Chapter 4: Why Does It Bother Me?
Noah Blackwood had a problem.
And the problem was that Lily Hart would not leave his head alone.
He sat on his bed, towel draped loosely around his neck, phone face-down beside him. The dorm room was quiet—too quiet for how loud his thoughts were.
Why does it bother me?
She wasn't doing anything wrong.
She wasn't clinging.
She wasn't crying.
She wasn't sabotaging Amy.
She was just… existing.
Laughing. Walking away. Cheering for other guys.
And somehow, that irritated him more than her old behavior ever did.
"She's obviously pretending," he muttered, running a hand through his damp hair. "It's just another stunt."
Then why does it feel like she doesn't care if I look at her or not?
That thought annoyed him enough to sit up abruptly.
He had always been certain of Lily Hart.
Her feelings were loud. Obvious. Convenient.
So why did her indifference feel like he'd lost control of something he never realized he'd been holding?
Noah frowned.
This shouldn't matter.
But it did.
And he hated that.
The next afternoon, Lily was heading toward the library with Mia when a soft voice stopped her.
"Lily."
She turned.
Amy Lawson stood a few steps away, hands clasped nervously in front of her, eyes slightly red—as if she'd been crying recently.
Here we go, Lily thought calmly.
"Yes?"
Amy bit her lip. "Can we talk? Alone?"
Mia opened her mouth immediately. "I don't think—"
"It's fine," Lily said, patting Mia's arm. "I'll scream if I need backup."
Mia narrowed her eyes. "Loudly."
They walked toward the pool area—quiet this time of day, the water reflecting sunlight peacefully.
Amy stopped near the edge.
"I know you've changed," Amy said softly. "But I still need to say this."
Lily raised an eyebrow. "Say it."
Amy took a shaky breath. "I love Noah."
There it was.
Lily waited.
"And," Amy continued, voice trembling, "even if you pretend you don't care anymore, please don't interfere. I'm begging you."
Lily stared at her for a moment.
Then sighed.
"Oh," she said. "That's it?"
Amy looked startled. "Y-you're not angry?"
"No," Lily replied honestly. "You can love whoever you want."
Amy blinked. "You're… letting go?"
"Months ago," Lily said. "Emotionally. Spiritually. Cosmically."
Amy's eyes flickered.
Then—
"Ah!"
Her body tilted backward.
Splash!
Amy fell into the pool.
The sound was loud enough to draw attention immediately.
Students nearby gasped. Someone screamed.
Lily stood there, unmoving, staring down at the rippling water.
Amy resurfaced, coughing, hair plastered to her face, eyes brimming with tears.
"Lily—!" she cried. "Why would you push me?!"
The crowd erupted.
"What happened?"
"Did Lily do it?"
"She's back to her old tricks!"
Noah arrived just in time to see Amy being helped out of the pool, shivering and crying.
"Amy!" He rushed to her side. "Are you okay?"
She clutched his sleeve. "I—I just told her I love you and she—she pushed me…"
Noah's head snapped up.
His eyes locked onto Lily.
Furious. Disappointed. Cold.
"I knew it," he said sharply. "I warned you to stop."
Lily tilted her head.
Then calmly reached into her bag.
"Hold on," she said lightly.
She pulled out her phone, tapped twice, and turned the screen around.
A video.
Clear. Steady.
Amy stepping back on her own.
Amy glancing around.
Amy deliberately falling into the pool.
Silence slammed into the crowd.
Murmurs erupted instantly.
"That's—"
"She fell herself—"
"She staged it?!"
Amy's face drained of color.
Noah stared at the screen, stunned.
Lily lowered her phone.
Then looked at him.
Really looked at him.
Her eyes weren't angry.
They were… tired.
"I must have been blind," she said quietly, "to ever like someone who jumps to conclusions so easily."
The words hit harder than a slap.
She turned away.
"Mia," she called, already walking. "Library?"
Mia grinned. "Front row seats secured."
They walked off together, leaving behind whispers, stares, and one male lead standing frozen beside a soaking-wet girl and a shattered certainty.
Noah didn't chase her.
But for the first time—
He wondered if he had just lost something he never deserved.