Chapter 23 CHAPTER 23
CHAPTER 23
YAEL
You’d think the morning after the gala would be peaceful.
But why am I here again?
Co-leads. For a debate.
A freaking academic debate.
I stare at the projector screen like it personally offended me. The announcement slides read:
"Academic Debate Gala — Co-Leads: Yael Levi and Knox Hale"
My name. And his.
The universe clearly has a sick sense of humor.
I lean toward Maya, whispering through gritted teeth. “Tell me I’m hallucinating.”
Maya bites back a grin. “You’re not, babe. But this is karma for dodging him all night.”
“Dodging him? I didn’t dodge him. I strategically avoided emotional damage.”
Jordan snorts. “Emotional damage, huh? That’s one way to describe the way you looked at him last night.”
“I didn’t look at him,” I hiss. “I just… accidentally made eye contact. With his abs.”
Maya laughs so loud the professor raises a brow. “Sorry, sir! She just remembered a funny TikTok!”
Knox is sitting a few rows ahead, casually scrolling through his phone like being paired with me didn’t matter. His hair’s slightly messy, and he’s in a plain white shirt that somehow looks illegal.
He turns slightly, like he can feel me staring. Our eyes lock.
And my heart does that stupid thing again.
I look away fast. “Nope. Not today.”
Jordan leans closer, whispering, “You’re doomed, babe.”
After class, Professor Lin calls us both forward.
“You two are the strongest debaters in the faculty. You’ll co-lead the Academic Debate Gala this month. You’ll also work together on the opening presentation. I trust you can handle it professionally?”
Before I can respond, Knox smirks. “Of course, Professor. Yael and I work great together.”
I blink. “We’ve never worked together.”
He tilts his head, eyes dancing. “Exactly. Time to start.”
I clench my jaw. “Lucky me.”
Professor Lin smiles, completely oblivious to the storm brewing. “Good. The first meeting’s tomorrow morning. Don’t be late.”
As soon as he walks off, I cross my arms. “Why did you say that?”
Knox shrugs, that infuriating smirk still on his face. “Because it’s true. You talk, I counter. You glare, I grin. It’s a perfect system.”
“You think everything’s a joke, don’t you?”
“Only when you’re this easy to tease.”
“I’m not—” I exhale sharply. “Forget it. Just don’t mess this up for me.”
“Mess it up?” he repeats, stepping closer. “I don’t mess up, sweetheart.”
“Stop calling me that.”
His grin widens. “Then stop looking like you secretly love it.”
My brain short-circuits.
I spin on my heel and storm out before I combust.
Behind me, his low laugh echoes down the hallway.
“So… co-leads?” Maya drawls, sipping her iced coffee.
I groan, dropping my head on the table. “Kill me.”
Jordan smirks. “Oh, come on. You and Knox together? That’s hot.”
I lift my head, glaring. “It’s chaos.”
“Same thing,” Maya says.
“Do you people enjoy watching me suffer?”
“Absolutely,” Jordan says.
I throw a napkin at her. She dodges, laughing. “You two are impossible.”
Jordan leans forward, eyes gleaming. “Okay but seriously—what happened last night? You disappeared before the after-party.”
I hesitate. “We were outside. Talking. Almost kissed.”
“You what?” Jordan screeches.
“It didn’t happen!” I whisper-shout. “Maya interrupted.”
Maya gasps. “Wait, I interrupted?”
“Yes! You said Aaron was coming, and I panicked!”
“Oh my God,” Maya groans, dramatically placing a hand on her chest. “I cockblocked my best friend.”
I slap my forehead. “Please stop saying that in public.”
Jordan grins wickedly. “Did he look like he wanted to kiss you?”
I stare down at my drink. “He… didn’t look away.”
“Which means yes,” Maya says smugly.
I push away from the table. “I’m leaving. You guys are insufferable.”
Jordan giggles. “We love you too, babe!”
The next morning, I walk in early, determined to be professional. I’m in a crisp shirt, hair up, laptop ready.
Knox strolls in five minutes later like he owns the place. Hoodie, ripped jeans, lazy smile.
He looks at my setup. “You’re scaring them already, boss lady.”
“I’m setting the tone,” I reply dryly.
He slides into the seat beside me. “The tone of what? A dictatorship?”
“Of productivity.”
“Sure, Stalin.”
I glare at him. “Do you ever stop talking?”
“Nope. Silence makes people uncomfortable.”
“You make me uncomfortable.”
He chuckles. “That’s the goal.”
I open my laptop aggressively. “We’re supposed to finalize the motion topics today.”
He leans back. “Fine. Shoot.”
“Topic one — ‘Artificial intelligence in education: Innovation or intrusion.’ Thoughts?”
He pretends to think. “Sounds like something a nerd would pick.”
I narrow my eyes. “You’re impossible.”
“Fine, fine. It’s a solid topic. But you’ll take innovation, I’ll take intrusion. Deal?”
“Why would I agree to that?”
“Because you hate losing.”
He’s not wrong, and he knows it.
“Fine,” I say through gritted teeth. “Deal.”
“Good girl.”
My head jerks up. “Excuse me?”
He smirks. “Relax. It’s a compliment.”
“It’s not.”
“It is in my dictionary.”
“Well, your dictionary needs to be burned.”
He laughs under his breath, scribbling notes like this is the best entertainment he’s had all week.
By lunchtime, I’m exhausted — not because of the work, but because of him.
Every sentence out of Knox’s mouth is either a tease, a challenge, or something that makes my heart race like I’ve run a marathon.
We leave the committee room together.
“So, what do you do when you’re not yelling at me?” he asks as we walk across the courtyard.
“I don’t yell.”
He raises an eyebrow. “You screamed my name yesterday.”
I stop walking. “That was because you scared me!”
He grins. “Still counts.”
I groan. “You’re infuriating.”
“Maybe. But you smile when you say that.”
I roll my eyes so hard they nearly fall out. “You’re delusional.”
“Only when it comes to you.”
I freeze.
His words hang in the air, heavy and unfiltered.
Knox looks completely unbothered, like he didn’t just drop a grenade in my brain.
“Don’t say stuff like that,” I mutter.
“Why not?”
“Because… you don’t mean it.”
He steps closer, lowering his voice. “Who says I don’t?”
My breath catches. I hate that my pulse skips. That he smells like pine and danger. That I want to step closer instead of away.
Thankfully, my phone buzzes — Maya.
“Saved by the bell,” he say
s softly, smirking again.
“Go away, Knox.”
He chuckles and walks backward. “See you tomorrow, sweetheart.”
I watch him leave, jaw tight, heart traitorous.
The worst part? I already can’t wait for tomorrow.