Chapter 10 Chapter 10 Kai's Awakening
Kai's POV
My friends around me heard this and were all stunned!
"What the hell!?"
"No way!"
After their shocked exclamations, everyone's eyes were wide as saucers!
In that love letter, Aria had written that she liked me, had liked me for three whole years, since freshman year.
That's why at school, whenever I finished playing basketball drenched in sweat, she was always the first to hand me a sports drink.
Every time we had group projects, she'd volunteer to complete my portion of the work. When the school had fundraisers and volunteer sign-ups, she'd help me register, making sure I completed my community service hours.
I couldn't believe this girl who'd been like my personal assistant was now saying I wasn't even as good as zoo gorillas!
Who wouldn't be shocked?
This was more absurd than the apocalypse!
"Aria, what the hell do you mean by that?"
I'd never really paid attention to her before, but this was the first time I actually looked at her properly, frowning as I spoke.
I knew everything Aria had done for me.
But since elementary school, I'd been surrounded by admirers.
Because I was handsome, girls always competed to help me with things, never complaining.
Everything Aria did for me—I naturally deserved to enjoy it unconditionally.
As someone who'd always been worshipped as the school heartthrob, I'd never been degraded like this before.
I wanted to confirm if she was deliberately using reverse psychology on me!
Playing hard to get?
Trying to make me fall for her?
But no.
Aria not only showed no signs of lying, she even looked at me with more contempt:
"Literally what I said. Now, do me a favor and take your little crew out of my sight.
"Don't interrupt me and my brother's lunch. Thanks."
She said "thanks," but her voice was cold enough to freeze.
She really didn't like me anymore?
I frowned deeper, a surge of displeasure suddenly welling up inside me.
But I still moved aside.
From the beginning, my attention had been focused entirely on Aria, and she'd just embarrassed me. Bella watched Aria's retreating figure, fists clenched tight.
"Aria!" Bella called out to her again.
"What you just said was so hurtful!
"Even if you don't like Kai anymore, he... he's someone you've had a crush on for three years!"
Right! Bella was right. Aria must be acting. She must still like me.
Bella was always so considerate. That was one of the reasons I liked her.
"Huh?" The guy next to Aria looked surprised.
He pointed at me, clearly unaware of this, his face full of shock: "Wait, sis, you liked this guy?"
So that was her brother.
When Leo asked her this, Aria didn't rush to answer. Instead, a curve appeared at the corner of her mouth.
I noticed the change in her expression and felt somewhat confused. Aria casually brushed her hair, her beautiful profile slightly raised, then I heard her say slowly, word by word:
"Oh? You mean that 'I liked him for three years' thing?"
As she spoke, Aria looked at Leo, the corner of her mouth turning up, her voice becoming gentle.
Then, she actually imitated Bella's tone, acting coquettish toward her brother Leo:
"That was just a little joke I played. You guys actually believed it?
"Sorry, did you really think I'd waste my time on someone who couldn't hold a candle to my brother? Yeah, no. I have way better taste than that.
"Right, bro?"
She shot Leo a playful wink, her smile almost too sweet to be sincere.
Hearing these words, I was completely stunned. She actually said I was ugly? And that liking me for three years was just a joke?
"Uh, right, whatever my sister says is right..." Leo scratched his head, giving Aria a big smile: "But sis, this is the first time you've complimented me on being handsome. It's music to my ears!"
After laughing, Leo looked up at me and the others, his voice stern as he warned:
"Hey, you people better watch what you say, or I'll beat you flat!"
He even shook his fist, full of threat.
"Come on, sis, I'm starving. Don't waste time on these losers. We haven't had lunch yet."
The rest of us just stood there.
If before she'd only degraded me to being worse than zoo gorillas, leaving everyone doubtful, now everyone probably believed Aria had really gotten over me!
Because no one could say such things without blinking in front of their crush!
My breath caught. I didn't take in any of Leo's words, my mind just kept replaying what Aria had said.
She really didn't like me anymore?
No, I didn't believe it!
Watching Aria finish talking to Leo, the two of them not even giving me another glance, ignoring everyone, turning to leave—
I panicked and strode after them.
"Aria, make yourself clear. What do you mean saying that liking me was just a joke?" I said, my hand reaching from behind to tap her shoulder, wanting to stop her from leaving.
Even though I now knew Aria wouldn't chase after me anymore, this outcome made me even angrier!
Didn't she like me?
What? Couldn't get me so she gave up?
Even saying I was ugly—was this sour grapes?
"Aria, explain yourself before you leave..."
As I spoke, my hand was about to touch her shoulder.
But just one second before my hand made contact, Aria, who had her back to me, suddenly raised her hand, reflexively sweeping backward.
Her figure instantly became like an agile viper, turning into a blurred shadow.
While blocking my touch, she flashed behind me in an instant.
Her speed was swift as a tiger.
She twisted my arm, and I heard a "crack."
At the same time, Aria's hand was already gripping my throat from behind.
With just one more move, she could easily send me to hell.
But she stopped, didn't continue.
"Ugh." My arm dislocated on the spot, and I grunted.
When I came to my senses, realizing what had just happened, my pupils dilated to their limit!
Aria had just subdued me at a speed I couldn't even react to!
"Holy shit!"
"Kai, she just..."
The people around who saw that scene, without exception, had their pupils contract.
Even Bella, seeing Aria's fast and brutal move just now, shuddered hard.
They all knew me well—everyone knew I'd received combat training since childhood.
And now, I was already the strongest Alpha heir in combat among Meadow Pack's young generation!
Because of my excellent training results, last year I'd even won the youth division championship at the annual inter-Pack martial arts tournament.
And just now?
Me, the Pack's acknowledged future Alpha, facing Aria, had absolutely no power to resist?
This... how was this possible!?