Chapter 13: Why Him?
I didn't go looking for Adrian.
But somehow—
I still found him.
Or maybe he found me.
"You're persistent," he said, leaning against the wall outside one of the lecture halls.
I stopped walking.
"I could say the same about you."
He smirked slightly.
"Guess we have that in common."
I didn't return the smile.
"Cut the act," I said. "What's your deal?"
"My deal?"
"Yeah," I continued. "Why are you so invested in Tamika? And why do you care if I'm around her?"
His expression shifted.
Subtly.
But enough.
"You really don't know, do you?" he said.
"If I did, we wouldn't be having this conversation."
He studied me for a moment.
Like he was deciding something.
Then he sighed.
"You should stay away from her."
There it was again.
"That's not an answer."
"It's the only one you need."
"No," I said firmly. "It's not."
Something in my tone must have hit a nerve.
Because his calm demeanor cracked slightly.
"You're making this harder than it needs to be," he said.
"For who?" I shot back. "Because from where I'm standing, I'm just trying to figure out why everyone's acting like I'm some kind of problem."
"You are a problem," he said bluntly.
I blinked.
"Excuse me?"
"You being here," he continued, "getting close to her—that's the problem."
I let out a short laugh.
"That's ridiculous."
"Is it?"
"Yes," I said. "Unless you're jealous or something."
That did it.
His jaw tightened.
"You have no idea what you're talking about."
"Then explain it."
"I can't."
"Or you won't?"
Silence.
Then—
"She deserves better," he said quietly.
That hit differently.
"And you're the one to decide that?" I asked.
"No," he said. "But I know what happens when she gets close to you."
My chest tightened.
"What does that mean?"
He looked at me.
Really looked at me.
And for a moment—
I saw something in his eyes.
Not anger.
Not jealousy.
Fear.
"You forget," he said.
I froze.
"What?"
"You forget," he repeated. "And she's the one who pays for it."
My heart started racing.
"That doesn't make any sense."
"It will," he said. "Eventually."
I stepped closer.
"Stop speaking in riddles and just tell me what happened."
He shook his head.
"If she hasn't told you, I'm not going to be the one who does."
"Why not?"
"Because it's not my place."
"Then stop acting like it is."
Silence.
Heavy.
Then he pushed himself off the wall.
"Just stay away from her," he said one last time.
"Or what?"
He paused.
Then glanced back at me.
"Or you'll hurt her again."
Again.
That word echoed in my head long after he walked away.
And for the first time—
I wasn't just confused.
I was scared of the answer.