me. "You and Theo were like a rom-com poster. That little tent? Under the stars? The way he looked at you? I'd melt."
I was already melted.
That's when Kai walked past us.
He wasn't laughing.
He wasn't smiling.
He just looked at me — once — and kept walking.
"Uh-oh," Sara whispered. "Look who's jealous."
What is going to happen now.
At lunch, I sat with my tray, trying to cut my burnt cafeteria pancake. Theo sat down beside me, nudging my elbow.
"You okay?"
"Yup. Totally. Just trying to pretend that tent didn't exist."
He smiled. "So you admit it was romantic?"
"um i think so" I murmured.
Suddenly—THUD—Kai dropped his tray across from us. Hard.
"Burnt pancakes again, huh?" he said, tone fake cheerful. "Hope you will know what is actually happening."
Theo raised an eyebrow. "Aren't you dramatic?."
Kai stabbed his pancake. "Oh, I'm not like you."
"Hey" I tried to stop stem.
Kai cut me off. "So how was your night, Lila? Get good sleep? Plenty of fresh air?"
Theo leaned back. "You jealous or just dramatic?"
Kai's eyes narrowed. "I'm not jealous. I just don't like watching people pretend they're not catching feelings."
I blinked. "N-no actually what you're thinking it's not"
Before I can explain Kai stood up, grabbed his tray, and looked right at me.
"Enjoy your pancakes, Lila. But don't confused people like that."
And with that—he walked away.
Theo muttered, "Drama king."
I stared at my chiken drumstick. My brain was short-circuiting.
Because now?
I didn't know what scared me more — that Kai was right...
Or that I'm the one who is responsible for this.
---
End of Chapter 9
---