The ringtone had barely gone off when Miria felt an all-too-familiar presence behind her.
—Miria...
This voice. Again.
She tensed up before even turning around.
"Ray, let me go.
He had already grabbed her wrist, his fingers closing with desperate insistence.
"Listen to me, please... I made a mistake, okay? I can change. I'm going to change.
"You say that every time," she replied, pulling on his arm. Let me pass.
Around them, a few high school students slowed down, sniffing out the drama like vultures hungry for rumors.
— Miria, forgive me... just one chance... just one...
She forced a sudden movement to free herself. Too abrupt.
His heel slipped.
Behind her, the stairs.
- Shit-!
The world turned upside down. Miria closed her eyes, her heart ready to explode, bracing herself for the pain—
But she never hit the ground.
A hard chest. Strong arms. A familiar smell.
She opened her eyes.
Black locks fell in front of his face. When she raised her head, her breath caught sharply.
— Asher…
— Catching pretty girls who fall, he smiled. It has become a reflex.
He went back up the steps with her as if she weighed nothing, under the stunned gazes of the students. Arriving at the top, he gently put her down.
- How are you ? he asked.
Miria nodded, still stunned.
The murmurs broke out immediately.
—Who is he?
— He's hot...
—Where does he come from?
Ray stepped forward, his face hard.
- Hey. You. Who are you exactly?
Asher tilted his head slightly, amused.
- Why this question ?
— Because... Miria is my girlfriend.
He placed a possessive arm on Miria's shoulders.
Silence.
Then Asher burst out laughing. A real laugh, frank, almost mocking. He pretended to wipe away an imaginary tear.
— Oh, your joke is excellent.
"I'm serious," Ray growled.
- Serious ? Asher repeated. Interesting. Because as far as I know, she can't have two boyfriends.
— But I'm her boyfriend!
— Hmm… given your arrogance, you must be Ray, right?
Ray frowned.
- Yes. And I—
"Correction," Asher said calmly. Ex-boyfriend. Don't forget it.
—And what do you know?!
Asher didn't answer right away. He grabbed Miria by the waist and pulled her against him without warning.
— Because... he said, looking at her, I'm Asher. Her new boyfriend.
Blast.
The murmurs became a deafening hubbub. Miria felt her heart beating so hard she thought it was going to burst out of her chest.
"That's not true…" Ray stammered.
"You may not believe me," Asher replied, "but remember…
He tilted his head.
—Guys at your high school said her boyfriend had long black hair and black eyes, right?
Ray turned pale. Around, several students widened their eyes.
— Now you understand? Asher continued with a dangerous smile.
I would stay, but I have things to take care of. So listen carefully.
He leaned slightly towards Ray, his voice suddenly icy.
—If, while I'm gone, you harass my girlfriend... I'll torture you, then I'll bury you alive. It's clear ?
Ray remained silent.
Asher turned away... took two steps... then stopped.
— Oh.
He came back suddenly, grabbed Miria's face and kissed her passionately in front of everyone.
Miria froze, her eyes wide. The students too.
When they parted, she was scarlet red.
"See you in class, princess," Asher murmured.
Then, with a mischievous smile:
—And the next time you want to take my shirt, let me know. This will save me from having to look for it everywhere.
He placed a kiss on her cheek and walked away.
Miria looked down.
The shirt she was wearing...too big. Much too big.
- Oh no... she breathed.
Ray stared at her, trembling.
— Miria… reassure me. It was a joke, right?
She looked at him, incredulous.
— Despite all the evidence… do you still doubt?
She passed by him without another glance and walked away, leaving Ray frozen, speechless, while the whispers started again.
And somewhere in the hallway, Asher was smiling.