I wasn't planning to confront him again.
But when I saw Adrian talking to Tamika near the library—
Too close.
Too comfortable—
I changed my mind.
"What's going on?" I asked, walking straight up to them.
Tamika looked surprised.
Adrian didn't.
"Perfect timing," he said calmly.
"Doesn't seem like it," I replied.
Tamika glanced between us. "Felix, it's nothing—"
"It doesn't look like nothing."
Her expression tightened.
"Can we not do this right now?"
"No," I said. "Because every time I ask questions, I get nothing. And every time he shows up, things get weird."
Adrian let out a quiet laugh.
"You think I'm the problem?"
"I think you know something," I said sharply. "And you're not saying it."
His eyes darkened.
"You're right," he said. "I do."
"Adrian—" Tamika warned.
But he didn't stop.
"I know what happens when you get close to her," he continued, his voice steady. "And I know how this ends."
My fists clenched.
"Then say it."
"No."
"Why not?"
"Because you won't believe me."
"Try me."
Silence.
Then—
"You leave," Adrian said.
I blinked.
"What?"
"You always leave," he continued. "One way or another."
"That doesn't even make sense."
"It will," he said.
I stepped closer, anger rising.
"Stop talking like that."
"Or what?" he challenged.
Before I could respond—
"Enough!" Tamika snapped.
We both went quiet.
She looked at Adrian first.
"You need to stop," she said firmly.
Then she turned to me.
"And you need to trust me."
I laughed softly.
"Trust you? You won't even tell me what's going on."
Her eyes softened.
"I'm trying to protect you."
"There it is again," I said. "Protect me from what?"
She hesitated.
And that hesitation—
It said everything.
"From me?" I asked quietly.
Her silence answered.
And somehow—
That hurt more than anything Adrian had said.